Post by Diarist on Feb 26, 2017 19:25:41 GMT 1
I showed my FDC proposal to Winston and the CIGS and they both approved it especially allowing the current chiefs to select their own 'deputies', (we need a different title.)
"I want John Gort to be my FDC Chief. We are talking about a European TRADOC and he is best qualified for the position. What do you think, gentlemen?"
"An excellent choice," Winston commented.
"John Fuller can take over at TRADOC and both he and John Gort need to be promoted." The CIGS said that would be no problem. "I also have a list of proposals for the FDC. There's no hurry on that. I just put some thoughts on paper."
"A tender for a joint fighter programme?"
"I believe that the Spitfire will win easily. Neither the French nor the Germans have a Merlin engine."
"We don't have one yet either."
"I'm organizing a meeting of our top aircraft engine manufacturers this week. Hopefully with them all together in one place we can come up with a plan."
"Good. Let's go to the small conference room for the Council meeting."
"Will the PM be here?"
"No."
We were among the first there. I took a couple of breakfast rolls and a glass of orange juice then sat at the table next to Sir Philip and discussed the R-2600 problem with him. He promised to send a couple of his experts to the meeting I intend organizing. Winston opened the meeting with a long statement about the Rhineland Crisis and the subsequent talks in Luxembourg City. He then described the Federal Defence Planning Council which will be established in London, its purpose and organization. He informed the Council that I would be head the British delegation on his behalf and that he wanted names from all other departments within the MoD by this Thursday at 14:00. The selected personnel will preferably be lieutenant-generals.
Questions were asked about the protection of Top Secret projects. I replied that no secrets will be revealed until after a formal agreement has been signed and even then only on a need-to-know basis.
"We've had Wehrmacht officers visiting TRADOC four times and here at the MoD three times since last June and on no occasion were secrets revealed. I would like to go further and say that we managed to get valuable information from them."
The next topic was the new aircraft engines and the problems being experienced with them. I reported that the Merlin engine problem should be resolved within the next fortnight or so.
"The R-2600 is a much greater problem and I am in the process of organizing an emergency meeting. I want all the defunct engines brought to one workshop so that they can be examined by our experts. Sir Philip will be sending a few people so I hope that the FAA will do the same, Duff. I'll have more information for you tomorrow." When asked about an alternative for R-2600 I suggested that we look at the two Bristol radial engines being developed.
Duff Cooper informed us that the new battleships will now have 15" guns instead of the 14" guns planned last year. This is because Britain is no longer abiding by the Washington and London Naval Treaties. Apparently the 15" guns are better than 16" guns of the two Nelson-class battleships.
Other topics were the planned expansion of the RAF in East Anglia. Recent events in Europe will not affect this programme. Winston and I made it quite clear that the expansion and modernization of our armed forces will continue as planned. The only changes could be where these forces are deployed.
After the meeting was over I called Sally and John Gort and informed them that the FDC proposal has been approved. John said he'd visit me at home this evening to discuss things. An hour later Sally arrived at the MoD looking for an assistant (under consideration) then we had lunch together.
"I want John Gort to be my FDC Chief. We are talking about a European TRADOC and he is best qualified for the position. What do you think, gentlemen?"
"An excellent choice," Winston commented.
"John Fuller can take over at TRADOC and both he and John Gort need to be promoted." The CIGS said that would be no problem. "I also have a list of proposals for the FDC. There's no hurry on that. I just put some thoughts on paper."
"A tender for a joint fighter programme?"
"I believe that the Spitfire will win easily. Neither the French nor the Germans have a Merlin engine."
"We don't have one yet either."
"I'm organizing a meeting of our top aircraft engine manufacturers this week. Hopefully with them all together in one place we can come up with a plan."
"Good. Let's go to the small conference room for the Council meeting."
"Will the PM be here?"
"No."
We were among the first there. I took a couple of breakfast rolls and a glass of orange juice then sat at the table next to Sir Philip and discussed the R-2600 problem with him. He promised to send a couple of his experts to the meeting I intend organizing. Winston opened the meeting with a long statement about the Rhineland Crisis and the subsequent talks in Luxembourg City. He then described the Federal Defence Planning Council which will be established in London, its purpose and organization. He informed the Council that I would be head the British delegation on his behalf and that he wanted names from all other departments within the MoD by this Thursday at 14:00. The selected personnel will preferably be lieutenant-generals.
Questions were asked about the protection of Top Secret projects. I replied that no secrets will be revealed until after a formal agreement has been signed and even then only on a need-to-know basis.
"We've had Wehrmacht officers visiting TRADOC four times and here at the MoD three times since last June and on no occasion were secrets revealed. I would like to go further and say that we managed to get valuable information from them."
The next topic was the new aircraft engines and the problems being experienced with them. I reported that the Merlin engine problem should be resolved within the next fortnight or so.
"The R-2600 is a much greater problem and I am in the process of organizing an emergency meeting. I want all the defunct engines brought to one workshop so that they can be examined by our experts. Sir Philip will be sending a few people so I hope that the FAA will do the same, Duff. I'll have more information for you tomorrow." When asked about an alternative for R-2600 I suggested that we look at the two Bristol radial engines being developed.
Duff Cooper informed us that the new battleships will now have 15" guns instead of the 14" guns planned last year. This is because Britain is no longer abiding by the Washington and London Naval Treaties. Apparently the 15" guns are better than 16" guns of the two Nelson-class battleships.
Other topics were the planned expansion of the RAF in East Anglia. Recent events in Europe will not affect this programme. Winston and I made it quite clear that the expansion and modernization of our armed forces will continue as planned. The only changes could be where these forces are deployed.
After the meeting was over I called Sally and John Gort and informed them that the FDC proposal has been approved. John said he'd visit me at home this evening to discuss things. An hour later Sally arrived at the MoD looking for an assistant (under consideration) then we had lunch together.