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Sunday, July 6th 2008, 1:34pm

British Empire News Q2/36

This is the BBC Home Service...

April 1
Today in Karachi Viscount Halifax formally signed the final papers handing official control of Pakistan to Persia and India as laid down in the Karachi Agreement. The British Colonial Administration shall wind down all activities and the last civil servants should leave by 1st October 1936. All Pakistani citizens form today loose their British Empire citizenship and henceforth are either Persian or Indian subjects [Note]. This evening Viscount Halifax is leaving via Imperial Airways flying-boat to return to London to take up the post of Foreign Secretary.

[Note: this does not to apply to British ex-pats, most of whom are returning to Britain or moving elsewhere in the Empire, others who are staying are full British citizens]

April 2
Today King Edward VIII opened the Spithead Review, the showcase of Britain’s maritime might and power. While some commentators note the decline of the Royal Navy since the biggest Review in 1897 there is no doubt the RN is still one of the most powerful navies afloat today and getting stronger each year as her Great War era ships are replaced by new modern construction. Also attending were Dutch Crown Prince William and the Dutch Minister of the Navy, Admiraal Pienaar. The Belgian Minister of Defence, Andre Flahaut also attended.
The Royal Navy and the Commonwealth navies were well represented with the battleships HMS Saint Vincent, Trafalgar, Agincourt, Nile and HMS Queen Elizabeth and the battlecruisers HMS Inflexible and HMAS Panther. HMS Ark Royal and HMS Glorious were the only two British carriers along with HMCS Hermes and HMAS Enterprise. The three rows of cruisers included HMS Anson, Duncan, Exmouth, Benbow, HMCS Labrador and Yukon, Hannibal, Hercules, Hunter, Hotspur, Hero, Hermione, Imperial, Infidel, Icarus, Despatch and the HMAS Sydney and Melbourne. Destroyers were also in abundance with the 15th Destroyer Flotilla (Mackay, Echo, Esk, Escapade, Electra, Encounter, Express, Eclipse, Escort), 1st Destroyer Flotilla (Bruce, Unbeaten, Undaunted, United, Unruffled, Unshaken, Untiring, Xenon, Zebra) the 15th Destroyer Flotilla (Mackay, Echo, Esk, Escapade, Electra, Encounter, Express, Eclipse, Escort), six Australian destroyers (Wessel Isl Dauntless Devastor Defence Defiance Desperate) and the Canadian 1st Destroyer Division (Iroquois, Athabaskan, Algonquin, Cayuga). Six new P Class coastal submarines were also lined up as were four old L Class subs. The 1st Minesweeper Flotilla (8 Poole Class minesweepers) also attended. The RCMP sent the fine schooner St. Roch to Spithead.

Foreign ships also attended to pay tribute to the new King of England and to show their might and political allegiances to the British Empire. For warship enthusiasts it was a sight probably not to be bettered until the Coldmere Review later this year.
Russia sent the battleship Navarin accompanied by the aircraft carrier Kulikovo, the fast armoured cruiser Admiral Makarov, the light cruiser Admiral Putiatin, and 3rd Destroyer Flotilla. The German Kreigsmarine squadron is comprised of the battlecruiser Von der Tann, the training carrier Otto Lillienthal, the heavy cruisers Graf Spee and Prinz Eugen, and the destroyers Paul Jacobi, Z-230, Z-231, Z-233, & Z-234. Nordmark sent the Battleship Gustav V, half of the 1st Carrier Squadron, the 1st Cruiser Squadron and the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. Atlantis only had the battleship Eumelos ready to send to Spithead and she was accompanied by the carrier Alioth, light cruiser Acestus and DesDiv 1 (Jacinth, Jackel, Jackdaw and Jaguar).
The Royal Dutch Fleet was represented by the battleship van Heemskerck, the 1st Cruiser Division and the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. Belgium sent the training sloop Artevelde representing practically half of their entire Navy. The Royal Danish Fleet was represented by the battleship Tyr, the carrier Jutland, the heavy cruisers Hel and Freya, two light cruisers of the Valkyrie Class and two destroyers of the Archer class and four of the Lancer class. From further afield Persia sent the warships Isfahan and Azerbaijan and sailing across half the world representing China are the two cruisers PRN Lienyun and PRN Manning and the new light carrier PRN Zhangyhum. The Imperial Japanese Navy was amply represented by the two carriers Soryu and Hiryu.

