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J.C.S. Files

The Allied Anti-Submarine Survey Board to the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (King)1

secret
Enclosure to C.C.S. 272/2
[Washington,] 28 August 1943.

Serial: 0012

Subject: Logistic Organization To Improve Mobility of Anti-Submarine Squadrons

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. The logistic considerations for any proposed air base may be broken down into the following general headings:

a.
Personnel.
(1).
Base personnel.
(2).
Ground echelon personnel.
(3).
Key specialist personnel.
b.
Spares.
(1).
Engine and air frame spares.
(2).
Spares for special equipment of unit.
c.
Ground equipment.
(1).
Fueling equipment, including trucks, bowsers, and/or boats.
(2).
Aircraft handling and servicing equipment.
(3).
Shop equipment, and special tools for aircraft type and special equipment. (Radar, etc.)
(4).
Ground transport.
d.
Support.
(1).
Fuel storage and supply capacity.
(2).
Ordnance (bombs, depth charges, ammunition, pyrotechnics, etc.)
(3).
Housing and messing capacity.
(4).
Special conditions.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14. Recommendations.

The recommendations made in paragraph 22 of reference b2 are reaffirmed with particular emphasis on the following points:

a.
That spares be manufactured in accordance with the approved scales laid down for the various air services.
b.
That Major Operating Area Commanders prepare and keep up to elate information covering points listed in paragraph 5 above, concerning all air bases in their areas; that this information be disseminated to other area commanders and to responsible headquarters such as H.Q. Coastal Command, ComAirLant, etc.
The following additional recommendations are now made:
c.
That when any commander requests or recommends the transfer of additional air units into his area, such request or recommendation should include a statement of the amount of logistic support (see paragraph 5 above) that he is prepared to provide.
d.
That when the high command directs the transfer of a unit from one strategic area to another, the directive should specify the proportion of logistic support to be provided by the “base of destination.”
e.
That in view of the possibility of an increased U–Boat threat in the East Africa–Indian Ocean area an immediate and detailed survey of the facilities and base equipment at all air bases within this area be made and promulgated to all the relevant authorities.

J. M. Mansfield

Rear Admiral, R.N.
J. L. Kauffman

Rear Admiral, U.S.N.

  1. Circulated under cover of the following note by the Secretaries of the Combined Chiefs of Staff (C.C.S. 272/2), September 3, 1943: “The enclosure, a report by the Allied Anti-Submarine Survey Board with reference to paragraphs 2 and 3 of C.C.S. 272/1 [ante, p. 510], is submitted to the Combined Chiefs of Staff through the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet who states he is in accord with the recommendations in paragraph 14 of the report.”

    The recommendations contained in paragraph 14 of this report were accepted by the Combined Chiefs of Staff at their 118th Meeting, September 10, 1943. See ante, p. 1220.

    ↩
  2. i.e., of the enclosure to C.C.S. 272/1, ante, p. 510.↩