WesWorld

Imperial General Staff Defence Committee
Report of Imperial Defence 1943

This document looks at the defensive preparations, units and strengths across the Empire and the likely threat levels.


Section One: British Far East

Australia
The Dominion of Australia has independent control of its defence but also as part of the wider planning of the IGS.
Australia has announced its intention to leave the SAER agreement and this has opened potential gaps in routine patrol sectors and defences in wartime. These have been filled with co-operation from French forces in the region.

Burma
The British Colony of Burma is the largest country on the South-East Asian mainland with an area of 262,000sq miles. Burma is the world’s greatest exporter of teak, there are oil wells around Yenangyaung and the oil is piped to refineries around Syriam, south-east of Rangoon. The mines at Mawchi produce around 15% of the world’s tungsten supplies. The colony is populated a million tribesmen (Kachins, Chins, Nagas) in the central plain and the balance of the 17 million strong population, 10 million Burmans, 4 million Karens and 2 million Shans, inhabit the rest of the country. The Karens are Christian and very pro-British. The Kachins, Chins and Nagas are also pro-British and regularly supply manpower for the local militia and police. Around 15,000 of the hill tribesmen are in the Burma Frontier Force and the 1st and 2nd Burma Rifles. The main strategic threats to Burma are from Bharat to the west and China to the north. Since Bharat’s withdrawal from Satsuma the danger of a two-front campaign has receded. There is a central lowland area surrounded by forbidding mountain ranges to the east and west extending from the Himalayas. There are further mountain ranges to the west along the border with Thailand and French Indochina. There are widespread forests, heavy monsoon rains and very hot summer temperatures of up to 46C. Drier areas are scrubland and there are extensive mangroves around the river deltas. The dense forests make communications difficult and many rural areas are cut off. Air transport is of more importance but such remoteness has hampered the provision of bases and airfields further north. The great Irrawaddy provides north-south communications.

British Army: Burma falls under the jurisdiction of Far East HQ Singapore under the command of General H. Alexander.
Units in Burma comprise; the 21st Infantry Division, a newly formed unit from units previous based in Britain; the 9th Armoured Division (comprised of the 27th, 28th and 29th Royal Tank Regiments and 9th Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade (two ACR regiments)); the 1st Burma Division largely composed of indigenous manpower and units such as the 1st and 2nd Burma Rifles; the Burma Frontier Force and Burma Auxiliary Force. Both of the latter are paramilitary reserve units comprised of indigenous manpower. The 9th Armoured Division is equipped with Cruiser Tank Mk V Crusader and Cruiser Tank Mk VI Cavalier tanks with a few Infantry Tank Mk II Matilda II remaining. Karrier armoured cars, Daimler Scout Car Mk Is and Light Tank Mk VI Tetrarch make up the 9th LARB. The 21st and 9th Armoured and 1st Burma comprise X Corps. In wartime the forces in Burma would form the Twelfth Army. The Bharati Army is the most dangerous potential threat, it is well-led with a good supply of manpower and several units have been combat tested in Persian and Baluchistan. The Bharati Army has good artillery and is a very mobile force with an emphasis on mechanized warfare. Fortunately the terrain and vegetation of Burma does not lend itself to that kind of tactical operation, only in certain areas. The Bharati Army also has a powerful anti-tank force too. There is also a Brigade-sized amphibious assault unit.
Fortifications in Burma comprise:
Rangoon; a line of seven MG bunkers with two MGs each thirty pillboxes form the inland defence around the city along with one Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with thirty-seven concrete and earth firing positions. The aerodrome is protected by five small bunkers with one LMG each. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.
Moulmein; One fortified MTB bunker with four pens for sixteen MTBs with several Vickers .661in HMG on the roof for AA protection, one battery of mobile 25pdr guns with ten pre-prepared firing positions both inland and on the coast, the harbour is protected by four 12pdr QF guns and two small bunkers with one LMG each. Inland are three bunkers each with three MGs in a cloche.

Royal Air Force: Burma falls under the jurisdiction of the Far East Air Force under the command of Air Marshall J. Babington. All forces within Burma are under the operational control of No 70 Group, HQ Meiktilla, Burma under the command of Air Commodore H.D. Russell.
Units in Burma comprise;
30 Sqn, Meiktilla, Hawker Hurricane II & III
3 Sqn, Meiktilla, Hawker Typhoon F.Mk.I
82 Sqn, Meiktilla, Hawker Henley B.Mk.III
10 ACF (Army Co-Operation Flight), Hmawbi, Westland Lysander II
9 ACF, Mingaladon, Westland Lysander II
21 GCF (General Communications Flight), Mingaladon, Percival P.28 Proctor I and Airspeed AS.7 Consul
176 Sqn, Chittagong, (forming with DH Hornet FB.Mk.I)
89 Sqn, Chittagong, (forming with Bristol Buckingham B.Mk.I)
155 Sqn, Kangla, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.IV
247 Sqn, Rangoon, Supermarine Stranraer
99 Sqn, Rangoon, Vickers Wellington III
215 Sqn, Rangoon, (forming with Vickers Wellington GR.Mk.VI)
1300 Flt (Meteorology), Rangoon, Hawker Hurricane I
Burmese Volunteer Air Force, Rangoon, DH Tiger Moth
1340 Flt (Insect Control), Pegu, Hawker Hind and Bristol Blenheim
Current fighter strength is around 54 fighters in 3 squadrons with 1 long-range fighter-bomber squadron forming. In addition the Fleet Air Arm is forming seaplane fighter squadron to defend Rangoon with the new Blackburn Firebrand FRN.Mk.I. Offensive bomber strength is around 15 bombers in 1 medium bomber squadron with 1 medium bomber squadron forming. Naval co-operation consists of 1 flying boat squadron and 1 land-based patrol squadron forming. Army co-operation consists of two flights of Lysanders and one squadron of Henley dive-bombers. In addition 30 Sqn have a ground-attack role too. The Burmese Volunteer Air Force is a local unit of mainly white-settler personnel rather like the Aux Air Force units in Britain. Its role is mainly training and in wartime its pilots would be called up as an operational reserve. Chittagong is a newly-built airfield opened at the end of 1942. The Chinese would be likely use their Airborne Division against targets in Burma but unless they have long-range transports in numbers then the danger is not very great. Gliders would be unsuitable for most landing zones in Burma and would probably not get over the northern mountain ridges. In any case such an attack would be vulnerable to RAF defences. There are limited targets airborne forces could seize and resupply would be a great problem. The Bharati Air Force is not considered a serious threat lacking good aircraft and although they have a force of 150 heavy bombers their tactical bombers and fighters lack sufficient range.
Air Defences: Each airfield has one Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and one Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) radio-location set for early warning. Rangoon is protected by one AMES Type 2 and two AMES Type 5 giving coverage to the west and south. There is one sector operations room to disseminate the data and organise defence for the city. AA defences comprise one HAA and one LAA battery at each airfield and the total number of 3in AA guns around Rangoon total about 40 guns with 12 searchlights. Mandalay is protected by eight 3in AA guns and one control room. Across Burma there are around 120 observation posts, many of which are manned only by volunteers in wartime and during defence exercises. By 1945 it is hoped to equip each fighter airfield with G.C.I Type 1 (AMES Type 6 or 7) sets and Gun Laying Mk II sets for the Rangoon batteries.

Royal Navy: Burma falls under the jurisdiction of China Station and Far Eastern Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Units in Burma comprise: no fixed units – the MTB bunker at Moulmein is used by vessels of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4thand 15th Torpedo Boat Flotillas. The bunker has four pens for up to sixteen MTBs therefore two full flotillas could be accommodated. There is one RFA tanker stationed at Rangoon. The forces are Penang (see Malaya entry) are designed to act as reinforcements to protect the Burmese coast and these forces supply the bulk of the regular patrol forces within Burmese waters.
The Fleet Air Arm: 793 Sqn, Rangoon, (forming with Blackburn Firebrand FRN.Mk.I seaplane fighters)
Coastal defence around Rangoon comprise four 4in QF guns in open concrete emplacements and another ten 3in QF guns along the inlet in a mixture of open or casemate mounts.

A most interesting report, with much food for thought.

Speaking OOC though, I have to wonder if there is value in stationing so many Imperial troops in Burma. Should war break out between Bharat and Britain (as unlikely as that might be) command of the sea would immediately pass to Bharat until such time as the Royal Navy could restore the situation. In that time period, Burma would be cut off from supplies and reinforcements, much like the historical situation of 1941-42. As the time required to defeat any likely seaborne opponent is unknown, it places the substantial force of Imperial troops at a high risk; of course, they are the best equipped to hold out until relieved.

Don't forget the sizable RN forces at Malaya though. Talking of which here is the Malayan section.

I should of said before, this report is top secret so its only for OOC info.

***

Malaya
Malaya is a collective of states is made up of the Federated Malay States (Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang), the Unfederated Malay States (Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu) and the Straits Settlements (Penang Island, Malacca and Singapore). The Straits Settlement of Malacca has been a colony since 1825. The population is around 5 million of whom only 2.3 million are Malays, the rest are composed of 2.4 million Chinese and 100,000 other nationalities including the British. Most Chinese live in the towns of the Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements while the majority of the Malays are engaged in agriculture in the Unfederated States. Malaya is a valuable asset for the British Empire producing 38% of the world’s rubber and 58% of the world’s tin. Malaya has little direct overland threat except via Thailand in the north. Malaya’s main threat comes from amphibious invasion and to meet these threats the two main north-south roads and the coastal towns have been heavily fortified. Malaya, especially Singapore, is the main powerbase of the Eastern Empire. From here power can be projected via sea against the Satsuma powers of China and Japan in the event of war. The RAF wishes to form a powerful heavy bomber force in Malaya, partly as a method of projecting power and partly as a means to overcome the large distances in the region. Northern and central Malaya are mountainous which also aids defence. The coastal plains are vulnerable to landings however. Also, in terms of internal security the large population of Chinese places questions on the existence of a subversive underground movement and espionage network that in wartime could not be ignored.

British Army: Malaya falls under the jurisdiction of Far East HQ Singapore under the command of General H. Alexander.
Units in Malaya comprise; the 18th Infantry Division; 1st Malayan Brigade; 2nd Malayan Brigade; 27th Armoured Brigade; Malayan Artillery Brigade; Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery,; the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force.
The 27th Armoured Brigade is equipped mainly with Cruiser Tank Mk IV tanks. The Malayan Brigades are largely composed of indigenous manpower but some British units are used as a stiffener. Roughly two-thirds of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery are based in Malaya and this unit is of brigade strength and comprises in Malaya four regiments, organised identically to a standard Royal Regiment of Artillery. They have a mix of 25pdr and 4.5in guns. The Federated Malay States Volunteer Force and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force are largely composed of indigenous manpower and form a reserve force to man defensive positions and conduct military police operations in wartime. The SSVF numbers four battalions and contains a company of Crossley armoured cars. The 18th Division, both Malayan Brigades, the 27th Armoured Brigade and the Malayan Artillery Brigade are part of XI Corps. The local territorial units and the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery are part of XII Corps. In wartime the forces in Malaya would form the Fourteenth Army. There are around 150 18pdr guns in the artillery park as a reserve to be issued to units in Burma and Malaya in wartime.
The Royal Marines have MNDBO III (Marine Naval Defence Base Organisation) stationed at Singapore which supplies units for overseas harbour defences and has 2 Regiments and 12 Artillery Regiments. MNBDO III supplies units for other Far Eastern harbour defences as well.
Fortifications in Malaya comprise:
Island of Penang (plus town of Georgetown); One Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with thirty-seven concrete and earth firing positions covering all four coasts. Three concrete fire-control director towers with 10 foot rangefinders, one communications bunker, six MG bunkers with two MG each and ten pillboxes. One airstrip near Georgetown is protected by three small bunkers each with one LMG. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.
Port Weld; One light AA battery with Cannon 20mm Mark I and one mobile battery of 25pdr field guns with twenty pre-prepared firing positions. One fortified MTB bunker with four pens for sixteen MTBs with several Vickers .661in HMG on the roof for AA protection.
Kelang and Pelabohan Kelang; One Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with forty concrete and earth firing positions. One concrete fire-control director tower with 10 foot rangefinder, one communications bunker, ten MG bunkers with two MG each. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.
Port Dickson; One fortified MTB bunker, one battery of 18pdr guns in fixed concrete bunkers, the small harbour and mole is protected by three 12pdr QF guns and two small bunkers with one LMG each.
Malacca; One fortified MTB bunker, one battery of 18pdr guns in fixed concrete bunkers, the small harbour and mole protected is by three 12pdr QF guns and the local airfield is protected by two small bunkers with one LMG each. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area as have ten bunkers each with two Vickers MGs.
Muar; Two fortified MTB bunkers, two batteries of 18pdr guns in fixed concrete bunkers and mobile revetments. The harbour and mole are protected by two 12pdr QF guns and four small bunkers with one LMG each. The seaplane base is protected by three fortified buildings for two.
Batu Pahat; Two fortified MTB bunkers, one Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with forty concrete and earth firing positions. The harbour is protected by five 12pdr QF guns in casemates and ten MG bunkers with two MG each. One small seaplane base is protected by two fortified buildings for two LMG and three small bunkers with one LMG each. Two communications bunkers also in this area are linked by tunnels to four large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches). The latter form part of the Outer Singapore Line.
Outer Singapore Line (Excluding the forts mentioned at Batu Pahat); six fortified sluice gates for flooding several low-ling areas inland from the marshes around Batu Pahat covered by seven small bunkers with one LMG each. Several strongpoints inland consist of six large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) linked by tunnels to ten MG bunkers with two Vickers MG each and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers with an additional Vickers .661in HMG with moats around the bigger forts. Eight 18pdr guns mounted in individual bunkers with two MG each (mounted in cloches) also form part of the western network. Around Keluang inland (roughly the centre of the line) are seven large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) linked by tunnels to sixteen MG bunkers with two MG each and one communications bunker. Eight 18pdr guns are mounted in individual bunkers with two MG each (mounted in cloches) and another mobile battery of 25pdrs has the use of forty pre-prepared firing positions. The eastern section covers the main southern west-east road and consists of eighteen light MG bunkers, ten 6pdr AT-gun bunkers and six 3.7in QF guns mounted in larger bunkers for support. Each of the AT and QF bunkers has an MG. At the eastern coast there is an extensive moat and flooding system with two large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) linked by tunnels to eleven MG bunkers with two MG each and one communications bunker. An underground hospital is also located here as are a battery of casemated 6in guns for coastal defence.
Singapore; Extensive coastal fortifications have been upgraded with four 16.5/45 twin turrets and ten new 6in casemates (in five new large bunkers which also mount six 0.661in HMGs in casemates and cloches). The 16.5in turrets each have a 600 shell magazine and diesel generators and crew accommodations. Two rangefinder towers each mount a 15 foot rangefinder in an armoured turret. Three MTB bunkers are located at the Naval Dockyards. Three mobile 25pdr batteries cover the landward approaches and a line of sixteen light MG bunkers are further inland along with sixteen 6pdr AT-gun bunkers each with two MGs. Three batteries of 3.7in AA guns have been added to the area. Two large two-level bunkers for the Navy and Army HQs are near the city as are three casernes each holding 120 men and two underground hospitals. Work has begun on a new two-level underground communications bunker.
Mersing, Pekan, Kuantan, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Trengganu and Kota Bharu; These eastern coast towns are standardised with one fortified MTB bunker, two batteries of 25pdr guns and two batteries of 4.5in guns with around twenty-six pre-prepared revetments each. The harbours are protected by four 12pdr QF guns and eight small bunkers with one LMG each. Kuantan and Kuala Trengganu each have small seaplane base protected by three small bunkers with one LMG each and four 20mm Mark I cannon. Each town straddles the main eastern north-south road and so inland anti-tank ditches are covered by six MG bunkers with two MG each, three 3.7in QF bunkers and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers at each town. All are linked by tunnels and each town has one large bunker (6 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) overlooking the road which have extensive communications equipment and a hospital. Kota Bharu has three such bunkers along the border with eleven smaller twin MG bunkers linked to them by underground tunnels and five further bunkers each with two 6pdr AT-guns and two HMGs. Pekan has extensive moats and floodable areas inland for all-round protection.
Kangar, Alor Setar, Butterworth, Taiping, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban; All these towns are along the main western north-south road and feature some field works to impede any enemy advance along this road. Each town has anti-tank ditches to either side of the road and covered by six MG bunkers two MG each, three 3.7in QF bunkers and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers at each town. All are linked by tunnels to each other and one large bunker (6 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) which have extensive communications equipment and a hospital. A line of seven small MG bunkers, two further large bunkers and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers cover both flanks for protection. Alor Setar has another line of eight small and two large bunkers behind the town for additional protection. The village of Kangar on the border has three bunkers each with one 3.7in QF in a casemate and two Vickers in a cloche. The important aerodrome at Butterworth is protected on all sides by seven MG bunkers with two MGs each, ten pillboxes and a battery of mobile 25pdr guns. Recently eighteen 3.7in and twenty-four 20mm Mark I cannon have been added in concrete positions with two director towers mounting a destroyer-type DCT. Batteries of eight 18pdr guns in casemates are restricted to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is also protected by a larger fort with six 4.5in guns in turrets and four 6pdr anti-tank guns in casemates with nine .661in Vickers HMGs.