April 7
An order for 60 Armstrong Whitworth A.W 38 Whitley Mk II heavy bombers armed with a twin 3.30in ventral retractable turret has been placed by the Air Ministry. The nose and tail turrets are being replaced by new power-operated models. Engines are unchanged.

April 10
After two weeks of trial interceptions of RAF bombers by fighters from Biggin Hill via a controller using information by the Bawdsey station the Air Ministry has been informed the system works. Using experienced signals operators contacting the pilots every minute to update target information such tactics seem feasible. In later trials the bombers were instructed to change course or 'jink' the defenders courses had to be changed mid flight. Tizard using the angles of an isosceles triangle formed a method of working out a new interception path from the cathode tube. In one trial the controller actually made the change by eye rather than working out the calculation. Therefore an experienced operator could work by instinct. Further trials with larger numbers of aircraft and more controllers will begin shortly. The fighters have made use of the recently invented "Pip-Squeak" device to locate their position to ground controllers.

April 12
Today the first prototype Fairey Barracuda carrier-based torpedo bomber took off for the first time at Fairey’s Great West Aerodrome although production will take place at Fairey’s new factory at Heaton Chapel, Stockport. The Barracuda is to enter service in 1938 and 200 are on order.

April 15
Comments made by Admiral Charles Morton Forbes, Commander in Chief China and Far East, to high level personalities have reached Whitehall and today strong questions were asked in the Commons by Winston Churchill. Admiral Forbes considers his force of "Two Great War big-gun relics one hashed-up flattop conversion and too few decent cruisers and destroyers which are now aging rapidly," as an "Indictment to all those arm-chair admirals in Whitehall who push bits of paper and count figures and sums trying to inflate the Navy with cost exercises. My fleet is of little practical use to combat the gaining power of Satsuma and the wide-reaching commitments made to SEAR are unrealistic when placed beside what we actually have in station and what is available to theoretically reinforce us." Forbes' comment was put to the Prime Minister by Churchill and his growing coterie of political allies on the backbenches of both sides of the House to much applause and cheering from both sides of the House. Ramsey Macdonald soon rose to criticise the Naval Programme put into place in the early 1930s as doing too little to remedy the worst defects of the fleet while overstretch was becoming a problem with most cruisers and destroyers well past their effective life-spans. Also criticised was the stationing of HMS Malaya in Singapore (and the subsequent public tours of the ship) which was described by one Labour backbencher as, "a self-gratifying propaganda exercise for the people of Malaya to swallow whole. Is the ship a man-o-war or an amusement attraction?"

April 17
Today at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough Geoffrey de Havilland gave a lecture based on material from last July’s Volta Conference. In particular several aerodynamic problems were raised and a wind tunnel programme has been devised. Also raised was the question of compressibility at high speeds and swept wings to overcome these problems. Since most of the RAE scientists feel such speeds are a long way off such work would be premature but an agreement was reached to study several small-scale wind tunnel models.

April 23
Developed to Spec M.15/35 and runner up to the Bristol Beaufort torpedo-bomber the prototype Handley Page Hereford first flight was at the firm’s factory at Radlett, Hertfordshire. Powered by two 955hp Napier Dagger inline piston engines it is hoped fully rated 1000hp Napier Daggers will be fitted before the prototype goes to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath. Being almost identical to the Hampden bomber apart from the engines, no problems are foreseen during development. An order for 100 aircraft has been placed by the Air Ministry.

Also today Imperial Airways has begun a regular weekly flying-boat service to Hong Kong (a ten day trip versus 34 by boat) from Southampton. Also the Southampton-Brisbane service will be increased to twice weekly (eight days duration). Both services will be flown by the new Shorts C Class.

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Sunday, July 6th 2008, 1:59pm

Quoted

Is the ship a man-o-war or an amusement attraction?

The man needs to have some imagination. It is a man-o-war disguised as an amusement attraction. :D

Quoted

The Imperial Japanese Navy was amply represented by the two carriers Soryu and Hiryu.

The Imperial Japanese Navy is modest and did not want to show-off like the Royal Navy does. :)

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Sunday, July 6th 2008, 2:02pm

Testing swept wings in a wind tunnel is quite difficult from the layout as it can't really be modelled as a 2D object like an unswept wing given the sideways motion of the flow. A model with tests taken from various angles would give the most complete analysis at the time. Of course, you don't need swept wings for high speed flight, lower AR and thinner sharper wings work just fine (and better at higher Mach numbers). Italy did a lot of work on supersonic wing shapes in the 30s using geometrical shapes. The problem for either method is making the wing structurally strong and aerodynamically clean.

