25 Nov 1935 - Ministry for Co-ordination of Defence

[Diarist]

Finally a quiet weekend although John Mitchell visited us Saturday afternoon. He brought Barnes Wallis with him, an engineer who works at Vickers in Brooklands, Surrey. We retired to my office and spent a couple of hours discussing the anti-shipping bomb and strategic bombing as a whole. He suggested not only targeting factories and refineries but also power stations. Without electricity nothing works. I remarked that bombing dams would fit in that category and they would take a year or more to repair. The flooding would cause damage too. These spherical bombs could also bounce over torpedo nets to reach the enemy's ships Barnes had added.
We decided on two different bombs. The first is a 1,000 lb bomb for use against ships and then a 10,000 lb bomb to be used against dams. This project needs the highest level of security because we can't afford that our enemies know about this project.

The first thing I did this morning was to get in touch with Henry Tizard and I suggested he visit Brooklands and talk to Mr. Wallis.
I then prepared the letter requesting army civil engineers for AIOC headed by a colonel. Before going to the MoD I asked COL Wilkins if he could recommend anyone of his calibre for LG Gort at TRADOC HQ. He promptly replied 'No' but he knows someone almost as good. I told him that the candidate needs to call MAJ Wales and arrange an appointment. Last but not least I took Sally with me because we are having lunch at the Dorchester. LTC Rodriguez from the Spanish Embassy had called and that means a letter from Germany.

[Diarist]

The letter from Canaris dated Thursday was just to say that they'd arrived in Berlin safely and he'd given the letter to von Neurath. I gave LTC Rodriguez a letter for Germany informing him that I hope to arrive in Berlin on the 12th of December but I will call his office at the phone number he'd given me to confirm my arrival date and time.
During the afternoon the news from France confirmed an election victory for Daladier. No news about his new cabinet yet. I've been busy making notes for my upcoming travels. Alfred Scammell dropped in and I was grateful for the change of topic.
"I've just come from the bank and the good news is that Gardner has accepted our offer and we'll be using the name Scammell and Gardner Transportation Company."
"That's excellent, Alfred. How good is the business with the 3-wheeler?"
"The order book is fairly full. Why do you ask?"
"I'd like to suggest that you give that to the shareholders so you can concentrate on the Pioneer and derivatives. Also we need a subsidiary to maintain and repair the vehicles that Scammell and Gardner build. It would be training personnel who will eventually be called up into the army to maintain their vehicles. There is a government program to subsidize personnel costs. I suggest we set up workshops where the major army units are, i.e. Aldershot, Colchester and Bulford. Even in the Middle East."
"The entire Mechanical Horse business?"
"Yes, together with the Spitalfields premises. That way we won't need to give them cash. Their order book will provide revenues. It's a viable business and they can go public if they need extra cash. The armed forces will be ordering some for their supply operation. They might want to think about a double front wheel."
"It's an offer they can't turn down."
"That's the idea. We can then concentrate on the new business. I presume you'll be increasing the wheel base of the Pioneer in order to create the 6x4 truck the MoD needs?"
"Yes."
"So a large design team is not needed for that project?"
"No. It's straight forward. The utility vehicle has priority because of the deadline."
"You can't lose on that project. If someone else wins more than one firm will be producing the winning design, including us. We also need to think of a track-hybrid of the long-Pioneer."
"You mean replacing the rear double-axis with tracks like on a tank?"
"That's exactly what I mean. Trucks produce motorized units. Tracked vehicles produce mechanized units. Trucks can't go everywhere where tanks can go and the tanks need infantry support so we need mechanized infantry."
"So we'll need mechanized tractors to pull the artillery too?"
"No, Alfred. We place howitzers on tank hulls giving self-propelled artillery. The same for anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns. This is a huge expansion and our firm is guaranteed to get orders. The R100 artillery tractor has already been accepted and because it shares the same parts as the proposed long-Pioneer, guess what."
"We shall also receive orders for that. I understand."
"Alfred, I'm going overseas until mid-December but before I go I'll ensure that Irvine Miller has all the information you need to know. Thanks for coming in to see me. You've met COL Wilkins, he's my deputy here. Let me introduce you to the people in charge of the Army Section here."
I left him with BG Adam and MAJ Crocker then since it was getting late I decided to check my In-box at the MoD. It was almost empty. In my office I typed up a couple of memorandums. One for Winston and the other, more detailed, for Irvine. Winston wasn't in his office so when Sally called we left for TRADOC.