Royal Air Force: Malaya falls under the jurisdiction of the Far East Air Force under the command of Air Marshall J. Babington. All forces within Malaya are under the operational control of No 71 Group, HQ Butterworth, under the command of Air Commodore G. B. Dacre.
Units in Malaya comprise;
267 (Malta) Sqn, Kallang, Bristol Bermuda
67 Sqn, Kallang, Hawker Hurricane III
119 Sqn, Kallang, (forming with DH Hornet FB.Mk.I)
271 Sqn, Kallang, Bristol Bermuda
1303 Flt (Meteorology THUM), Kallang, Hawker Hurricane II
Singapore Operational Training Flight, Kallang, Miles Master I and Airspeed Oxford I and Hawker Hurricane III
33 Sqn, Kota Bharu, Hawker Tornado F.Mk.I
11 Sqn, Kota Bharu, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
36 Sqn, Kota Bharu, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
219 Sqn, Seletar, Short Sunderland I & II
230 Sqn, Seletar, Short Sunderland II & GR.Mk.IV
279 Fleet Requirements Sqn, Seletar, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
AHQ Far East Communication Flight, Seletar, Percival P.28 Proctor I and Airspeed AS.7 Consul
Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force, Seletar, DH Tiger Moth
112 Sqn, Kuala Lumpur, Hawker Hurricane II & III (converting to Martin-Baker M.B.5 F.Mk.I)
154 Sqn, Kuala Lumpur, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III
2 Sqn, Kuala Lumpur, Westland Lysander I
15 GCF, Kuala Lumpur, Percival P.28 Proctor I
60 Sqn, Tengah , Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
166 Sqn, Tengah, Vickers Wellington III
1458 Flight (Radio Calibration), Tengah, D.H. Tiger Moth and Bristol Blenheim
1301 Flt (Meteorology), Tengah, Vickers Wellesley and Hawker Hurricane I
Far East Air Force Examining Squadron, Tengah, Miles Magister and DH Tiger Moth
Far East Air Force Training Squadron, Tengah, Miles Magister and DH Tiger Moth
Malayan Volunteer Air Force, Tengah, DH Tiger Moth and DH Dragon Rapide
101 Sqn, Butterworth, Vickers Wellington B.Mk.IV
100 Sqn, Butterworth, Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I & III
223 Sqn, Butterworth, Vickers Wellington GR.Mk.VI
Total RAF fighter strength is around 72 aircraft in 4 squadrons with 1 long-range fighter-bomber squadron forming. The offensive bomber force numbers 30 medium bombers in 2 squadrons. Army co-operation comprises around 54 light bombers in 3 squadrons and one squadron and one flight of Lysanders. Naval co-operation forces comprise two long-range flying boat squadrons, a medium-range flying boat squadron, one long-range land-based and one medium-range land-based squadron totalling roughly 66 aircraft. It is the long-term intention to form a long-range bomber group within No 71 Group by 1945. The Malayan Volunteer Air Force and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force are local units of mainly white-settler personnel rather like the Aux Air Force units in Britain. Its role is mainly training and transport and in wartime its pilots would be called up as an operational reserve. The FAA units listed also contribute to fighter defence and naval strike. The Chinese would be likely use their Airborne Division against targets in Northern Malaya but unless they have long-range transports and glider tugs in numbers then the danger is not very great. Gliders would be unsuitable for most landing zones in Malaya and would be vulnerable to RAF defences. Such a tactic would be to either key positions or as a feint.

Air Defences: Each airfield has one Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and one Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) radio-location set for early warning. Alor Setar and Kota Baharu both have one AMES Type 2 and one AMES Type 5 to form a basic defensive early-warning coverage along the Siamese border. Singapore is protected by two AMES Type 2 and three AMES Type 5 giving all-round coverage. There is one sector operations room to disseminate the data and organise defence for the city. AA defences comprise one HAA and one LAA battery at each airfield and the total number of 3.7in AA guns around Singapore total about 48 guns with 12 searchlights. Other AA defences are listed under fortifications above. Across Malaya there are around 100 observation posts, many of which are manned only by volunteers in wartime and during defence exercises. There are around 100 3in AA guns in the artillery park as a reserve to be issued to units in Burma and Malaya in wartime. By 1944 it is hoped to equip each fighter airfield with G.C.I Type 1 (AMES Type 6 or 7) sets and Gun Laying Mk II sets for the all HAA batteries and to equip all major coastal towns on both shores with mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* to form a complete coverage around Malaya by the end of 1945.

Royal Navy: Malaya falls under the jurisdiction of China Station and Far Eastern Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Units in Malaya comprise:
At Singapore;
Far Eastern Battle Squadron (Inflexible, Invincible) [battlecruisers]
3rd Carrier Squadron (Warrior, Eagle, Unicorn) [two fleet carriers and one tender/ light carrier]
2nd Heavy Cruiser Squadron (4 Howe Class)
18th Light Cruiser Squadron (6 H Class) [AA cruisers]
22nd Light Cruiser Squadron (5 Scylla Class)
25th Light Cruiser Squadron (4 Cathedral Class) [scout cruisers]
13th Destroyer Flotilla (8 B Class)
25th Destroyer Flotilla (8 H Class)
28th Destroyer Flotilla (8 L Class)
2nd Torpedo Escort Flotilla (8 700 Ton Colonial Torpedo Boat Class)
10th Submarine Flotilla (5 P Class)
13th Submarine Flotilla (5 U Class)
15th Submarine Flotilla (5 V Class)
4th Gunboat Squadron (6 Fly Class)
8th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
3rd Minesweeper Flotilla (8 Poole Class)
1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
3rd Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
15th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class)
Note: these MTB units are based in fortified MTB pens at Moulmein (Burma), Port Weld, Port Dickson, Malacca, Muar, Batu Pahat, Mersing, Pekan, Kuantan, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Trengganu and Kota Bharu (all Malaya)
4th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCI 1)
5th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 1)
13th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCA)
16th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 3)

At Penang;
24th Light Cruiser Squadron (5 Scylla Class)
15th Destroyer Flotilla (8 E Class)
4th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
5th Torpedo Escort Flotilla (8 Defiant Class)
6th Gunboat Squadron (3 500 ton Colonial Gunboat Class)

RFA units supporting the fleet comprise a destroyer tender, a submarine tender, a static repair ship, four tankers, a petrol tanker, two survey ships, a troopship, two tugs and a salvage tug.

The Far Eastern Fleet is considered to be the second most important fleet in the Navy and has been designed to counter the potential threats from Bharat, China and Japan. It is an optimum blocking force which can defend Malaya and project some power. The aim in wartime is to reinforce this fleet by units of the Mediterranean and Home Fleets. The recent brief war between China and the Philippines proved to be a good exercise to test the reinforcement procedures and several small problems were ironed out. Generally within 14 days the fleet can be brought up to full strength with reinforcements. The fleet comprises the bulk of the latest and most modern vessels in the Royal Navy and further aircraft carriers and capital ships are planned for the region by the end of the 1940s. The forces are Penang are designed to operate off British Borneo and Sarawak and also as reinforcements to protect the Burmese coast. The sizable MTB force is designed to block the Straits and patrol the coastlines. The bunkers should provide safe bases from which to operate and at the moment offer excess capacity. The submarine force are all coastal types, originally due to the provisions of ABUSE but such a force provides ample striking power off the Chinese and western Indian coasts. A small amphibious force has been started with light landing craft for shore operations and transport along the coasts but it is hoped to augment this larger vessels within the foreseeable future.

Fleet Air Arm: All FAA units attached to the Far Eastern Fleet are under the operational control of No 52 Group, HQ Sembawang, under the command of Rear Admiral C. Moody. The FAA airfields are Sembawang, Changi and Seletar (jointly with the RAF).
HMS Eagle Air Wing: 801 Sqn, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.I, 803 Sqn, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.I, 817 Sqn, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.II, 829 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II, 830 Sqn, Gloster Skipper FSN.Mk.II, 831 Sqn, Gloster Skipper FSN.Mk.II
HMS Warrior Air Wing: 814 Sqn, Gloster Gannet, 815 Sqn, Gloster Gannet, 826 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II, 827 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II, 828 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II
808 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Gloster Gannet)
819 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Gloster Gannet)
837 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda AS.Mk.III)
838 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
839 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
840 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda AS.Mk.III)
841 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
842 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
896 Sqn, Seletar, Fairey Swordfish (ship-based aircraft aboard capital ships and cruisers)
757 Sqn (No.2 Instrument Training Flight), Sembawang, Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Barracuda
1305 Flt (Meteorology), Sembawang, Fairey Swordfish and Gloster Sea Gladiator
1700 Flt (Air Sea Rescue), Sembawang, Fairey Swordfish
Sembawang CCF, Sembawang, Percival Proctor I and DH Tiger Moth and Fairey Swordfish
No.3 NTTU (Naval Target Towing Unit), Changi, Fairey Swordfish and Miles Queen Martinet
No.2 TTU (Torpedo Training Unit), Changi, Fairey Swordfish
Coastal defences: see fortifications list above.

British Borneo
British colonies and protectorates situated within Borneo, the world’s third largest island, comprise North Borneo and Lauban Island, Brunei and Sarawak. There is a sizable Chinese population of 50,000. Also in terms of internal security the large population of Chinese places questions on the existence of a subversive underground movement and espionage network that in wartime could not be ignored. Originally the preparations here were aimed at the Philippines as the eastern end of the Satsuma threat, but since that nation’s withdrawal from that Treaty and its recent inconclusive war with China are seen less as a threat and indeed could be a potential eastern bulwark of our Far Eastern defence network. Coastal swamps and dense inland forests aid defence but there is little of vital value to defend, Borneo’s main worth is its location and strategic reconnaissance into the Sulu Sea and South China Sea.