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Sunday, July 6th 2008, 4:44pm

The entire active Irish Navy was there and didn't gain a mention! ;(

...though, in fairness, the Muirchiu looks more like a giant fishing smack than a warship. Why couldn't King George have waited until 1937 to die? The Eire could have been ready by then. At least Deirdre and Eithne will be complete for Coldmere...

Kaiser Kirk

Lightbringer and former European Imperialist

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5

Sunday, July 6th 2008, 7:21pm

RE: British Empire News Q2/36

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
This is the BBC Home Service...

April 1
Today in Karachi Viscount Halifax formally signed the final papers handing official control of Pakistan to Persia and India as laid down in the Karachi Agreement.

April 2
The three rows of cruisers included ...

April 10
After two weeks of trial interceptions of RAF bombers by fighters from Biggin Hill via a controller using information by the Bawdsey station

April 12
Today the first prototype Fairey Barracuda carrier-based torpedo bomber

Is the ship a man-o-war or an amusement attraction?"

April 23
Powered by two 955hp Napier Dagger inline piston engines it is hoped fully rated 1000hp Napier Daggers



Several snippets of particular interest.
First, I like the April Fools Day announcement of Karachi.

Second, all those smaller units are testimony to the true strength of the RN.

Third, I'm going to need to follow in your footsteps on the Radar pickets.

Fourth, I always liked the Fairey Barracuda for some reason.

Fifth, I suppose it matters if the battleship has slides attached and swings from the gun barrels.

Last, is the Dagger going to be developed to the point where the problems are resolved?


Oh, on the Irish Navy- the Belgians have a similar case, all these reviews and they will not have a proper warship to send until late 1936.

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Sunday, July 6th 2008, 11:15pm

RE: British Empire News Q2/36

Unless The Crown slipped a decimal somewhere and ordered a whole row of duplicates...15th Destroyer Flotilla (Mackay, Echo, Esk, Escapade, Electra, Encounter, Express, Eclipse, Escort) is listed twice (:

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Sunday, July 6th 2008, 11:36pm

No that is the sneaky plan of the British to make their navy look even bigger than it already is by having that Flotilla assigned to two places in the Naval review. :D

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "Rooijen10" (Jul 6th 2008, 11:36pm)


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Monday, July 7th 2008, 9:55pm

Most humble apologies to Brockpaine and the Irish Republic. An admin error I assure you.

Hmmm, ShinRa has discovered my fiendish plan! [What list? cue multiple gunshots] :evil:

The Napier Dagger might take different paths, as might the Hereford. Remember this news item?
"June 16
Paxman Diesels of Colchester, Essex have agreed to cooperate with Napier to create a family of diesel aircraft engines. It is believed an engine of 1100hp is the major project to be created alongside a 700hp and 350hp engines."

On the amusement arcade, the Right Hon Gentleman is asking whether the Royal Navy is trying to buy political favour with HMS Malaya like "come see the ship you paid for, isn't she grand, she'll protect you from Satsuma, now give us more pennies to build a replacement." :D Some in Parliament would perfer just to have the ship without the guided tours and dinner parties to give a more menacing approach.

Kaiser Kirk

Lightbringer and former European Imperialist

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9

Tuesday, July 8th 2008, 12:32am

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood

The Napier Dagger might take different paths, as might the Hereford. Remember this news item?

On the amusement arcade, the Right Hon Gentleman is asking whether the Royal Navy is trying to buy political favour with HMS Malaya like


I remember the Diesel news, just thought it was more for a hypothetical Diesel line :)

I'd say they are scoring points with the Malays and showing the Empire at work for its people.

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Saturday, July 19th 2008, 3:19pm

This is the BBC Home Service...

