Post by Diarist on Dec 19, 2016 12:03:04 GMT 1
I went over to the MoD earlier than normal because it is Edward's first Defence Council meeting and I wish to make sure that he is fully briefed. He doesn't officially begin his new job until next week but because of the holidays there won't be a meeting next Friday. He's ready. As usual I was not late but still the last to arrive. Winston introduced Edward as Major Wales and that his duties are similar to mine before I became a minister.
I gave a quick resumé of my tour around the Middle East and Europe leaving out the juicy parts but mentioning up to 300 export orders for the new Hawker monoplane fighter. Possibly more if this weekend we can convince the French to get involved. We could market it as a Euro-Fighter or a Free-Europe-Fighter. I also reported about the Vickers meeting I attended on Wednesday morning as well as the fruitful cooperation between de Havilland and Westland Aircraft.
Duff Cooper asked me about the Gloster project. I told him that priority is being given to the fighter and dive-bomber because the torpedo-bomber will be based upon one of those two aircraft. They too will hopefully share a common design.
The War Office was a little upset with me ordering the swift creation of the 5th Armoured Division in Palestine without prior consultations at home.
"I didn't order anything, General Elles." He is the Master-General of the Ordnance. "When I returned home I made recommendations and they were accepted a couple of days later. In Libya I informed MG Howard of my intended recommendations, which he agreed with, and that he should consider making plans for such an eventuality. One of those recommendations was sending a cadre of a battalion home to be rebuilt instead of building a fresh unit from a cadre in Palestine. It would speed up the creation of the armoured division. I don't know if that has been accepted."
"The CIGS and I have supported the recommendation and the necessary orders have been disseminated," Winston replied.
"And it will be an armoured division in name only. They'll be using Mk. VI's, Bren carriers and possibly some captured Italian equipment. The 5th Mobile Cocktail would be a more appropriate name."
Again the Royal Navy briefing was interesting. The ASW ideas are beginning to take shape. I have a few thoughts for Louis later. The main emphasis of the RAF was an end-of-year report on their expansion. Not necessarily the number of aircraft but rather their much greater training programme and larger infrastructure. Their goals for the next two years are very impressive and ambitious. The new government economic plan benefits all the services especially because of the extra personnel being available.
Edward had to report that the Merlin had failed the 100-hour military test which is naturally a setback. Their Plan B is to scale up the parallel cylinder heads arrangement they use on their very successful Kestrel engine. I added that Vickers have ordered 30 R-2600 engines per month despite having no aircraft flying with that engine at the moment. Both Vickers and Bristol have twin-engine aircraft on the drawing board that can use it in case a homemade alternative isn't available.
That was pretty much all worth mentioning. Next is the SOE working lunch at the Army and Navy Club. I'm famished.
I gave a quick resumé of my tour around the Middle East and Europe leaving out the juicy parts but mentioning up to 300 export orders for the new Hawker monoplane fighter. Possibly more if this weekend we can convince the French to get involved. We could market it as a Euro-Fighter or a Free-Europe-Fighter. I also reported about the Vickers meeting I attended on Wednesday morning as well as the fruitful cooperation between de Havilland and Westland Aircraft.
Duff Cooper asked me about the Gloster project. I told him that priority is being given to the fighter and dive-bomber because the torpedo-bomber will be based upon one of those two aircraft. They too will hopefully share a common design.
The War Office was a little upset with me ordering the swift creation of the 5th Armoured Division in Palestine without prior consultations at home.
"I didn't order anything, General Elles." He is the Master-General of the Ordnance. "When I returned home I made recommendations and they were accepted a couple of days later. In Libya I informed MG Howard of my intended recommendations, which he agreed with, and that he should consider making plans for such an eventuality. One of those recommendations was sending a cadre of a battalion home to be rebuilt instead of building a fresh unit from a cadre in Palestine. It would speed up the creation of the armoured division. I don't know if that has been accepted."
"The CIGS and I have supported the recommendation and the necessary orders have been disseminated," Winston replied.
"And it will be an armoured division in name only. They'll be using Mk. VI's, Bren carriers and possibly some captured Italian equipment. The 5th Mobile Cocktail would be a more appropriate name."
Again the Royal Navy briefing was interesting. The ASW ideas are beginning to take shape. I have a few thoughts for Louis later. The main emphasis of the RAF was an end-of-year report on their expansion. Not necessarily the number of aircraft but rather their much greater training programme and larger infrastructure. Their goals for the next two years are very impressive and ambitious. The new government economic plan benefits all the services especially because of the extra personnel being available.
Edward had to report that the Merlin had failed the 100-hour military test which is naturally a setback. Their Plan B is to scale up the parallel cylinder heads arrangement they use on their very successful Kestrel engine. I added that Vickers have ordered 30 R-2600 engines per month despite having no aircraft flying with that engine at the moment. Both Vickers and Bristol have twin-engine aircraft on the drawing board that can use it in case a homemade alternative isn't available.
That was pretty much all worth mentioning. Next is the SOE working lunch at the Army and Navy Club. I'm famished.