British Army: Borneo falls under the jurisdiction of Far East HQ Singapore under the command of General H. Alexander.
Units in Borneo comprise; the Sarawak Coastal Marine Service; the Sarawak Volunteer Corps; the Sarawak Rangers and the Sarawak Armed Police. The Sarawak Coastal Marine Service is a professional force dedicated to patrolling the northern coast and is equipped with small motor boats and also mans a few coastal strongpoints. The Sarawak Volunteer Corps is largely composed of indigenous manpower and is roughly a Brigade in strength. The Sarawak Rangers are an elite unit utilising native tribesmen and hunters and are usually attached to the Volunteer Corps. The Sarawak Armed Police falls under the Colonial Office and is a Colonial Police Force but with responsibility in wartime to guard certain strategic positions and maintain order. The Protectorate of Brunei has its own small garrison of local volunteers under British supervision.
Fortifications in Borneo are all located in Sarawak;
Kuching: three bunkers (three MG each), ten pillboxes and three 4in guns with shields in open concrete emplacements. The airfield has basic field works for defence and some concrete trenches. One heavy and one light AA battery.
Miri: two bunkers (two MG each), four pillboxes and three 3in guns with shields in open concrete emplacements.
Kota Kinabalu: six bunkers (two MG each) and four 4in guns with shields in open concrete emplacements. The airfield has basic field works for defence and some concrete trenches and two single MG bunkers. One heavy and two light AA batteries.
Kundat: There is a permanent flying boat base with slipways, three hangars, extensive workshops and underground fuel tanks. It is protected by two heavy and two light AA batteries and six single MG bunkers. Six 4.7in guns in casemates (with two MGs each) cover the inlet along with four bunkers with four .661in Vickers HMG in cloches.

Royal Air Force: Borneo falls under the jurisdiction of the Far East Air Force under the command of Air Marshall J. Babington. All forces within Borneo are under the operational control of No 72 Group, HQ Kuching, Sarawak, under the command of Air Commodore W. H. Dunn.
Units in Borneo comprise;
12 ACF, Kuching, Westland Lysander II
20 GCF, Kuching, Percival P.28 Proctor I
1302 Flt (Meteorology), Kuching, Vickers Wellesley
244 Sqn, Kundat, Supermarine Stranraer
207 Sqn, Kundat, Blackburn B.20 Boston MR.Mk.II
A new airfield is being built at Laudan in Brunei which should be ready by 1944.
Two FAA units will provide the sole fighter defence in this area;
889 FAA Sqn, Kuching, Blackburn Firebrand FRN.Mk.I
792 FAA Sqn, Kundat, (forming with Blackburn Firebrand FRN.Mk.I)
244 and 207 squadrons provide long-range flying-boat naval reconnaissance coverage while 12 ACF supports the garrison and conducts off-shore patrols. The main reconnaissance element is designed to provide an eastern side to Dutch patrols further west under the provisions of SAER and to cover the area south of the Philippines.
AA Defences: Each airfield is protected by one HAA and one LAA battery. The HAA guns are old 3in. Kundat is protected by one AMES Type 2 and one AMES Type 5 sets.

Royal Navy: Borneo falls under the jurisdiction of China Station and Far Eastern Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Units in Borneo comprise;
20th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 Vosper 72 Ft Type)
This small force is for patrol and coastal defence. Sloops and gunboats from Penang make regular patrols in the area. There is also a single RFA tanker at Kundat.


Solomon Islands
A British protectorate, this is a double-chained archipelago 600 miles long which includes the islands of Bougainville, Buka, Choisuel, New Georgia, Guadalcanal and Savo.

British Army: the Solomon Islands fall under the jurisdiction of Far East HQ Singapore under the command of General H. Alexander. There are a few small battalion-sized garrison units protecting the larger towns and harbours.

Royal Air Force: the Solomon Islands fall under the jurisdiction of the Far East Air Force under the command of Air Marshall J. Babington. All forces within Borneo are under the operational control of No 72 Group, HQ Kuching, Sarawak, under the command of Air Commodore W. H. Dunn.
Units in the Solomon Islands comprise;
248 Sqn, Honiara, Short Sunderland GR.Mk.IV
59 Sqn, Guadalcanal Field, Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I
248 and 59 squadrons provide long-range naval reconnaissance coverage and an element of naval strike power. The reconnaissance element is designed to provide an eastern side to Dutch patrols further west under the provisions of SAER and to cover the area south of the Philippines.

Royal Navy: the Solomon Islands fall under the jurisdiction of China Station and Far Eastern Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Units in the Solomon Islands comprise a detachment from the 4th Sloop Flotilla and 5th Torpedo Escort Flotilla based at Honiara which carries out routine patrols.

[OOC: Nice timing to post this now as the Filipino visit arrives in harbour on their visit]


Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island was ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Nanking and a crown colony was established. In 1860, the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter's Island were ceded in perpetuity to Britain under the Convention of Peking. In 1898 under the terms of the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, Britain obtained a 99-year lease of Lantau Island and the adjacent northern lands, which became known as the New Territories. Hong Kong's rapid industrialisation has been driven by textile exports and other manufacturing industries. Although the largest businesses are operated by British, American, and other expatriates, Chinese workers provide the bulk of the manpower.

British Army: Hong Kong falls under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong HQ under the command of Lt. General W. Platt.
Units in Hong Kong comprise; Royal Hong Kong Regiment; the 1st Kowloon Battalion; two Battalions on rotation from Home Forces; roughly a third of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery and the Hong Kong Volunteers. In addition there is a squadron of Light Tank Mk V tanks. The rotated Battalions are fully motorised infantry units. The Hong Kong Volunteers are a locally-recruited formation, roughly of Regimental size and comprise a mix of White and Chinese manpower. In wartime they would form a reserve formation for subsidiary duties. The Volunteers are a branch of the Hong Kong government and are not part of the reserve force of the British Army but are under British Army command. Since 1933 the unit has acquired six “home-built” armoured cars. The object of the Army in Hong Kong is to hold out in any siege until reinforcements can arrive. Some doubt can be raised as to whether any outside reinforcement could secure HK in the long-tern during a full-scale war. The objective is to hold-out for as long as possible and to tie down as many Chinese formations as possible and to tie up sizable Chinese air and naval forces in any potential war. China could not afford to ignore this bastion in her side and every delay inflicted upon them here would buy time for the reinforcement of Army, RAF and RN forces in Malaya.
Fortifications in Hong Kong comprise: twenty MG bunkers (two MG each) and six 3.7in QF bunkers connected by tunnels to six 18pdr casemates (both facing inland and out to sea) and four large bunkers (6 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) which have extensive communications equipment and a hospital form the main defensive line along the land border with China. A larger fort with six 4.5in guns in turrets and four 6pdr anti-tank guns in casemates with ten .661in Vickers HMGs is now complete near Fanling. There are sixty pre-prepared artillery emplacements with a variety of earthworks and concrete with concrete trenches and ammunition bunkers. Thirty-six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers each with one MG have also been added. Ten artillery positions each with four firing positions (6in and 4in) are used for coastal defence on the islands with five concrete fire-control director towers with 15 foot rangefinders and one communications bunker. Hong Kong Island is protected by twenty MG bunkers with two MG each, four casernes for eighty men each and thirty pillboxes. Tai Yun Shan island is protected by four MG bunkers with two MG each, four casernes for eighty men each and twenty pillboxes.

Royal Air Force: Hong Kong falls under the jurisdiction of AHQ Hong Kong under the command of Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham.
Units in Hong Kong comprise;
81 Sqn, Kai Tak, Hawker Hurricane II & III
245 Sqn, Kai Tak, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
11 ACF, Kai Tak, Westland Lysander II
1430 Flt, Kai Tak, (forming with Short Sunderland II ex-205 Sqn)
88 Sqn (Hong Kong), Sek Kong, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
177 Sqn (Hong Kong Auxiliary Squadron), Sek Kong, DH Tiger Moth and DH.89 and Hawker Hector
Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force (Air Component), Sek Kong, DH Tiger Moth
There are two FAA units for naval co-operation;
1701 Flt FAA (Air Sea Rescue), Kai Tak, Fairey Swordfish (seaplanes)
8107 Flt FAA, Kai Tak & HMS Drake, Cochrane, Pellew and Howard, Fairey Swordfish (seaplanes)
Fighter defence comprises 18 fighters and Army co-operation forces consist of 18 light bombers, one flight of Lysanders and in wartime 177 Sqn and the Volunteer unit. Naval co-operation forces consist of one medium-range flying boat squadron with a long-range flight forming and some ship-board FAA aircraft. There are no medium bomber forces in Hong Kong due to the possible political effects of such formations. The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force (Air Component) is a local unit of mainly white-settler personnel rather like the Aux Air Force units in Britain. Its role is mainly training and in wartime the unit would undertake Army co-operation and transport duties among the islands.
There are ten HAA and eight LAA batteries around Hong Kong and Kai Tak and Sek Kong each have one HAA and two LAA batteries. Around half have Gun Laying Mk II sets. Hong Kong has two Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and four Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) radio-location sets for early warning. It is hoped to equip Kai Tak with G.C.I Type 1 (AMES Type 7) set and Gun Laying Mk II sets for the all remaining HAA batteries and install two mobile AMES Type 9 and two AMES Type 5* by the end of 1945. The Chinese 6th Territorial Airfleet assigned to Guangzhou Prefecture is the main threat to Hong Kong while the 5th Territorial Airfleet assigned to Nanjing Prefecture and the 3rd Naval Airfleet assigned to the South Sea Fleet are the main threats to the Royal Navy operating in the South China Sea area. The Chinese would be unlikely to use their Airborne Division against Hong Kong. The RAF’s prime concern in any limited bombing campaign would be to locate and destroy the large Chinese Type 97 46cm and Type 90 24cm railway guns and the large Zhu mortars which would be located much closer to their targets.

Royal Navy: Hong Kong falls under the jurisdiction of China Station and Far Eastern Fleet under the overall command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay but local control is exercised by the Commander in Chief China, Vice-Admiral Tom Phillips.
Units in Hong Kong comprise;
15th Light Cruiser Squadron (4 Improved E Class)
4th Destroyer Flotilla (8 A Class)
5th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
3rd Gunboat Squadron (1 General Class and 6 Fly Class)
The RFA have a floating workshop and one tanker at Hong Kong.
The major peacetime role of the China Station is to patrol Hong Kong territorial waters, policing of international sea lanes to ensure free trade free from obstruction and anti-piracy patrols in the South China Sea.
In addition stationed at Hong Kong is the RCN Far East Squadron commanded by Rear Admiral H. Nogura. It comprises the heavy cruiser HMCS Prince Edward Island and the 6th Sloop Squadron (4 Admiralty 'S' Class). The main threat to Hong Kong by sea is the Chinese South Fleet, HQ Zhanjiang. The south fleet is the most important Chinese Fleet due to the geographical proximity of Hainan Dao, Macao and Hong Kong and the most modern warships in the Chinese Navy are assigned to it.


Pitcairn Islands
The Anti Piracy Patrol (a detachment of destroyers from 12th and 25th Destroyer Flotillas) calls at these islands on a regular basis and undertake patrols in the area.

Section Two: British West Africa

The only real potential enemy in the region is the South African Empire (and possibly Kongo but good relations with the Netherlands indicate a lower threat). The SAE regions of Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and the islands of Sao Tome and Principe are the closest and border Nigeria to the east. Namibia is a different matter which is dealt with below. Geographically the border with Cameroon is defended by the mountain chains along the border including the Shebshi and Mandara Mountains. Behind this is savannah with some woodland further south. The coast has broad rainforests and swampy areas.

Nigeria
The Colony of Nigeria was created as a merger of Protectorate of Northern Nigeria and Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria on 1 January 1914.

British Army: Nigeria falls under the jurisdiction of West Africa HQ at Lagos under the command of Lt. General Giffard.
Units in Nigeria comprise; 1st West African Infantry Brigade; West African Artillery Regiment (now undergoing re-equipping with 25pdrs); the Royal West African Frontier Force which is roughly Brigade strength of which half is deployed in Nigeria, and the West African Engineers.
Fortifications in Nigeria comprise;
Lagos: Shore defence comprises three 3in QF and two 4in QF guns in concrete emplacements and nine basic hexagonal concrete bunkers with slots for rifles and LMGs.
Port Harcourt: Shore defences along the coasts and inlets here comprise nine 3in QF guns in open and concrete mounts with four 6in BL guns in casemates supported by five basic hexagonal concrete bunkers with slots for rifles and LMGs.

Royal Air Force: Nigeria falls under the jurisdiction of RAF Africa, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Africa, Air Vice Marshall Higgins. Operational control is exercised by AHQ West Africa, Lagos, commanded by Air Commodore J.C. Russell.
Units in Nigeria comprise;
95 Sqn, Lagos, Short Sunderland MR.Mk.III
269 Sqn (Meteorology), Lagos, (forming with Supermarine Spitfire II and Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I)
West Africa Communications Flight, Lagos, Bristol Blenheim and Percival P.28 Proctor I
1672 Flt (Meteorology), Ikeja and Kano, Vickers Wellesley
349 Sqn, Ikeja, Hawker Hurricane II
Tropical Experimental Unit, Kano, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III and Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I and Bristol Balmoral B.Mk.I and Airspeed Oxford II
Fighter strength is 18 aircraft in 1 squadron and apart from other duties formations the only other frontline formation is a squadron of 15 Sunderlands for long-range patrolling. There are no radio-location stations in Nigeria and AA defence is limited to one LAA battery at each airfield.

Royal Navy: Nigeria falls under the jurisdiction of South Atlantic Station, HQ Lagos, under the command of Rear-Admiral Henry Harwood.
Units in Nigeria comprise;
Lagos
5th Gunboat Squadron (2 500 Ton Colonial Class Gunboats and 4 Fly Class)
4th Torpedo Escort Flotilla (8 Defiant Class)
These units are for local patrolling and coastal defence only. RFA support for the fleet includes a repair ship and two tankers.

Benin
A Crown Colony since 1902.

British Army: Benin falls under the jurisdiction of West Africa HQ at Lagos under the command of Lt. General Giffard.
Units in Benin comprise; the 23rd West African Brigade and roughly half of the Royal West African Frontier Force. In wartime the 23rd West African Brigade would be reinforced to form the 83rd West African Division.

British Togoland
Formerly part of German West Africa and handed to Britain as a League of Nations Class B mandate. On 30 January 1944 this mandate was handed over to French control.

