Post by Diarist on Mar 4, 2017 2:22:52 GMT 1
We stayed at home last night and prepared for the weekend in Germany. We arrived at the MCD just before 08:00 and I had a short meeting with my section heads. I wanted to know the latest news that we have from Palestine, Syria, Iraq then finally Spain. There have been demonstrations in Iraq showing support for the Syrians but in Palestine everything has been quiet so far. Afterwards I went to my MoD office, took care of the new correspondence then went to the small conference room. Winston was the last to arrive and after the usual greetings we got down to business.
Duff Cooper described the RAE meeting yesterday because it is the FAA which is most affected by the R-2600. "Would you like to add anything, Sir Robert?"
"No. I want to wait for the report(s) on Monday. RAE related is that John Mitchell from Vickers and Ernest Hives from Rolls-Royce are confident that the Merlin F engine can soon be evaluated."
"Do you know when de Havilland will start producing Merlin engines?"
"They are aiming for September this year, Sir Philip. They'll be producing two engines, one rotating clockwise and the other anti-clockwise. Both their designs are twin-engine aircraft."
"So they could also produce engines for the Westland design if it's accepted?"
"If they have the capacity. Their own aircraft will have priority though."
"And if the Westland design is a better aircraft?" Sir Philip countered.
"Then may I suggest we wait until all the aircraft have been evaluated?"
"There's nothing to argue about, Philip." Winston intervened. "The Merlin is a Rolls-Royce engine and they have given de Havilland to produce engines only for de Havilland aircraft and if they have excess engines then Rolls-Royce decides what to do with them. Read the contract. How are we progressing with our Royal Navy, Duff?"
"We have 18 destroyers which will be completed this year, the G and H-classes. Also 3 more Leander-class light cruisers will join the fleet this year. We are finalizing plans for the new battleships. We are suggesting that they be named the King George V-class. Six will be laid down this year. We shall also commence converting four more cruisers to light aircraft-carriers. Plans for the large aircraft-carriers aren't ready yet but we hope to start building at least two in the autumn."
"Thank you, Duff. The capital ships are still going through the anti-aircraft upgrade, correct?"
"Most have completed phase 1 and they'll all receive a further upgrade during their regular refit period."
"That brings us to the army, General Brooke."
"Vickers have begun testing the new 6-pdr tank and anti-tank gun and they are now producing 12 ISV's per month. They are suggesting not to use the A10 chassis for any other armoured vehicles. Instead the A13 chassis should be used for motorized and mechanized divisions."
"Can't we use the A10 chassis for self-propelled artillery units destined for the infantry divisions?" I asked.
"Aren't we motorizing all our infantry divisions?"
"Only those going overseas. Territorial divisions remaining in Britain can use the A10 chassis. We can limit production to 480 ISV's of the current design. That'll be enough for a dozen divisions and a training battalion plus spares. It's the only 'heavy' vehicle we have in production at the moment."
"I presume that Vickers wants to switch the production line to the A13 chassis. Bob, the Territorial Army doesn't need SPA. They can use towed artillery. The same applies to their AA and AT batteries."
"A good point, Winston. Let's do that. I'd like to mention the SAW. I want to extend the tender to French and German manufacturers with the goal of producing a common design or as a minimum to weapons that all fire the same ammunition. Maybe we'll know more after the meetings this weekend."
Winston supported that. We ended the meeting shortly afterwards. I met Sally in the MoD restaurant for an early lunch then we caught a taxi to the railway station. Next stop Southend then Hamburg.
Duff Cooper described the RAE meeting yesterday because it is the FAA which is most affected by the R-2600. "Would you like to add anything, Sir Robert?"
"No. I want to wait for the report(s) on Monday. RAE related is that John Mitchell from Vickers and Ernest Hives from Rolls-Royce are confident that the Merlin F engine can soon be evaluated."
"Do you know when de Havilland will start producing Merlin engines?"
"They are aiming for September this year, Sir Philip. They'll be producing two engines, one rotating clockwise and the other anti-clockwise. Both their designs are twin-engine aircraft."
"So they could also produce engines for the Westland design if it's accepted?"
"If they have the capacity. Their own aircraft will have priority though."
"And if the Westland design is a better aircraft?" Sir Philip countered.
"Then may I suggest we wait until all the aircraft have been evaluated?"
"There's nothing to argue about, Philip." Winston intervened. "The Merlin is a Rolls-Royce engine and they have given de Havilland to produce engines only for de Havilland aircraft and if they have excess engines then Rolls-Royce decides what to do with them. Read the contract. How are we progressing with our Royal Navy, Duff?"
"We have 18 destroyers which will be completed this year, the G and H-classes. Also 3 more Leander-class light cruisers will join the fleet this year. We are finalizing plans for the new battleships. We are suggesting that they be named the King George V-class. Six will be laid down this year. We shall also commence converting four more cruisers to light aircraft-carriers. Plans for the large aircraft-carriers aren't ready yet but we hope to start building at least two in the autumn."
"Thank you, Duff. The capital ships are still going through the anti-aircraft upgrade, correct?"
"Most have completed phase 1 and they'll all receive a further upgrade during their regular refit period."
"That brings us to the army, General Brooke."
"Vickers have begun testing the new 6-pdr tank and anti-tank gun and they are now producing 12 ISV's per month. They are suggesting not to use the A10 chassis for any other armoured vehicles. Instead the A13 chassis should be used for motorized and mechanized divisions."
"Can't we use the A10 chassis for self-propelled artillery units destined for the infantry divisions?" I asked.
"Aren't we motorizing all our infantry divisions?"
"Only those going overseas. Territorial divisions remaining in Britain can use the A10 chassis. We can limit production to 480 ISV's of the current design. That'll be enough for a dozen divisions and a training battalion plus spares. It's the only 'heavy' vehicle we have in production at the moment."
"I presume that Vickers wants to switch the production line to the A13 chassis. Bob, the Territorial Army doesn't need SPA. They can use towed artillery. The same applies to their AA and AT batteries."
"A good point, Winston. Let's do that. I'd like to mention the SAW. I want to extend the tender to French and German manufacturers with the goal of producing a common design or as a minimum to weapons that all fire the same ammunition. Maybe we'll know more after the meetings this weekend."
Winston supported that. We ended the meeting shortly afterwards. I met Sally in the MoD restaurant for an early lunch then we caught a taxi to the railway station. Next stop Southend then Hamburg.