Post by Diarist on Jun 18, 2016 19:21:37 GMT 1
We decided to walk to the Dorchester. On the way I told him of my inheritance and the offer to work in Vickers. He thought I was crazy not to accept the offer.
"Louis, I still own one-third of Vickers-Armstrong plus 12.5% of London and Midlands Bank. I am also a member of both boards and I recently bought half of de Havilland Aviation. I arranged for Basil Liddel-Hart to head the Land Division of Vickers-Armstrong so it should be in good hands. In addition I still I have my position in TRADOC and am head of TRADOC Annex in the MoD. Why should I complain?"
"Bob, if you are happy then I am too."
"Thanks for accepting my offer to head the Naval Section at the Annex. You need to suggest a couple more people for your section. Ideally a submariner and a naval aviator. You missed a great anti-submarine warfare briefing yesterday. Remind me to give you a copy of my notes."
"Then there's the joint proposal to prepare too."
"Do you think we should combine the two?" I asked.
"Yes. There is a lot of overlap and we need to avoid duplication of effort."
"I don't like the name - Combined Operations - sounds like someone needing multiple surgery."
"How about Special Operations Command?" he asked.
"That's better but the 'Command' is too military. It has to be invisible, remember."
"Section, directorate, executive..."
"Special Operations Executive. That sounds great. No one would think that it's a military command. SOE, simply SOE."
"At least we have a name. That's a beginning," he said.
"Now we need a mission. I'd like to know what Germany is importing and from where. Maybe we can interdict it. I have one of those 'Comply first. complain later' letters. I wonder if I can use it at the Foreign Office and the Secret Intelligence Service in order to receive daily updates."
"Are you suggesting hijacking one of their ships?"
"No, but that's a good idea. I was thinking of outbidding them so that we get the raw materials, not the Germans."
"If it the ore comes from a British or French colony it shouldn't be too difficult to block it. A Portuguese colony shouldn't pose a problem either."
We had now arrived at the Dorchester and my half-brother was already at the bar. After introductions Robert ordered champagne to celebrate the aircraft-carrier contract. He told us that they will be converted in pairs so it could take more than six years before all twelve carriers are completed.
"Do we produce motor torpedo boats, Robert?"
"At Vosper in Portsmouth. Why do you ask?"
"They are cheap and effective. Porstmouth is a bit near to the continent however. We might want to build a second plant further north."
"Do we have funds available like for the aircraft industry?"
"I don't know but I'm sure that Louis can find out next week."
"Anything else?" Louis asked.
"As a matter of fact, you need to contact Henry Tizard and ask if any of his fancy explosives can be used for torpedoes. I asked him about squad anti-tank weapons and received an interesting answer."
"So Louis will be my point of contact at the Annex?" Robert asked.
"Yes. I know very little about the Royal Navy. That's why I'm glad that Louis has joined us."
"Anything in the pipeline?"
"Not really. There will be a lot more emphasis on anti-aircraft weapons. They are even talking about anti-aircraft destroyers. We envisage a three-tier defence system with long range AA guns then twin 40mm Bofors and finally quad 20mm cannon or similar. All this needs to be directed."
"Things are really changing, aren't they?"
"There will be no fleet-in-being strategy in the next war. We won't be able to repeat the Italian operation either."
"So air power is the greatest threat?"
"That followed by submarines and mines," Louis replied.
"At the moment our main priorities at TRADOC are anti-air and anti-submarine systems but there should be orders for capital ships in '36."
"Changing the subject. When will you and Sally be visiting our family residence?"
"The earliest date I can offer is November. I have a training exercise to organize this month then early November we shall be having a wedding celebration at Windsor Castle. Prince Edward's idea. It's his wedding present for us."
"That's quite a present."
"I have insisted on a small affair and not a ten-course banquet. To be honest, a warm buffet would be fine with me."
"I've heard that he is going to parachute training next week," Louis said.
"Yes. It's a three-week course now."
"I'm surprised that he is being allowed to take the course in the first place."
"Parachuting is safer than flying, Robert and he has a pilot's license."
"He was flying over enemy territory last month," Louis added.
"How is Basil Liddel-Hart doing?"
"He's doing fine and he was expecting the turret design to be rejected."
"He knows what we are looking for. The bottle is empty. Another one?"