Namibia
Formerly part of German West Africa, handed to by Britain as a League of Nations mandate. Rich diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. A number of other minerals are extracted; lead, tungsten, gold, tin, fluorspar, manganese, marble, copper and zinc. The only strategic threat to the Mandate is the SAE. The coastline is rugged with rough seas, reefs and rocks and the shore itself is largely inhospitable Namib Desert. It is considered almost impossible for amphibious landings and Walvis Bay is the only likely location for such an attack and indeed is the British strongpoint of the country. The interior is very dry with the Kalahari Desert. Inland it is very dry but less barren with some hardy vegetation. There is a large plateau which peaks near the town of Windhoek. Generally the terrain suits mobile and armoured warfare and the SAE have such forces in numbers which are well trained and certainly not far off the latest weapons in capability. Generally the spread out settlements across the Mandate and poor road links preclude extensive defence of all points. Generally a delaying action would be fought near Windhoek with a fighting withdrawal to the sea at Walvis Bay. The Iberian colony of Angola is to the north and here they have 6 divisions (3 Infantry, 2 Cavalry and 1 Carabineros of motorised light infantry). Flat inland areas again make Namibia vulnerable to any Iberian attack from the north.

British Army: Namibia falls under the jurisdiction of West Africa HQ at Lagos under the command of Lt. General Giffard. The only unit is the 24th West African (Namibia) Brigade.
Walvis Bay, the only port in Namibia, is protected by six 6in BL guns in shielded mounts, a battery of four 12pdr QF guns in concrete emplacements, eight basic hexagonal concrete bunkers with slots for rifles and LMGs, three two-level bunkers with five MGs each, two casernes each holding 80 men and two concrete fire-control director towers with 15 foot rangefinders.

Royal Air Force: Namibia of RAF Africa, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Africa, Air Vice Marshall Higgins. Operational control is exercised by AHQ West Africa, Lagos, commanded by Air Commodore J.C. Russell.
Units in Namibia comprise;
2130 Flt, Walvis Bay, Bristol Blenheim
1339 Flt, Walvis Bay, Hawker Hurricane II
726 Fleet Requirements Sqn, Walvis Bay, (forming with Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter)
771 Sqn FAA, Walvis Bay, Fairey Swordfish
1339 Flight provides local fighter defence with 8 aircraft and 2130 Flt is a reconnaissance unit but also capable of anti-shipping operations in wartime. The forming 726 Sqn will support the operations of the South Atlantic Station and provide longer-range coastal reconnaissance. The FAA has one squadron of 18 torpedo-bombers as the sole naval strike force. AA defences at Walvis Bay comprise 8 3.7in AA guns and around 8 20mm cannon. Some of the 3.7in guns can be used as additional coast guns. The RSAF is powerful with modern equipment and well-trained aircrews and pilots. Given the distances involved it is likely that only long-range types would be used. Given the inability to quickly reinforce RAF units it is likely air superiority would be lost within a week and the strategic value of the Mandate does not fully justify stripping aerial defences elsewhere in Africa in peacetime. Resupply by carrier would be one option.

Royal Navy: Namibia falls under the jurisdiction of South Atlantic Station, HQ Lagos, under the command of Rear Admiral H. Harwood. Walvis Bay is the only harbour but there are no permanent naval forces stationed here. Any patrolling vessels are supplied by the 4th Torpedo Escort Flotilla at Lagos. The RSAN is a powerful and modern fleet. The small harbour here prevents maintaining many ships here but the large harbour allows several larger ships to be based here in times of tension. The RSAN has ample units to blockade Walvis Bay. Any decisive action would be fought by elements of the Home and Mediterranean Fleets elsewhere.

Section Three: British East Africa

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
In 1899 Britain and Egypt reached an agreement under which Sudan is run by a governor-general appointed by Egypt with British consent. In reality Sudan is effectively administered as a British colony. The British administration runs Sudan as two essentially separate territories, the north (Muslim) and south (Christian). Sudan faces two potential threats; the Italian forces in the East African State and the Dutch colony of Kongo. The latter is not considered a high threat. The Italian forces in EAS are modern and well equipped. There is now a new armoured regiment in the EAS Army composed of a mix of Italian and local personnel with Italian armoured cars and trucks. The main strategy in any war with Italy is to protect the Red Sea and the southern approaches to the Suez Canal and to keep overland links open with the Kenya and Uganda. The southern borders have rising land with the highest points on the Ugandan border. The central plain is suited to armoured warfare. To the east are the Ethiopian Highlands (12,000ft peaks) and behind them the marshy Sudd between the Blue Nile and White Nile. The 6,500ft high Red Sea Mountains are behind a small coastal plain along the coast. Therefore there are limited routes of advance. It is hoped that the ‘Peace Dividend’ in Europe will release some regular Army and RAF units to bolster the defences. At the moment there are not enough stiffeners to support the locally-raised units.

British Army: Sudan falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Western) General C. Auchinleck.
Units in Sudan comprise; XVI Corps with the 4th Inf Div and Sudan Defence Force; the 1st Sudan Defence Brigade and 2nd Sudan Defence Brigade. The Brigades are composed of local recruited units led by British Army officers and NCOs and wholly British units. These units have some older Morris Light Armoured Reconnaissance Car and Crossley Mark I armoured cars for patrol work and some Carrier Armoured Wheeled No.1 Mk I. The Sudan Defence Force consists of a number of battalions; the Shendi Horse; the Sudan Camel Corps (the Hajana); the Western Arab Corps; the Eastern Arab Corps and the Equatoria Corps, altogether about 4,500 troops.
Fortifications in Sudan are part of the Red Sea defences. The towns of Hurghada, Quseir, Halaib and Port Sudan all have a battery of old 6in guns in open mounts and a few MG posts for self-defence. Port Sudan has five small MG bunkers and two 9.2in BL guns in shields. The island of Res Muhammed just south of the Gulf of Suez is armed with four 9.2in BL guns and four 6in QF guns in casemates. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area. The entire island is connected by tunnels with some ten fortified retractable searchlight positions and ten MG bunkers. A small port has one fortified MTB bunker with four pens for sixteen MTBs with several Vickers .661in HMG on the roof for AA protection.

Royal Air Force: Sudan falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo under the command of Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 61 Group, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, commanded by Commander-in-Chief (Air) Egypt, Air Marshal A. Harris.
Units in Sudan comprise;
37 Sqn, Khartoum, Vickers Wellington I
250 (Sudan) Sqn, Khartoum, Hawker Hurricane III
237 Sqn, Khartoum, (forming with Westland Lysander GR.Mk.III)
1566 Flt (Meteorology), Khartoum, Hawker Hurricane II and Gloster Gladiator
Khartoum Communication Flight, Kahartoum, Hawker Hind and DH Tiger Moth
250 Sqn with its 18 Hurricanes offers some limited fighter protection to the Red Sea area and Port and while 37 Sqn is equipped with obsolete early-type Wellingtons the unit can handle daily reconnaissance over the Red Sea and provide some limited bombing capability. 237 Sqn, when formed, will provide support for the 1st and 2nd Sudan Defence Brigades.
Aerial Defences: Khartoum and Port Sudan are protected by 16 3in AA and 6 searchlights and RAF Khartoum is protected by 1 HAA and 2 LAA batteries with two Gun Laying Mk I RDF sets. There are plans to deliver some mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* radio-location sets to Sudanese coastal area by the end of 1945. The EAS Air Force is increasing in size and capability with FIAT CR.35 and CR.36 fighters and now local production is being undertaken of advanced trainers.

Royal Navy: There are no units stationed in Sudan but the Red Sea falls under the operational area of the Mediterranean Fleet. There is one RFA tanker at Port Sudan.

Kenya
The Colony of Kenya was established in 1920. The population numbers 4.9 million including 23,000 Europeans. The South African Empire to the south and the Italian-controlled East African State are the main strategic threats to Kenya. The coastal plain is narrow in the south but broadens to the northeast. Generally much of the east of the Colony is flat and grassy.

British Army: Kenya falls under the jurisdiction of East Africa HQ, Nairobi, under the command of Maj. General N. Ritchie.
Units in Kenya comprise; VII Corps with the 3rd Infantry Division, 1st Brigade King's African Rifles (KAR), the East African Light Artillery Regiment which is now fully equipped with 25pdrs; the 10th Armoured Brigade; the East African Armoured Car Regiment; the Kenya Regiment and the East African Engineers which have sub-units throughout the East African Protectorate. The 10th Armoured Brigade is equipped with the Cruiser Tank Mk IV. The East African Armoured Car Regiment is equipped with Morris Light Armoured Reconnaissance Cars, a handful of Daimler Armoured Cars and some Carrier Armoured Wheeled No.1 Mk I.
Fortifications in Kenya include;
Mombasa: Shore defences of six 6in guns in shielded mounts, a battery of four 12pdr QF guns in concrete emplacements and five basic hexagonal concrete bunkers with slots for rifles and LMGs. Three two-level bunkers with five MGs each and two concrete fire-control director towers with 15 foot rangefinders have been also been built.
Lamu: This small harbour has three 12pdr QF guns for coastal protection and three bunkers each with one .661in HMG.

Royal Air Force: Kenya falls under the jurisdiction of RAF Africa, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Africa, Air Vice Marshall Higgins. Operational control is exercised by AHQ East Africa, HQ Eastleigh, under the command of Air Vice Marshall H. P. Lloyd.
Units in Kenya comprise;
45 Sqn, Eastleigh, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
1671 Flt (Meteorology), Eastleigh, Vickers Wellesley
1414 Flt (Meteorology) Eastleigh, Hawker Hurricane II
AL Flt (Anti-Locust), Eastleigh and Kisumu, Hawker Hind and Bristol Blenheim and DH Tiger Moth
Eastleigh Communication Flight, Eastleigh, Hawker Hind and DH Tiger Moth
270 Sqn, Kpevu, Short Sunderland MR.Mk.III
1342 Flt, Nairobi, Hawker Hurricane II
1433 Flt, Nairobi, Westland Lysander II
1569 Flt (Meteorology), Nairobi, Hawker Hurricane II
Kenyan Air Training Group, Nairobi, DH Tiger Moth and Miles Magister
Air Headquarters East Africa Communication Flight, Deversoir and Nairobi, Percival P.28 Proctor I and Airspeed AS.7 Consul and Avro Anson C.Mk.II
2 (Training) Flight, Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit, Kisumu, DH Tiger Moth and Hawker Hind
3 Reconnaissance Flight, Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit, Kisumu, Hawker Hind
1 Reconnaissance Flight, Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit, Mombasa, Bristol Blenheim
The fighter strength consists of 8 fighters. A squadron of 18 light bombers offers the only striking power available to AHQ East Africa. 1433 Flt is a local Army co-operation unit. The Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit is a local volunteer unit of mainly white-settler personnel rather like the Aux Air Force units in Britain. It carries out peacetime patrol and transport duties and in wartime would be Army co-operation units. All told in wartime the KAAU and 1433 Flt could muster about 26 aircraft. Naval co-operation consists of a squadron of 15 long-range flying boats operating over the western Indian Ocean.
Aerial defences: There are few defences other than a few old 3in AA around Nairobi and Mombasa and the airfields generally have a LAA battery. There are around 40 observation posts across southern Kenya. There are plans to deliver some mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* radio-location sets to cover the Tanzania-Kenya-Malawi border with some sector control and more fighter units by 1945.

Royal Navy: Kenya falls under the jurisdiction of Eastern Africa and Persian Gulf Station under the command of Vice Admiral J. Godfrey.
Units in Kenya comprise;
Mombasa
Southern Scouting Squadron (seaplane carrier Athene and 1 Z Class destroyer)
3rd Torpedo Escort Flotilla (8 700 Ton Colonial Torpedo Boats)
2nd Gunboat Squadron (2 500 Ton Colonial Gunboats and 6 Insect Class)
16th Submarine Flotilla (5 V Class)
7th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
Kenya Flotilla (two armed tugs)
RFA support for the EA&PGS includes a submarine tender, two tankers and a collier. The Eastern Africa and Persian Gulf Station is mainly focused on the Persian Gulf but the forces in Kenya have a vital role to protect the southern approaches to the Red Sea and East Africa. Mainly a scouting and coast defence force it can be reinforced by the Mediterranean Fleet within days. The Navy of the Italian EAS consists of a light trade protection cruiser, two small coastal defence ships and a large seaplane-carrying submarine and around 20 MAS transferred in 1932 to help with policing duties. This small force poses little offensive danger to shipping in the Red Sea and could be easily blockaded in port or sunk by aerial attack in harbour.


Chad
The League of Nations mandate for Chad was transferred from French authority on 30 January 1944. This new territory has to be fully integrated into the East African administration. The only external threats come from the north and south (Italy and SAE respectively) but the northern regions are barren scrubland and desert and the south is heavily forested. Transport links will eventually link Nigeria to Sudan to improve trans-African communications. The only defence needs at present are for internal security.

British Army: Chad falls under the jurisdiction of East Africa HQ, Nairobi, under the command of Maj. General N. Ritchie.
Units in Chad comprise; a battalion from the 1st Brigade King's African Rifles in the capital Ndjamena.

Royal Air Force: Chad falls under the jurisdiction of RAF Africa, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Africa, Air Vice Marshall Higgins.
Units in Chad comprise; Chad Communications Flight, Ndjamena, Miles Mentor and Avro Anson C.Mk.II


Uganda
The British Protectorate of Uganda was formed in 1894. The population roughly numbers 4.2 million of which 20,200 are Europeans. The nearest threat to Uganda is Kongo to the east. The border is separated by the volcanic Virunga Mountains in the southwest near Rwanda, then along the western branch of the Great Rift Valley with Lake Edward, the Ruwenzori rang and then Lake Albert. It is considered advisable to build some gunboats to protect Lake Edward and Lake Albert in the future to counter any possible Kongo threat in the region.

British Army: Uganda falls under the jurisdiction of East Africa HQ, Nairobi, under the command of Maj. General N. Ritchie.
Units in Uganda comprise; the 26th East African Brigade and the Uganda Regiment, a locally-raised volunteer unit.

