Defense Files
Memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff1
secret
[Washington,] January 12,
1942.
Memorandum of Proposed Shipping Adjustments
Ireland
Reduce present plan for sailing January 15 of 16,000 as follows:
- 4,100 troops to sail January 15
- 7,000 troops on Queen Mary to sail February 1
- 9,000 troops on Andes, Oronzay,2 and Orion, to sail February 15–20
- 4,400 troops on George Washington to sail February 24.
- Total . . . . . . . 24,500 to sail January 15 to February 24.
(Note: Cargo tonnage extremely short. British must provide shelter, or lumber to winterize tents).
Iceland
Reduce present plan for sailing January 15 of 8,000 as follows:
- 2,500 troops on January 15.
(Note: Remainder as shipping becomes available. Probably about 2,500 per month.)
British Troops
Near East and Far East
- 7,000 on Queen Mary to load in England.
- 5,100 from Cairo on Mount Vernon—Now in Far East.
- 11,200 from Cairo on second round trip of West Point and Wakefield—Now engaged in first round trip for Far East.
- Total … 23,300 British troops for Near and Far East on United States ships and Queen Mary.
United States Troops
Far East
- 21,800 troops, to sail from New York January 20.
- 250 Pursuit planes
- 86 Medium Bombers
- 57 Light Bombers
- 228,000 Cargo Tons.
- 4½ million gallons of gasoline.
(Note: Troops are air and supporting services, except for a reinforced brigade for New Caledonia of 10,000 men).