Foreign Relations of the United States, Conferences at Washington and Quebec, 1943

J.C.S. Files

Memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff¹

secret
C.C.S. 315/1

[Quebec,] 19 August 1943.

“ Habbakuks”

The U.S. Chiefs of Staff have given careful consideration to the proposals submitted by the British Chiefs of Staff in C.C.S. 315² and have reached the following conclusions:

a. By the expenditure of extraordinary effort and consequent stoppage of other essential war projects, the construction of Habbakuk II and an erecting plant therefor is feasible and might be completed as early as the end of 1945.

b. Construction of Habbakuk III could possibly be accomplished by the end of 1945. Claims for invulnerability of Habbakuk III to hull damage may be somewhat justified, but they are outweighed by the operating advantages inherent in conventional carrier types by virtue of speed, maneuverability, and operating refinements.

c. Due to the relatively small value of the Habbakuks in increasing the effectiveness of aircraft operation, and in view of the existing aircraft carrier program, the diversion of manpower and critical materials involved in their construction is not warranted.

1. Noted by the Combined Chiefs of Staff at their 112th Meeting, August 19, 1943. See ante, p. 890.
2. Ante, p. 989.