Royal Air Force: Uganda falls under the jurisdiction of RAF Africa, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Africa, Air Vice Marshall Higgins. Operational control is exercised by AHQ East Africa, HQ Eastleigh, Kenya under the command of Air Vice Marshall H. P. Lloyd. The only RAF unit in Uganda is; No.9 Navigation and Air Gunnery School, Entebbe, Airspeed Oxford I.


Tanzania
In 1922 a section of Germany’s former East African colonies were handed to Britain under a League of Nations Mandate. Tanzania was split between Britain and the South African Empire, the southern portion being merged with the SAE state of Malawi. Tanzania is administered under the East African Protectorate from Mombasa. The current population is around 2.5 million including around 7,900 Europeans. The South African Empire to the south is the main strategic threat. Tanzania extends to the Indian Ocean just south of Kenya thereby forming a buffer zone. Much of the Mandate is a plateau with a narrow coastal plain, but the coast is swampy. Much of the interior is grassland with some woods. Tsetse-fly infestation poses problems for livestock or human settlement. Lake Tanganyika forms a natural barrier with Kongo to the east. It is felt advisable to build some gunboats to protect the Lake in the future to counter any possible Kongo threat in the region. Generally any possible threat from Kongo to British East Africa is limited by the Great Rife Valley and the rivers and lakes formed in that area. Generally for its size it is well defended with two brigades stationed around Lake Victoria and the coast.

British Army: Tanzania falls under the jurisdiction of East Africa HQ, Nairobi, under the command of Maj. General N. Ritchie.
Units in Tanzania comprise; XIV Corps with the 21st East African Brigade and the 2nd Brigade King's African Rifles (KAR). In wartime the 21st East African Brigade would become the 13th East African Division. Elements of the East African Armoured Car Regiment often train in Tanzania. Plans are being discussed for the defensive preparation of the Tanzania/ Malawi border in certain areas.

Royal Air Force: Tanzania falls under the jurisdiction of RAF Africa, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Africa, Air Vice Marshall Higgins. Operational control is exercised by AHQ East Africa, HQ Eastleigh, Kenya under the command of Air Vice Marshall H. P. Lloyd.
Units in Tanzania comprise;
Tanzania Air Defence Unit, Dar es Salaam, Supermarine Spitfire II
Dar es Salaam Communication Flight, Dar es Salaam (Tanganyika), Hawker Hind and DH Tiger Moth
The sole frontline RAF is a small fighter unit for local defence. It has around 12 aircraft. There are around 90 observation posts across southern Kenya. Dar es Salaam is also protected by 12 3in AA guns and four searchlights.


Rwanda
In 1922 a section of Germany’s former East African colonies were handed to Britain under a League of Nations Mandate. Rwanda is administered under the East African Protectorate from Mombasa. The Great Rift Valley and Lake Kivu largely separate Rwanda from Kongo to the east. It is considered advisable to build some gunboats to protect Lake Kivu in the future to counter any possible Kongo threat in the region.

British Army: Rwanda falls under the jurisdiction of East Africa HQ, Nairobi, under the command of Maj. General N. Ritchie.
Units in Rwanda comprise; two battalions of the 2nd Brigade King's African Rifles.


Burundi
In 1922 a section of Germany’s former East African colonies were handed to Britain under a League of Nations Mandate. Burundi is administered under the East African Protectorate from Mombasa. Natural resources include uranium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and platinum. The Ruzizi River in the Great Rift Valley and the mountain ridge to the east of it extends into Uganda and forms a barrier from Kongo to the west.

British Army: Burundi falls under the jurisdiction of East Africa HQ, Nairobi, under the command of Maj. General N. Ritchie.
Units in Burundi comprise; a battalion of the 2nd Brigade King's African Rifles.

Section Four: British Middle East

Gibraltar
Gibraltar is located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean with an area of 2.64 square miles. It has a northern border with Andalusia, Iberia. It is an important base for the Royal Navy and is run a Colony with a colonial administration under a Governor appointed from London. The ‘Rock’ is a single steep limestone ridge of rock that rises 1,394 ft and in on its Mediterranean side is almost unassailable. It has been extensively tunnelled and fortified for centuries. A sandy isthmus joins Gibraltar to Iberia.

British Army: Gibraltar falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Western) General C. Auchinleck. Units consist of two battalions on rotation from Home Forces and one battalion of mixed local volunteers and British Army personnel. In wartime the 1st Gibraltar Brigade would be formed.
‘The Rock’ is aptly named and Gibraltar is heavily fortified. Modernisation has included two twin turrets for 16.5/45 guns and six 6in guns in new casemates with a .661in Vickers HMG each for self-defence. There are fourteen 9.2in guns, twelve 6in guns and sixteen 12pdr QF guns in a variety of open, shielded and casemate mounts. The 12in guns have been removed. The two 16.5in turrets are linked to a system of tunnels inside the rock for magazines and crew quarters. Each turret has its own 15 foot rangefinder mounted atop a concrete bunker. Inland three new bunkers each with one 2pdr anti-tank gun and two MGs cover the main entrance over the Iberian border. An extensive four-layer HQ and communications centre is inside the Rock alongside a hospital and extensive water and fuel storage tanks. Extensive tunnelling work to enlarge the underground facility inside the Rock is on-going between 1943 and 1945. Ten small MG bunkers cover the various entrances and gas-proof air vents and each has one MG. The airfield is currently having its runway extended and two new light AA batteries equipped with Cannon 20mm Mark I have been added to the defences along with six new 6pdr AA guns mounted in concrete firing positions with two AA concrete director towers each mounting a destroyer-type DCT. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area. A new semi-submerged two-level fire-control bunker with roof-mounted armoured 15 foot rangefinder and extensive communications equipment has been completed near the main harbour.

Royal Air Force: All RAF units in Gibraltar are controlled by No 30 Group, Coastal Command, HQ Gibraltar commanded by Air Vice Marshall B. E. Baker. Therefore, operations from Gibraltar are controlled from Coastal Command HQ Northwood under the command of Air Marshal Arthur Longmore and are integrated with Coastal Command operations conducted from Britain.
Units in Gibraltar comprise;
203 Sqn, Gibraltar, Short Sunderland I & II & GR.Mk.IV
224 Sqn, Gibraltar, Vickers Wellington GR.Mk.VI
1401 Flt (Meteorology), Gibraltar, Gloster Sea Gladiator and Short Sunderland I
867 Flt (Gibraltar Fighter Defence Flight), Gibraltar, Supermarine Spitfire II
1500 Flt, Gibraltar, (forming with Miles Martinet)
8042 Flt FAA, Gibraltar, Fairey Swordfish seaplanes aboard six I Class cruisers
Fighter defence consists of 15 fighters of 867 Flt. The main purpose of the RAF forces on Gibraltar is naval reconnaissance and naval co-operation hence its placing under Coastal Command control. There are 15 long-range flying boats and 15 long-range land-based aircraft for these roles. In wartime Coastal Command would send reinforcing units from the Home Groups.
Aerial Defences: Gibraltar has two Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and two Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) and two G.C.I Radar Type 1 (AMES Type 6) and two Chain Home Extra Low (AMES Type 7) radio-location sets for early warning. All HAA batteries have Gun Laying Mk II sets. Counting the batteries listed above there are four HAA and three LAA batteries.

Royal Navy: Gibraltar falls under the jurisdiction of the Mediterranean Fleet commanded by Admiral A. Cunningham.
Units in Gibraltar comprise;
1st Composite Squadron (light carrier HMS Triumph and two County Class heavy cruisers)
7th Light Cruiser Squadron (6 I Class)
6th Destroyer Flotilla (8 W Class (all AA destroyers)
6th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
RFA support includes a destroyer tender, two large tankers , a survey ship and a tug.
Gibraltar is the western bulwark of the Mediterranean Fleet and the ships here have a wartime role to keep the Straits open for free trade and to ensure timely reinforcements from Britain to pass through to Egypt/ Suez. In addition the ships here have a scouting role in the eastern Atlantic.


Malta
In 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris Malta officially became part of the British Empire. Malta's position half-way between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal is its main asset being on a vital trading and military naval route. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade.

British Army: Malta falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Western) General C. Auchinleck. Malta GOC is the overall tactical HQ of all units stationed in Malta. This is commanded at present by a Maj. General.
Units consist of: XVII Corps with the 1st and 2nd Malta Brigades composed of mainly Maltese raised units along with two British Army battalions and two heavy RA regiments equipped with 5.5in field guns. There is also a squadron of Cruiser Tank Mk III tanks of the RTR. The Malta Brigades include the King's Own Malta Regiment, a local British Army volunteer unit.
The Royal Marines have MNDBO II (Marine Naval Defence Base Organisation)stationed in Malta which supplies units for overseas harbour defences and has 2 Regiments and 10-12 Artillery Regiments. MNBDO II supplies units for other Mediterranean harbour defences as well.
Fortifications in Malta consist of; two twin turrets for 16.5/45 guns linked to an underground magazine system and eight 4.7in guns four new bunkers with four .661in Vickers HMGs each for self-defence. Four range-finder towers each have one 15-foot and one 8-foot rangefinder and a two-level bunker below for fire-control. There are four 12in, eight 9.2in, sixteen 6in and twenty 12pdr QF guns in various mounts. Four bunkers each with one 2pdr anti-tank gun and four MGs have been built to cover likely landing spots. The airfields have four twin .661in HMG bunkers for self-defence and five new light AA batteries equipped with Cannon 20mm Mark I. Twelve new 6pdr AA guns are mounted in concrete firing positions with three AA concrete director towers each mounting a destroyer-type DCT. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added.

Royal Air Force: Malta falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 61 Group, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, commanded by Commander-in-Chief (Air) Egypt, Air Marshal A. Harris.
73 Sqn, Luqa, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III
135 Sqn, Luqa, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III & IV
217 Sqn, Luqa, Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I
22 GCF (Malta Communication Flight), Hal Far, Airspeed AS.7 Consul
202 Sqn, Valetta, Blackburn Boston MR.Mk.I
240 Sqn, Valetta, Supermarine Stranraer
281 Sqn A Flt (Air-Sea Rescue), Valetta, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
Fighter defence consists of 36 fighters in 2 squadrons and naval co-operation consists of 3 squadrons, one of 15 twin-engined torpedo bombers and two of long/ medium-range flying boats. In wartime reinforcements would fly in from Egypt/ Palestine and there is ample airfield space for another 2 fighter and 2 bomber squadrons. Also there is a sizable FAA force (see below).
Aerial Defences: Malta has four Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and six Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) and two G.C.I Radar Type 1 (AMES Type 6) and four Chain Home Extra Low (AMES Type 7) radio-location sets for early warning. All HAA batteries have Gun Laying Mk II sets. Counting the batteries listed above there are ten HAA and eight LAA batteries. Most of the HAA batteries have 3.7in guns but modernisation is still on-going. The island has two sector and one central aerial defence HQs in bunkers modelled on the British Chain system. Modernisation of the facilities with newer RDF will be undertaken after 1944. In any potential war with Italy Malta would have to endure attacks from the bulk of the Italian Air Force from bases in Sicily and southern Italy.

Royal Navy: Malta falls under the jurisdiction of the Mediterranean Fleet commanded by Admiral A. Cunningham.
21st Light Cruiser Squadron (6 J Class)
14th Destroyer Flotilla (8 D Class)
3rd Submarine Flotilla (4 T Class)
11th Submarine Flotilla (5 P Class)
17th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class)
18th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class)
1st Motor Gunboat Flotilla (8 Vosper 75-ft Type G by end of 1943)
RFA support consists of one floating workshop, a submarine tender, a taker and one tug.
The Italian Navy is the main threat to the forces at Malta. The bulk of the Mediterranean Fleet’s power is based in Egypt and so the units here have mainly a scouting role as well as protecting the island from low-level naval attack and Malta is a perfect base for intercepting Italian convoys to Libya and merchant traffic around Italy’s southern coasts. The threat of Italian air attacks precludes stationing high value ships here for any length of time in wartime unless total local air superiority can be maintained.

All Fleet Air Arm units and stations on Malta are under the operational control of No 51 Group, HQ Alexandria, Egypt, commanded by Vice Admiral A.U. Willis.
800 Sqn, Hal Far & HMS Swiftsure, Gloster Gannet
809 Sqn, Hal Far, (forming with Supermarine Sea Fang FN.Mk.I)
812 Sqn, Hal Far & HMS Bulwark, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.I
820 Sqn, Hal Far & HMS Swiftsure, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II
822 Sqn, Hal Far & HMS Swiftsure, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II
8047 Flt, Hal Far & 6 J Class cruisers, Fairey Seafox seaplanes
794 Sqn (No.1 Naval Air Gunnery School), Hal Far, Gloster Sea Gladiator and Gloster Gannet and Fairey Swordfish
No.2 NTTU (Naval Target Towing Unit), Hal Far, Fairey Swordfish and Miles Queen Martinet
Most of these units support the carrier force of the Mediterranean Fleet but these units offer a sizable contribution to the fighter defence of Malta and to its naval strike power when on rotation.

Egypt
Britain remains the main protecting force and economic controller of Egypt, not only securing the Suez Canal but also to sustain the Egyptian economy. The main potential threat to Egypt are the Italian forces in Libya. Any invasion would consist of mobile forces heavily supported by armour. The main coastal road has been fortified but the border area itself is not heavily fortified. At the border our defences generally mirror those of the Italians on the other side of the border but are only earthworks and tend to change considerably over time. Mass minefields are planned for in wartime as defensive belts. There is still however a slight shortfall in mines in store. Mobile defence is key, and British forces are mobile and feature good armour. The desert covers two-thirds of Egypt and limestone and sandstone plateaus, large rocky outcrops in the southwest and the Qattara Depression offer some natural resistance to invasion. British forces have been desert-training for desert survival and navigation for years, but so have the Italians and they may attack from the desert in flanking attacks with small units. The concentration of the main naval and military bases around the Nile Delta keep them out of range of most Italian bombers. The Suez Canal is the key strategic point in Egypt. Reinforcements from Palestine could be sent within days but reinforcements from Britain would take a month if they go via the Cape and running through from Gibraltar would risk running the gauntlet of the Italian Fleet.

