Post by Diarist on Jul 19, 2014 7:11:17 GMT 1
The last two days have been full of extensive and constructive talks with our American colleagues. This evening we have just returned from a visit to Jamestown, the site of the first permanent British colony in America. A very interesting tour. Tonight we'll be sailing to Halifax, Nova Scotia to meet our Canadian colleagues.
Yesterday we discussed our desire to modernise the British Armed Forces and the role of TRADOC in the scheme of things. Apparently Winston Churchill had informed the US leadership of our existence and that we want to keep the organisation secret. They told us that the offer to join TRADOC in England was interesting and is under consideration.
Given the threat posed by potential adversaries we are emphasizing anti-submarine warfare, anti-armour and anti-aircraft systems - all defensive in nature. Our offensive projects are air superiority, troop support and strategic bombing for the RAF; armoured formations with adequate mobile infantry and artillery support for the Army.
We told them which areas we are currently interested in:
the Christie Tank design,
semi-automatic rifles and light machine-guns using the same ammunition,
75mm assault guns,
anti-tank guns,
anti-aircraft guns,
mechanization,
parachute forces.
We learned that they are working on a semi-automatic rifle themselves and we have placed an order for 48 M1 Garard in order to evaluate them. The Americans also have their advocates who are for and against pure armoured formations as opposed to the armour supporting infantry operations. They also have plans for a 75mm tank gun that would fire high-explosive ammunition. Like us, they have no standard vehicle for motorizing/mechanizing non-armoured formations - in fact, it's a low priority. There is a lack of funding in post-depression America just like in other countries. The services are competing against each other and the Army normally loses out. All the more reason for us to work together and save costs, we argued.
Most controversial is our intention to ignore the Washington and London Naval Treaties because the Japanese have already anounced that they will not be attending the next meetings scheduled for 1936 and that we have evidence of German U-Boat construction. We are not making this decision public though. We advise America to do the same. The Royal Navy has received a couple of good ideas from their US Navy colleagues, e.g. lifts at the edge of the flight deck instead of in the middle, but they are at odds about an armoured flight deck or not. They agree about the need for a notable increase in the air defences.
To be announced later is the permission for Armstrong-Whitworth to purchase North American Aircraft and Allison Engine Company. Also agreed upon is a joint-venture between Avro and Boeing to design and build four-engine bomber and transport aircraft. The US air commanders welcome these decisions because they hope for more support for an independant airforce.
We leave Norfolk tonight feeling that the talks have been very successful.
Yesterday we discussed our desire to modernise the British Armed Forces and the role of TRADOC in the scheme of things. Apparently Winston Churchill had informed the US leadership of our existence and that we want to keep the organisation secret. They told us that the offer to join TRADOC in England was interesting and is under consideration.
Given the threat posed by potential adversaries we are emphasizing anti-submarine warfare, anti-armour and anti-aircraft systems - all defensive in nature. Our offensive projects are air superiority, troop support and strategic bombing for the RAF; armoured formations with adequate mobile infantry and artillery support for the Army.
We told them which areas we are currently interested in:
the Christie Tank design,
semi-automatic rifles and light machine-guns using the same ammunition,
75mm assault guns,
anti-tank guns,
anti-aircraft guns,
mechanization,
parachute forces.
We learned that they are working on a semi-automatic rifle themselves and we have placed an order for 48 M1 Garard in order to evaluate them. The Americans also have their advocates who are for and against pure armoured formations as opposed to the armour supporting infantry operations. They also have plans for a 75mm tank gun that would fire high-explosive ammunition. Like us, they have no standard vehicle for motorizing/mechanizing non-armoured formations - in fact, it's a low priority. There is a lack of funding in post-depression America just like in other countries. The services are competing against each other and the Army normally loses out. All the more reason for us to work together and save costs, we argued.
Most controversial is our intention to ignore the Washington and London Naval Treaties because the Japanese have already anounced that they will not be attending the next meetings scheduled for 1936 and that we have evidence of German U-Boat construction. We are not making this decision public though. We advise America to do the same. The Royal Navy has received a couple of good ideas from their US Navy colleagues, e.g. lifts at the edge of the flight deck instead of in the middle, but they are at odds about an armoured flight deck or not. They agree about the need for a notable increase in the air defences.
To be announced later is the permission for Armstrong-Whitworth to purchase North American Aircraft and Allison Engine Company. Also agreed upon is a joint-venture between Avro and Boeing to design and build four-engine bomber and transport aircraft. The US air commanders welcome these decisions because they hope for more support for an independant airforce.
We leave Norfolk tonight feeling that the talks have been very successful.