"Not for me," Robert answered. Louis decide to leave as well. I am the only one who doesn't have to go home but I don't like drinking alone so I retired too.
"Louis, I still own one-third of Vickers-Armstrong plus 12.5% of London and Midlands Bank. I am also a member of both boards and I recently bought half of de Havilland Aviation. I arranged for Basil Liddel-Hart to head the Land Division of Vickers-Armstrong so it should be in good hands. In addition I still I have my position in TRADOC and am head of TRADOC Annex in the MoD. Why should I complain?"
"Bob, if you are happy then I am too."
"Thanks for accepting my offer to head the Naval Section at the Annex. You need to suggest a couple more people for your section. Ideally a submariner and a naval aviator. You missed a great anti-submarine warfare briefing yesterday. Remind me to give you a copy of my notes."
"Then there's the joint proposal to prepare too."
"Do you think we should combine the two?" I asked.
"Yes. There is a lot of overlap and we need to avoid duplication of effort."
"I don't like the name - Combined Operations - sounds like someone needing multiple surgery."
"How about Special Operations Command?" he asked.
"That's better but the 'Command' is too military. It has to be invisible, remember."
"Section, directorate, executive..."
"Special Operations Executive. That sounds great. No one would think that it's a military command. SOE, simply SOE."
"At least we have a name. That's a beginning," he said.
"Now we need a mission. I'd like to know what Germany is importing and from where. Maybe we can interdict it. I have one of those 'Comply first. complain later' letters. I wonder if I can use it at the Foreign Office and the Secret Intelligence Service in order to receive daily updates."
"Are you suggesting hijacking one of their ships?"
"No, but that's a good idea. I was thinking of outbidding them so that we get the raw materials, not the Germans."
"If it the ore comes from a British or French colony it shouldn't be too difficult to block it. A Portuguese colony shouldn't pose a problem either."
We had now arrived at the Dorchester and my half-brother was already at the bar. After introductions Robert ordered champagne to celebrate the aircraft-carrier contract. He told us that they will be converted in pairs so it could take more than six years before all twelve carriers are completed.
"Do we produce motor torpedo boats, Robert?"
"At Vosper in Portsmouth. Why do you ask?"
"They are cheap and effective. Porstmouth is a bit near to the continent however. We might want to build a second plant further north."
"Do we have funds available like for the aircraft industry?"
"I don't know but I'm sure that Louis can find out next week."
"Anything else?" Louis asked.
"As a matter of fact, you need to contact Henry Tizard and ask if any of his fancy explosives can be used for torpedoes. I asked him about squad anti-tank weapons and received an interesting answer."
"So Louis will be my point of contact at the Annex?" Robert asked.
"Yes. I know very little about the Royal Navy. That's why I'm glad that Louis has joined us."
"Anything in the pipeline?"
"Not really. There will be a lot more emphasis on anti-aircraft weapons. They are even talking about anti-aircraft destroyers. We envisage a three-tier defence system with long range AA guns then twin 40mm Bofors and finally quad 20mm cannon or similar. All this needs to be directed."
"Things are really changing, aren't they?"
"There will be no fleet-in-being strategy in the next war. We won't be able to repeat the Italian operation either."
"So air power is the greatest threat?"
"That followed by submarines and mines," Louis replied.
"At the moment our main priorities at TRADOC are anti-air and anti-submarine systems but there should be orders for capital ships in '36."
"Changing the subject. When will you and Sally be visiting our family residence?"
"The earliest date I can offer is November. I have a training exercise to organize this month then early November we shall be having a wedding celebration at Windsor Castle. Prince Edward's idea. It's his wedding present for us."
"That's quite a present."
"I have insisted on a small affair and not a ten-course banquet. To be honest, a warm buffet would be fine with me."
"I've heard that he is going to parachute training next week," Louis said.
"Yes. It's a three-week course now."
"I'm surprised that he is being allowed to take the course in the first place."
"Parachuting is safer than flying, Robert and he has a pilot's license."
"He was flying over enemy territory last month," Louis added.
"How is Basil Liddel-Hart doing?"
"He's doing fine and he was expecting the turret design to be rejected."
"He knows what we are looking for. The bottle is empty. Another one?"
"Not for me," Robert answered. Louis decide to leave as well. I am the only one who doesn't have to go home but I don't like drinking alone so I retired too.