British Army: Egypt falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Western) General C. Auchinleck.
Units in Egypt comprise; XIII Corps with the 6th Infantry Division and the 7th Armoured Division. The 9th Armoured Division is equipped with Cruiser Tank Mk IV, Cruiser Tank Mk V Crusader and Cruiser Tank Mk VI Cavalier tanks with a few Infantry Tank Mk II Matilda II remaining. Karrier armoured cars, Daimler Scout Car Mk Is and Light Tank Mk VI Tetrarch make up the 7th LARB. In wartime the forces in Egypt would form the Eighth Army.
In addition the Royal Egyptian Army consists of around 31,500 officers and men in the Egyptian Army and 1,200 Royal Guards. The Royal Guards provide security for the King and the Royal palaces and have eight Daimler Scout Cars and eight Daimler Armoured Cars. The Army has a GHQ Staff; twelve Infantry Battalions organized into I (Cairo), II (Egypt-Italian border), III (Southern Egypt/Sudan area) and IV (Alexandria) Brigades, two Cavalry Squadrons (based in Southern Egypt), one Armoured Regiment with Cruiser Tank Mk V Crusader , Vickers Valentine and Light Tank Mk VI Tetrarch (attached to I Brigade) and three Artillery Regiments equipped with 25pdr field guns (one attached to each I, II and III Brigades); an engineer company; various departments, ancillary services and training schools. Four motorised MG companies are equipped with Carrier Machine Gun No.1 Mk I. During the year an engineer company will be formed along British lines with British equipment. A British Inspector-General oversees general military co-operation with the British Army and the British Military Mission trains and equips the Royal Egyptian Army along British lines.
Fortifications consist of;
Matruh: One fortified line which covers the western and northern sides of the town. The line consists of twenty bunkers with single MGs and extensive barbed wire obstacles. Several pre-prepared artillery positions exist. There are nine 2pdr anti-tank bunkers with two MG in a cloche and ten new bunkers with three .661in HMGs and holding twenty soldiers. Around ten infantry bunkers each holding up to a hundred soldiers and armed with three three-gun cloches have also been built. The few 4in and 6in guns for coastal defence now have casemate fronts and roofs but no rear protection. The railway station basement is strengthened with concrete and two MG casemates added for self-protection.
Alexandria : The old four-gun battery of 9.2in guns in casemates with several MGs in cloches for self-defence and .661in HMGs on the roofs for AA defence. The ten 12pdr QF guns have shields fitted and concrete walls around them. A semi-submerged two-level fire-control bunker with two roof-mounted armoured 15 foot rangefinders and extensive communications equipment is near the main harbour. The rest of the town has nine small MG bunkers with one MG each and three twin MG two-level bunkers for all-round defence. The main roads and railway into the town all pass through fortified strong points. Three fortified MTB bunkers with four pens each for sixteen MTBs with several Vickers .661in HMG on the roof for AA protection are complete.
Dumyat: One battery of six 3in guns in open mounts, protected by three bunkers with a single MG each.
Port Said, Suez and the Suez Canal Zone: Port Said has two 9.2in guns, four 6in guns and four 12pdr guns covering the coast and entrance into the Suez Canal. The main battery has two twin turrets for 16.5/45 guns which are linked to an underground network of tunnels for magazines and electric powerplant. A network of ten two-level bunkers along the coast all linked by tunnels are armed with MGs and 3.7in QF guns. An underground HQ bunker with an infirmary is also located in the town. The entire length of the eastern bank of the canal is defended by small open MG positions and fortified telegraph stations with thirty small bunkers armed with two MG in a cloche. The western bank largely protected by marshes to the north also has several open positions and pre-prepared artillery firing spots protected by earth banks and concrete. Around thirty concrete tunnel shelters for 8in howitzers have been built along the canal. Only six bunkers are on this side of the canal but all are armed with a 2pdr anti-tank gun and three MGs. The town of Ismailiya on the western bank is fortified by seven bunkers and three casernes can house a company for up to ten days. The town of Suez at the southern end is protected by four 6in guns and four 12pdr QF guns and features an eastern defensive position with eleven small MG bunkers and three larger bunkers each armed with a 8in howitzer in a casemate and three MG in ports and a cloche. All are linked by tunnel and feature extensive underground magazines.
Red Sea Defences: see the entry under Sudan

Royal Air Force: Egypt falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 61 Group, HQ Deversoir, Egypt, commanded by Commander-in-Chief (Air) Egypt, Air Marshal A. Harris.
Units in Egypt comprise;
6 Sqn, Fayid, Hawker Tornado F.Mk.I
4 Sqn, Fayid, Westland Lysander II
90 Sqn, Fayid, Bristol Buckingham B.Mk.I
55 Sqn, Fuka, Bristol Buckingham B.Mk.I
17 Sqn, Deversoir, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.IV
80 Sqn, Deversoir, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.IV
147 Sqn, Helwan, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III
25 Sqn, Helwan, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.IV
15 Sqn, Kabrit, Hawker Henley I & II
178 Sqn, Shandur, (forming with Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I)
241 Sqn, Alexandria, Supermarine Stranraer
281 Sqn B Flt (Air-Sea Rescue), Alexandria, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
22 Sqn, Alexandria, Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I & III
277 Fleet Requirements Sqn, Alexandria, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
126 Sqn, El Genina , Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
1567 Flt (Meteorology), El Genina, Gloster Sea Gladiator
216 Sqn, Almaza, Bristol Bermuda
117 Sqn, Cairo West, Bristol Bermuda
9 GCF (General Communications Flight) Cairo West, Percival P.28 Proctor I
Air Headquarters Middle East Communication Flight, Cairo West, Airspeed AS.7 Consul
MECF (Middle East Communications Flight), Heliopolis, Percival P.28 Proctor I and Miles Mentor and Avro Anson C.Mk.II
174 Sqn, Heliopolis, Hawker Audax and Westland Lysander I (receiving Westland Lysander GR.Mk.III)
1449 Flight (Radio Calibration), Cairo West, D.H. Tiger Moth and DH Dragon Rapide and Bristol Blenheim
Target Towing Section, Shallufa, Fairey Battle and Hawker Hind
2 FIS (Fighter Instructor School), Deversoir, Airspeed Oxford I & II and Miles Magister and Hawker Hurricane I
4 SFTS (Service Flying Training School), Abu Sueir, Miles Magister and Airspeed Oxford I & II
13 SFTS, Deversoir, Miles Master I and Miles Magister
1 Air Fighting School (Middle East), Heliopolis, Hawker Hurricane II and Hawker Henley B.Mk.I and Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
No.1 Artillery Observation School, Fuka, Westland Lysander I and Hawker Hind
No.5 AGS (Air Gunnery School), Fuka, Airspeed Oxford I and Fairey Battle and Hawker Hurricane I and Gloster Gladiator
No.6 AGS, Almaza, Hawker Hart and Hawker Hector and Fairey Battle and Gloster Gladiator
No.5 ANS (Air Navigation School), Almaza, Airspeed Oxford I & II
No.6 ANS, Kabrit, Airspeed Oxford I and Fairey Battle and Miles Master
The fighter strength of No 61 Group (units in Egypt) is 90 fighters in 5 squadrons; offensive bombing strength is 30 medium bombers in 2 squadrons and 1 squadron forming with heavy bombers. Eventually a second heavy bomber squadron will be formed. Army co-operation forces consist of 18 dive-bombers and 18 light bombers along with 18 Lysanders. Naval co-operation forces consist of 12 medium-range flying boats and 15 twin-engined torpedo bombers and some flying boats for other fleet duties and SAR. 61 Group also has 24 long-range transport aircraft. There is a very large proportion of training units to enable the RAF to train in good weather all year round and these units cover the full range of advanced training for all types of aircrew. In addition to the above airbases the RAF have surveyed 40 potential landing grounds in the desert and several have been tried on exercises. The Italians have in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica 1 Air Division composed of 2 Fighter Stormo (96 aircraft) and 3 Bomber Stormo (144 + 36 aircraft). Thus we have rough parity in fighters but an inferior striking strength.
In addition the Royal Egyptian Air Force comprises;
No.1 Squadron, Hawker Hurricane II & 8 Hurricane III
No.2 Squadron, Bristol Blenheim (converting to Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I)
No.3 Squadron, Avro Anson Mk I and D.H. Dragon Rapide
No.4 Squadron, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
No.5 Squadron, Hawker Henley B.Mk.II
Flying Training School, Avro Anson Mk I, D.H. Tiger Moth, Avro Prefect, Gloster Gladiator, Miles Magister and Spitfire T.Mk.VI)
The Royal Egyptian Air Force came under Egyptian control with RAF military advisers and training staff in mid-1939. The Second-in-Command remains an RAF Group Captain. In wartime these forces would additional ground-attack and Army co-operation forces for the MEAF.

Aerial Defences: Alexandria has two Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and four Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) radio-location sets for early warning. Cairo has the same level of protection. Each city has its own Sector HQ to organise defences. Both cities are protected by 48 3in AA guns and 24 searchlights and 3.7in guns should be operational by 1945 around these cities. Port Said has a few 3in AA for local protection. AA defences comprise one HAA and one LAA battery at each airfield. All airfield HAA batteries have Gun Laying Mk II sets and two such sets are also at Alexandria. Deversoir and Helwan each have two G.C.I Radar Type 1 (AMES Type 6) sets in addition to an AMES Type 7. All bomber bases also have an AMES Type 7. By 1944 it is hoped to deliver mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* sets with a partial network protecting the approaches to the Canal Zone by the end of 1945.

Royal Navy: Egypt falls under the jurisdiction of the Mediterranean Fleet commanded by Admiral A. Cunningham.
Units in Egypt comprise;
Alexandria
2nd Battle Squadron (5 Queen Elizabeth Class)
2nd Carrier Squadron (HMS Swiftsure and HMS Bulwark)
3rd Heavy Cruiser Squadron (4 Anson Class)
5th Light Cruiser Squadron (4 Ceres Class AA cruisers)
23rd Light Cruiser Squadron (5 Colony Class)
3rd Destroyer Flotilla (8 N Class)
5th Destroyer Flotilla (8 W Class AA destroyers)
27th Destroyer Flotilla (8 K Class)
6th Submarine Flotilla (5 U Class)
12th Submarine Flotilla (5 U Class)
6th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
14th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class)
Note: MTBs in fortified pens
Plus;
Royal Egyptian Navy Patrol Squadron (3 motor patrol boats)
Royal Egyptian Navy Fast Squadron (4 ex-Defiant Class)
Royal Egyptian Navy Transport Squadron (2 transports)

Port Said
1st Gunboat Squadron (3 500 Ton Colonial Gunboats and 6 Insect Class)
2nd Minesweeper Flotilla (8 Poole Class)
8th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 Vosper 75 Foot Class)
19th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class) [both actually based at Res Muhammed at southern end of Suez Canal in fortified pens]
3rd Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 1)
6th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 1)
7th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCI 1)
12th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCA)
RFA support ships for the Mediterranean Fleet consist of one destroyer tender, one submarine tender, two salvage vessels, two large and two medium tankers, two petroleum tankers, two troopships and two tugs.
The Mediterranean Fleet forms the third-largest RN fleet and is designed to be a self-contained unit to protect British interests in the Mediterranean. It’s main potential enemy is the Italian Fleet. The fleet exercises regularly with its Greek ally in the region. To the west the Iberian fleet poses another possible danger. France is considered to be an ally and along with the Greek Navy poses a powerful support to the fleet. In addition the Mediterranean Fleet is designed to reinforce the Far Eastern or Persian Gulf fleets and can itself be reinforced by the Home Fleet.

Palestine
The British Mandate for Palestine is a legal commission for the administration of Palestine by the Council of the League of Nations which came into effect on 26 September 1923. The mandate formalised British rule in the southern part of Ottoman Syria. Britain divided the Mandate territory into two administrative areas, Palestine, under direct British rule, and autonomous Transjordan. The Jewish population in Palestine has grown from one-sixth to almost one-third of the population. The internal situation between Arabs and Jews remains very tense. There is no credible external threat to Palestine and its main value lies as a central reserve area for potential conflicts in Iraq and Egypt.

British Army: Palestine falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Eastern) General H. Wilson.
Units in Palestine comprise; XV Crops with the 8th Infantry Division; the 10th Armoured Division; the 1st Special Air Service Brigade and the Palestine Regiment. The 10th Armoured Division is equipped with Cruiser Tank Mk VI Cavalier tanks with a few Infantry Tank Mk III Valiant. Daimler Armoured Car, Daimler Scout Car Mk Is and Light Tank Mk VI Tetrarch make up the 10th LARB. The Palestine Regiment is a newly-formed joint Arab-Jewish formation within the British Army. Forces in Palestine and Iraq would form Tenth Army in wartime. In general the 8th and 10th Divisions are a reserve for operations in Egypt or Iraq. Peacetime duties are mainly concerned with maintaining law and order within Palestine between the Arabs and Jews and combatting terrorist organisations.

Royal Air Force: Palestine falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 62 Group, HQ Habbaniyah, Iraq under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Iraq, Air Marshal T. Leigh-Mallory. AHQ Levant is a local HQ for the Army co-operation units (a vital role in the current tense internal situation) and is commanded by Air Commodore H. S. P. Walmsley.
Units in Palestine comprise;
23 Sqn, Petah Tiqva, Hawker Hurricane II
5 Sqn, Ramat David, Westland Lysander II
27 Sqn, Ramat David, Westland Lysander II
75 Sqn, Aqir, Vickers Wellington B.Mk.IV
149 Sqn, Aqir, Vickers Wellington B.Mk.IV
84 Sqn, Aqir, Hawker Henley B.Mk.III
113 Sqn, Lydda, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
10 GCF, Lydda, Airspeed AS.7 Consul
1568 Flt (Meteorology), Lydda, Gloster Gladiator
242 Sqn, Haifa, Supermarine Stranraer
1438 Flt, Haifa, Bristol Blenheim
AHQ Levant Flight, Haifa, DH Tiger Moth and Percival P.28 Proctor I and DH Dragon Rapide
RAF Middle East Staff School, Haifa, DH Tiger Moth and Miles Magister and Supermarine Spitfire I
Fighter strength comprises 18 fighters in 1 squadron, offensive bomber strength is 30 medium bombers in 2 squadrons, Army co-operation forces consist of 36 Lysanders, 18 dive-bombers and 26 light bombers. A single squadron of medium-range flying boats provides reconnaissance coverage of the eastern Med.
Aerial Defences: AA defences comprise one HAA and one LAA battery at each airfield. All airfield HAA batteries have Gun Laying Mk II sets. By 1945 it is hoped to deliver some mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* sets to create a small defence network. Haifa has one AMES Type 5 set. Jerusalem and Haifa each have two HAA batteries of 3in guns and six searchlights.


Transjordan
Jordan was founded in 1921 and was recognized by the League of Nations as a state under the British mandate in 1922 as The Emirate of Transjordan. With the League of Nations' consent on 16 September 1922, Britain divided the Mandate of Palestine territory into two administrative areas, Palestine, under direct British rule, and autonomous Transjordan, under the rule of the Hashemite family from the Kingdom of Hejaz. The Bharat puppet state of Hedjaz to the south is the main strategic threat to not only Transjordan but Suez as well. The Hedjazi Army numbers 10,000 and comprises 2 brigades with some artillery. Its main mission is to police the borders, especially against bandits from Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The late 1939 war scare demonstrated to the Hedjazi leadership their lack of offensive or defensive capabilities and they are concentrating in improving their defensive stance. Therefore the main threat would be, if war broke out with Bharat, that they wold send forces to Hedjaz (perhaps from Asir) to make an offensive push against Suez from the east. Such a threat is not serious but has been planned for. Current forces are adequate in the region to contain the threat at the present time. The Hedjazi Navy has 2 destroyers, 3 sloops, a monitor, 2 submarines and some light forces and MTBs. Such a small force could disrupt communications in the Red Sea, the 2 submarines causing the most concern. To offset this however under the terms of ABUSE, Britain has access to facilities in Hedjaz.

British Army: Transjordan falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Eastern) General H. Wilson.
Units in Transjordan comprise; the Arab Legion and the Transjordan Frontier Force. The Arab Legion is a locally-raised unit which is the Army of Transjordan. It consists of around 900 men and is only lightly armed with a few MGs. The Transjordan Frontier Force numbers about 150 men and is responsible for security for the main road routes. Within the Frontier Force are 350 Bedouins organised into two truck mounted companies for desert patrols along the borders. The British Army supplies weapons and officers for these units. There is one battalion of British infantry also present.

Royal Air Force: Transjordan falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 62 Group, HQ Habbaniyah, Iraq under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Iraq, Air Marshal T. Leigh-Mallory. AHQ Levant is a local HQ for the Army co-operation units and is commanded by Air Commodore H. S. P. Walmsley.
Units in Transjordan comprise;
60 Sqn, Amman, Westland Lysander II
47 Sqn, Amman, Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I
1413 Flt (Meteorology), Amman, Gloster Gladiator
These units provide local reconnaissance inland and over the eastern Med/ Red Sea.

Iraq
Britain granted independence to Iraq in 1932 though Britain retains retained military basing and transit rights and economic advantages. King Ghazi ruled after King Faisal's death in 1933 until his own death in 1939. Ghazi was followed by his underage son, Faisal II. 'Abd al-Ilah serves as Regent. The main threat to Iraq comes from Persia and to a lesser extent her ally, Bharat. Persia has declined in threat due to the Civil War there but it’s clear that its armed forces, although battered, are well trained and battle-hardened and pose a formidable enemy. In addition a Naval Infantry Brigade could threaten a nuisance raid or feint anywhere in the Gulf. The northwest is mountainous and favours defensive fighting and the Tigris-Euphrates river basin is fertile but swampy near the coast. This offers a natural defensive line. The centre of the country is desert and generally flat and well suited to mobile and armoured defence. The Iraqi forces are well trained and British equipped and they form an excellent addition to our own forces in the region. The current government of Iraq is anxious to keep British forces present for their security. In the longer-term a new heavy bomber wing will provide potential long-range offensive capability and the possibility exists of upgrading the 33rd Armoured Brigade into a Division.

British Army: Iraq falls under the jurisdiction of Middle East HQ, Cairo, under the command of GOC (Eastern) General H. Wilson.
Units in Iraq comprise; IX Corps with the 7th Infantry Division, the 8th Armoured Division and the 33rd Armoured Brigade. The 8th Armoured Division is equipped with Cruiser Tank Mk V Crusader tanks with a few Infantry Tank Mk II Matilda II. Daimler Armoured Car, Daimler Scout Car Mk Is and Light Tank Mk VI Tetrarch make up the 8th LARB. The 33rd Armoured Brigade is currently being upgraded with Cruiser Tank Mk VII Centaur tanks. Forces in Palestine and Iraq would form Tenth Army in wartime.
In addition the Royal Iraqi Army consists of around 26,500 officers and men. A British Inspector-General oversees general military co-operation with the British Army and the British Military Mission trains and equips the Iraqi Army along British lines. The British Military Mission effectively has command control over the Iraqi armed forces. By 1944 it is planned the Army will grow to 40,000 officers and men. Currently the Iraqi Army has twelve Infantry Battalions organized into four brigades; I (Baghdad), II (Kirkuk), III (Mosul) and IV (Basra); two Cavalry Regiments (Al Kut and Arbil); four Artillery Regiments equipped with 25pdr field guns (one attached to each Brigade); one independent anti-tank Brigade with 6pdr AT guns and one Armoured Car Regiment with 70 Daimler Armoured Cars, 12 Carrier Machine Gun No.1 Mk I and 12 Light Tank Mk VI Tetrarch (each of the four squadrons are based at Baghdad, Mosul, Tikrit and Basra) and one Armoured Regiment with 80 Cruiser Tank Mk V Crusader tanks (Baghdad). During 1941 36 ex-British 3in AA guns and 80 20mm AA cannon were delivered.
Fortifications in Iraq include; RAF Hinaidi is protected by earthworks and seven pillboxes armed with two/ three LMGs each. Concrete trenches and ten 25pdr firing positions. RAF Al Amarah, Al Jarrah, Balad (near Baghdad) and Rutba near the Jordanian border are newly-built airfields protected by earthworks, concrete trenches, eighteen pillboxes armed with two/ three LMGs each, two casernes holding two platoons each and ten 25pdr firing positions. Each is protected by two heavy 3.7in and two light 20mm AA batteries with concrete and earthwork positions and buried command posts. Basra has a defensive line protecting the town to the East and North and consists of eighteen pre-prepared artillery positions and six ammunition bunkers and a command bunker with three MGs in cloches. The line has seven MG bunkers (two MG each), a caserne for 80 infantry and five larger two-storey bunkers armed with one 6pdr AT-gun and three MGs. The harbour is protected by four pillboxes, two MG bunkers with single Vickers .661in HMGs and five 12pdr QF guns in concrete emplacements. In 1943 six small pillboxes and two more 12pdr QF emplacements were built. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.

Royal Air Force: Iraq falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 62 Group, HQ Habbaniyah, Iraq under the command of Commander-in-Chief (Air) Iraq, Air Marshal T. Leigh-Mallory.
Units in Iraq comprise;
46 (Uganda) Sqn, Habbaniyah, Hawker Hurricane II & III
30 Sqn, Habbaniyah, Bristol Buckingham B.Mk.I
14 GCF, Habbaniyah, Percival P.28 Proctor I
1453 Flight (Radio Calibration), Habbaniyah, D.H. Tiger Moth and Bristol Blenheim
1569 Flt (Meteorology), Habbaniyah, Gloster Gladiator and Hawker Hurricane I
7 ACF (Army Co-Operation Flight), Hinaidi, Westland Lysander II
94 Sqn, Hinaidi, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III
148 Sqn, Basrah, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
294 Sqn (Air Sea Rescue), Basrah (dets Bahrain, Masirah and Sharjah), (forming with Supermarine Sea Otter and Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I)
184 Sqn, Balad, (forming with DH Hornet FB.Mk.I)
501 Sqn, Balad, Hawker Typhoon F.Mk.I
97 Sqn, Al Amarah, (forming with Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I)
103 Sqn, Al Amarah, (forming with Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I)
70 Sqn, Al Amarah, Vickers Wellington B.Mk.IV
18 Sqn, Rutba, (forming with Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I)
104 Sqn, Rutba, (forming with Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I)
109 Sqn, Al Jarrah (Iraq), (forming with Avro Lancaster B.Mk.I)
The fighter strength in Iraq is 54 fighters in 3 squadrons with another squadron of long-range fighter-bombers forming. Offensive bomber strength comprises 30 medium bombers in 2 squadrons. A new and powerful heavy bomber force is being created with 4 squadrons which will total 60 bombers by 1944. Army co-operation forces consist of 18 light bombers and 8 Lysanders. New airfields for the RAF at Al Amarah, Al Jarrah, Balad (near Baghdad) and Rutba near the Jordanian border have now been completed. At the present time the Persian Air Force is still rebuilding and largely is composed of a variety of types, some of which are approaching obsolescence. Therefore its potential threat is not as great and it is thought largely to be a tactical army support force.

The Royal Iraqi Air Force came under Iraqi control with RAF military advisers and training staff in mid-1939. The Second-in-Command post remains an RAF officer. No other RAF personnel are employed except for twenty instructors (technical, mechanical and flying).
No.1 Squadron, Mosul, Hawker Henley B.Mk.III
No.2 Squadron, Kirkuk, Hawker Hurricane II
No.3 Squadron, Al Rashid, Baghdad, Spitfire F.Mk.III
No.4 Squadron, Kirkuk, Hawker Henley B.Mk.II
No.5 Squadron, Basra, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III
No.6 Squadron, Al Rashid, Baghdad, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
No.7 Squadron, Mosul, Hawker Hurricane III
Communications Flight, Al Rashid, Baghdad, D.H. Dragon Rapide, Miles M.8 and Avro York)
Flying Training School, Al Rashid, Baghdad (D.H. Tiger Moth, Miles Magister, Spitfire T.Mk.VI, Avro Anson and Percival P.30 Proctor II
In January 1941 the Royal Iraqi Navy Air Force (RINAF) was formed with surplus RAF equipment comprising 24 Fairey Swordfish with wheeled and float undercarriages, 4 Supermarine Sea Otter seaplanes and 1 Short Sunderland I with 4 de Havilland Tiger Moths and 2 Miles Magister for training. The sole base is at Basra co-located with No.5 RIAF Squadron.
No.1 Squadron, Basra, 20 Fairey Swordfish I
No.2 Squadron, Basra, Supermarine Sea Otter, Short Sunderland I)
Training Flight, Basra, D.H. Tiger Moth, Miles Magister and Fairey Swordfish I
In wartime the RIAF would comprise a substantial fighter support and is also ready for Army co-operation duties. The RINAF is suitable for support Iraq’s small coastal defence Navy within the Gulf.

Aerial Defences: There is a defensive Chain Home system along the Iraqi/Persian border in the south and a smaller one around Mosul. The southern line has six Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and eight Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) radio-location sets for early warning. There are four Sector HQ and one Main AA HQ within the line. Mosul has two AMES Type 2 and four AMES Type 5. Basra has an additional two Chain Home Extra Low (AMES Type 7) radio-location sets. Most larger cities are protected by 32 3.7in AA guns and 24 searchlights. Basra has a few 3in AA for local protection. AA defences comprise one HAA and two LAA batteries at each airfield. All airfield HAA batteries have Gun Laying Mk II sets and two such sets are also around Baghdad. RAF Balad has two G.C.I Radar Type 1 (AMES Type 6) sets in addition to an AMES Type 7. All other RAF bases also have an AMES Type 7. By 1945 it is hoped to deliver some mobile AMES Type 5* sets.

Royal Navy: Iraq falls under the jurisdiction of Eastern Africa and Persian Gulf Station under the command of Vice Admiral J. Godfrey.
The only units in Iraq are ships of the Royal Iraqi Navy which offer a coastal defence force and a local counter to the Persian Fleet.
Royal Iraqi Navy 1st Squadron (1 ex-F Class light cruiser 4 ex- Admiralty 'S' Class destroyers and 2x Contae Class destroyers)
Royal Iraqi Navy 2nd Squadron (4 motor patrol vessels)
Royal Iraqi Navy 3rd Squadron (4 ex-Defiant Class)
Royal Iraqi Navy 4th Squadron (1x RSAN coastal defence ship and two ex-Philippine coastal defence ships (1 currently under refit))

Aden
The Colony of Aden comprises the port of Aden and 75 square miles of territory around it. The Protectorate of Aden comprises the inland Hinterland of Aden. The port of Aden was acquired as a coaling station in 1839 and became a Crown Colony in 1937. The Halifax-Sanaa accord amendment to the Saudi-Yemeni border treaty of Taif was signed in 1936 affecting the Hinterland of Aden territory. A strip on the western side has been given to Yemen and a large portion of the inland area to Saudi Arabia but both coasts and a large coastal strip remain in British hands to ensure the coastal security of the Arabian Peninsula and southern Red Sea.

British Army: Aden comes under the jurisdiction of British Forces Aden, a tri-service HQ which is commanded by Air Vice Marshal F. G. D. Hards.
Units in Aden comprise; the 24th Independent Brigade. This unit has a high proportion of RA units.
Aden is fortified with three 12in guns, four 9.2in guns, ten 12pdr QF guns and one 16.5in twin turret with semi-submerged two-level magazine and diesel generator bunker which features embrasures for three MGs. The town is encircled with concrete infantry trenches with firing positions and forty pre-prepared artillery positions and concrete garages for field guns. A small seaplane base is augmented by an airstrip protected by three small bunkers with two LMGs each. One heavy and one light AA battery each have concrete positions.

Royal Air Force: Aden falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by British Forces Aden and then tactically No 63 Group, HQ Muscat, Oman, commanded by Air Vice Marshall L. O. Brown.
Units in Aden comprise;
14 Sqn, Khormaksar, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
1121 Flt (Aden Fighter Defence Flight), Khormaksar, Hawker Hurricane II
208 Sqn, Aden, Blackburn B.20 Boston MR.Mk.II
1570 Flt (Meteorology), Khormaksar, Vickers Wellesley and Hawker Hurricane II
Aden Communications Flight, Khormaksar, DH Dragon Rapide and DH Tiger Moth
The main role of No 63 Group is naval co-operation. At Aden there are 15 medium-range flying boats, 6 fighters offer some self-defence capability and 18 light bombers for both inland patrolling and naval strike within the Red Sea.
Aerial Defences: For AA defences see fortifications above. The airfield at Khormaksar has an additional LAA battery. By 1945 it is hoped to deliver some mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* sets to create a small defence network.

Royal Navy: Aden falls under the jurisdiction of the Mediterranean Fleet commanded by Admiral A. Cunningham.
Units in Aden comprise;
Aden Harbour Defence Detachment (one General Class gunboat and one 500 Ton Colonial Class gunboat). In addition there is one RFA tanker stationed in Aden.


Trucial States
The Trucial States are a group of sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf. These sheikhdoms include; Abu Dhabi; Ajman; Dubai; Sharjah; Umm al-Quwain; Ras al-Khaimah; Dibba; Fujairah; Kalba and Heera.
The sheikdoms entered into Exclusivity Agreements with Britain which puts them under British protection. This requires Britain to defend them from external aggression in exchange for exclusive British rights in the states.

British Army: The Trucial Oman Scouts were established at Sharjah as an internal security and rural gendarmerie, suppressing banditry and the slave trade under British command. 500 soldiers are organized into three Rifle Squadrons. In addition there is a small British Army presence.

Royal Air Force: There is a detachment of 294 Sqn (Air Sea Rescue) forming with Supermarine Sea Otters.


Oman
In 1894 Oman entered into an Exclusivity Agreement with Britain followed by formal declaration of a Protectorate in 1899. The Hagar Mountains in the north provide good defensive territory and there is a fertile coastal plain. The Gulf of Oman is a vital strategic area and the Strait of Hormuz is a bottleneck to the Gulf. Persia in war would likely attempt to seal the Gulf. Defensive policy is to also seal the Gulf to bottle up the Persian Fleet in the Gulf for easy destruction while preventing Bahrain reinforcements passing the Straits. During conflicts elsewhere the main aim is to keep the Gulf open for merchant traffic.

British Army: The Sultan’s local forces include; the Bettina Force, an infantry unit raised from the coastal region north of Muscat; the Muscat Regiment, the expanded former Palace Guard; and the Muscat and Oman Field Force. The British Army has two battalions around Muscat and Homuz and two heavy RA regiments.
Fortifications in Oman comprise;
Muscat: a fortified port with six 6in BL guns in shielded mounts and five MG bunkers protecting these positions and the beaches. Four 12pdr QF guns are in concrete-protected emplacements. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.
Homuz Position: this vital strategic chokepoint near the town of Al Khasab is covered by a battery of 6in guns. There is one twin turret for 16.5in guns, six casemated 9.2in guns each with two MGs linked by tunnels to underground magazines, living quarters and hospital. There are three concrete fire-control director towers with 15 foot rangefinders, one communications bunker linked to six MG bunkers (two MGs each). There are another ten such bunkers to the flanks and rear (all linked by tunnels) with six bunkers mounting a 3.7in QF howitzer and three .661in Vickers HMGs. During 1942-1944 ten pillboxes and six MG bunkers (two MG each) were added along with six casemated 12pdr QF guns.

Royal Air Force: Oman falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 63 Group, HQ Muscat, Oman, commanded by Air Vice Marshall L. O. Brown.
Units in Oman comprise;
8 ACF, Masirah, Westland Lysander II
Arabian Peninsular Reconnaissance Flight, Masirah, Vickers Wellesley
228 Sqn, Muscat (Oman), Short Sunderland II
Oman Communications Flight, Muscat, Airspeed AS.6 Envoy
The main role of No 63 Group is naval co-operation. In Oman there are 12 long-range flying boats and 8 long-range land-based aircraft along with 8 short-range aircraft which also undertake inland patrols.
Aerial defences: Homuz has three HAA batteries of 3in AA guns and six searchlights. Muscat is protected by 16 3.7in AA and some LAA with eight searchlights and one Gun Laying Mk I RDF set.

Royal Navy: Oman falls under the jurisdiction of Eastern Africa and Persian Gulf Station under the command of Vice Admiral J. Godfrey.
Units in Oman comprise;
2nd Composite Squadron (light carrier HMS Hercules, seaplane carrier HMS Engadine and 1 County Class heavy cruiser)
7th Gunboat Squadron (4 500 Ton Colonial Gunboat Class)
11th Sloop Flotilla (4 River Class) (Q2/43)
13th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 Vosper 75 Foot Class)
RFA ships include a repair ship and two tankers. The Eastern Africa and Persian Gulf Station is mainly focused on the Persian Gulf with another vital role is to protect the southern approaches to the Red Sea and East Africa. Mainly a scouting and coast defence force it can be reinforced by the Mediterranean Fleet within days.


Bahrain
Bahrain has been under British rule and protection since 1868. Britain has promised to protect Bahrain from all aggression by sea and to lend support in case of land attack. By the mid-19th century it became the pre-eminent trading centre in the Persian Gulf. The discovery of oil in 1932 has brought rapid modernisation to Bahrain.

British Army; There is a local Royal Guard and some local armed police. The British Army has a minimal presence no greater than a couple of companies in strength plus support units.

Royal Air Force: Bahrain falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 63 Group, HQ Muscat, Oman, commanded by Air Vice Marshall L. O. Brown. The sole unit is 243 Sqn at Muharraq with Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otters for naval co-operation within the Gulf. There is a detachment of 294 Sqn (Air Sea Rescue) forming with Supermarine Sea Otters.


Qatar
Qatar officially became a British protectorate in 1916. The discovery of oil recently is likely to result in massive changes to the economy.

British Army: There is a minimal presence and the local ruler has a small Palace Guard and some armed patrols are undertaken by mounted light troops.


Kuwait
In 1899 Kuwait entered into a treaty with Great Britain that gave the British extensive control over the foreign policy of Kuwait in exchange for protection and annual subsidy. However, soon after the start of the Great War Kuwait was declared an independent principality under the protection of the British Empire. The Burgan Field, discovered in September 1938, in the desert of south-eastern Kuwait is potentially one of the world's largest and richest oil fields. The British and American-owned Kuwait Oil Company hopes to begin commercial oil production at Burgan during 1943.

British Army: Emir’s guard plus 600 armed police under British control. There are two British battalions, a MG battalion and RA units.
Fortifications consist of a basic battery of four 3in QF guns with a concrete fire-control director tower with a 10 foot rangefinder. The offshore island of Faylakah has another similar position also armed with seven bunkers with a MG in each. Four casemated 9.2in guns with an underground magazine are on the south shore and four 6in guns on the north shore with six two-level bunkers with five MGs in each. Two concrete fire-control director towers with 15 foot rangefinders have been built.

Royal Air Force: There is a detachment of 294 Sqn (Air Sea Rescue) forming with Supermarine Sea Otters.

Royal Navy: Kuwait falls under the jurisdiction of Eastern Africa and Persian Gulf Station under the command of Vice Admiral J. Godfrey.
Units in Kuwait comprise;
Persian Gulf Squadron (one General Class gunboat and 2 Insect Class gunboats)
21st Destroyer Flotilla (4 V&W Class AA destroyers )
21st Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 Vosper 72 Ft Type)
9th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 1)
RFA fleet support consists of two tankers.
The vessels at Kuwait comprise the bulk of the defence forces inside the Gulf to protect British interests. The Persian Fleet is the only threat and the powerful Royal Iraqi Navy offers a powerful addition in size and firepower.

Now that you mention it, I suppose Persia should look at some shore batteries in Hormuz as well.

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
Now that you mention it, I suppose Persia should look at some shore batteries in Hormuz as well.

They already have, iirc.

... well it definitely does not hurt to add a few more guns over there.

Quoted

Originally posted by ShinRa_Inc

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
Now that you mention it, I suppose Persia should look at some shore batteries in Hormuz as well.

They already have, iirc.

Have they? Wasn't aware of that. Better go find the details and plug it into the encyclopedia.

Socotra
Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some 150 miles east of the Horn of Africa and 240 miles south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and monsoons make the archipelago inaccessible by air from June to September each year. In January 1876 it became a British protectorate along with the remainder of the Mahra State of Qishn and Socotra. The inhabitants are of Arab, Somali, and South Asian origins and almost all, numbering nearly 10,000, live on the main island. Socotra is an important strategic stop-off on the main trading and military naval routes to the Far East and in recent years has been heavily fortified.

British Army: Fortifications are extensive and include a fortified harbour. The northern mole has six interlocked concrete pillboxes on it each armed with four .50in HMGs. The harbour is overlooked by six small bunkers each with two MGs linked by tunnels to three bigger bunkers armed with three MG in a cloche and two embrasures with 3.7in QF howitzers. Also linked to this tunnel system are an underground hospital, command post, radio bunker, two diesel generators, two magazines, water caserns and six surface shelters each capable of holding three platoons of infantry. The northern battery on the North Shore has two 9.2in guns in shields and four 6in in casemates with four MGs each for self-protection and the 9.2in guns have underground magazines. The southern battery in 1943 was rebuilt with six 25pdr field guns replacing the former three 18pdr field guns and the existing two 6in casemates and four 3in QF bunkers all linked by tunnels to the harbour network. The Eastern Battery comprises one twin turret for 16.5/45 guns and two range-finder towers, each with one 15-foot and one 8-foot rangefinder and a two-level bunker below for fire-control, and four single .661in Vickers HMG bunkers. Eight 3in QF bunkers were built during 1943. The harbour has one fortified MTB bunker with four pens for sixteen MTBs with several Vickers .661in HMG on the roof for AA protection. Other work between 1942-44 includes another twenty MG bunkers and sixteen 3.7in QF bunkers all over the island.

Royal Air Force: There is an airstrip on the island but no units are based here. In wartime it would come under the command of No 63 Group MEAF.

Royal Navy: Socotra falls under the jurisdiction of the Mediterranean Fleet commanded by Admiral A. Cunningham.
Units in Socotra comprise;
10th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-2 Class)
11th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-2 Class)
16th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class)
All of these are harboured in hardened MTB pens. There is also an RFA tanker stationed here.


Baluchistan
The former Colony of Pakistan was split between Persia and Bharat by the Karachi Treaty by the agreement of Great Britain. After a joint Anglo-Bharati expedition to remove the Persian puppet ruler after Persia’s abrogation of several Treaties the former Persian section was made independent as the state of Baluchistan. Britain and India both have a duty to aid the defence of the country and by agreement Britain can station up to two brigades there plus some RAF units (no aircraft larger than light bombers).

British Army: British and Commonwealth forces within Baluchistan fall under the jurisdiction of Baluchistan HQ, Quetta, under the command of Lt. General M. Dempsey. The sole unit comprises elements of the 26th East African Brigade.

Royal Air Force: British and Commonwealth aerial forces within Baluchistan fall under the jurisdiction of the Middle East Air Force (MEAF), HQ Cairo commanded by Air Marshal A. Tedder. Operational control is exercised by No 64 Group, HQ Bela, Baluchistan commanded by Air Vice Marshall R. S. Aitken.
Units in Baluchistan comprise;
34 Sqn, Bela, Hawker Hurricane II & III
69 Sqn, Bela, Hawker Henley B.Mk.II & B.Mk.III
249 Sqn, Pasni, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
Baluchistan Communications Flight, Bela, DH Dragon Rapide and Airspeed Oxford II and Percival P.38 Proctor I
1579 Flt (Meteorology), Bela, Bristol Blenheim and Hawker Hurricane I
This small force provides basic fighter protection and army cooperation resources and bolsters the Balochi Air Force. The medium-range flying boats of 249 Sqn provide useful naval reconnaissance of the area.

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor

Quoted

Originally posted by ShinRa_Inc

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
Now that you mention it, I suppose Persia should look at some shore batteries in Hormuz as well.

They already have, iirc.

Have they? Wasn't aware of that. Better go find the details and plug it into the encyclopedia.

If memory serves, I believe the Japanese donated a significant amount of heavy artillery, though I'd need to actually research to find out what. Just off the top of my memory, it's a significantly greater number of guns and of larger caliber than the British have there.

OOC : I'd like to say - Kudos to Hood, this makes an interesting read.

I wish I could say it inspires me to do the same, it actually makes me wistful in that direction, but I'm still holding out hope I'll actually post news one of these days...a defense report is a bit much.

Closest you'll come is my 'Netherlands Coastal Fortifications'. There's about 40+ spots. Combine it with old news and OOB and it's evident that most of those harbors are MTB bases, have torpedo-bearing seaplanes, and at least 2 battalions assigned. Part of the "tar baby" defense envisioned- hard to get ashore without a major force, and any deep penetration would have to shield supply lines against the attrition forces left behind, while the threat of main fleet units force defensive concentration.