Hendon Review
The RAF’s tribute to King Edward VIII at Hendon was little short of staggering. During the ten days some 270,000 visitors came to see the RAF perform and at the same time the Society of British Aircraft Constructors held their private show later in the week.
On the opening day twenty assorted fighters made an impressive opening display but when the King came to visit on the 3rd the RAF made a special flypast comprising 300 aircraft which flew over Hendon during an hour making an unforgettable display and a gesture to show the world that the RAF is a force to be reckoned with.
No less impressive was the New Types Display Park. The new Supermarine Spitfire was represented by the first prototype in its blue finish, alongside it was its intended successor the silver Hawker Tornado which is hopefully fly later in the month. The prototype Fairey Barracuda is also display in full Fleet Air Arm markings alongside the Gloster SS.39 Gannet both rather shadowed by the giant Whitley Mk II prototype beside them. The torpedo bombers Bristol 150 Beaufort and Handley Page H.P.53 Hereford are each represented by the prototype machines and both are in all-over silver finish. The high-altitude research aircraft, the Bristol Type 138 was also in the static park before being sent back to Farnborough for testing. Later for the King the Spitfire, Gannet and the Hereford flew brief routines.
[For full details please see the Aviation Section]

May 9
King Farouk is crowned the new king of Egypt.

May 11
Today marks the first flight of the Bristol 138 high-altitude research aircraft, the first such purpose-built aircraft built for the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). It is a single-seat aircraft of conventional construction but with a radical new pressure-suit for the pilot (similar to a diving suit) and an oxygen system to enable flights at high-altitudes. Only one will be built eventually it is hoped to re-engine the aircraft with a supercharged RR Merlin II. It is hoped heights of 55,000 feet can be reached.

May 14
First flight of Fred Miles’ latest club aeroplane, the two-seater M.11A cabin monoplane with a cruising speed of 130mph. Developed to meet the needs of Whitney Straight (whose Straight Corporation owns a number of aero schools and clubs) public sales are expected at a cost of £985.

May 15
Amy Mollinson has returned today to Croydon to the welcome of a giant crowd as she makes two record flights flying to and from Cape Town, South Africa. She flew in Percival’s latest type, the Gull Six which was loaned to her by the owner Edgar Percival.

May 17
First flight of Sidney Camm’s latest fighter, the Hawker Tornado. The pilot was P. G. Lawrence and the flight took place at Langley Aerodrome. Some early troubles have been identified with the radiators and pilot visibility but otherwise the plane seems to handle well on first impressions.

May 26
Imperial Airways with its brand new Empire C Class flying boats Castor and Centaurus today have begun a regular weekly service from its Southampton terminus to Alexandria via Marseille, Rome Brindisi and Athens.

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Saturday, August 9th 2008, 2:48pm

This is the BBC Home Service...

June 3
The Treasury has backed the Air Ministry and released funds for the construction and equipping of five radio location stations between Bawdsey and South Foreland under the codename Chain Home. It is hoped all five will be operational by early 1936 and twenty more stations are required by 1938. Also Fighter Command will be reorganised and several sector control centres built linked to the Chain Home system. The GPO has been instructed to begin work on laying the Defence Teleprinter Network (DTN) to all RAF and Naval stations with work due to finish in 1939.

June 5
In the Commons today the Secretary for War, Leslie Hore-Belisha confirmed that the 7th Infantry Division has begun moving into Iraq to protect the oilfields there and the larger cities along the Persian border. It is thought elements of the 1st Armoured Division have arrived in Palestine from the UK (the 7th Royal Tank Regiment, one Armoured Car Regiment, one motorised Infantry Battalion with and elements of one RE Field Sqn (mot) for a total of 79 medium cruiser tanks, 15 light tanks and 70 armoured cars). He also announced that from July new Machine Gun Battalions will be formed as part of Regiments. Current plans include; The Middlesex Regiment (six battalions), The Manchester Regiment (five battalions), The Cheshire Regiment (five battalions), The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (five battalions) and the Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment (two battalions). Each battalion will have four companies with 12 Vickers .303in MMG per company in three MMG platoons.
The RAF have moved 94 Sqn (Gloster Gladiators) to Kirkuk airfield in Iraq, 148 and 207 Sqns (Vickers Wellesleys) have re-located from Britain to Al Rashid, Baghdad and two flights from 27 Sqn (Hawker Hectors) have moved to Mosul airbase to bolster the RIAF and RAF units already in the country during the present crisis.
The Navy too has ordered more patrol forces into the Persian Gulf to protect British installations and citizens. These include the light cruiser HMS Cleopatra, the destroyers HMS Seraph, Serapis and Serene, the submarines H26 and H29 and two Insect Class gunboats. It is thought two companies of Royal Marines have been sent to Oman.

June 6
The Minister for Air Lord Swinton today officially opened Gatwick Airport and 200 special guests and 3000 spectators arrived to witness the proceedings. Served by a new Southern Railways station and linked to it by subway the airport also boasts full day and night landing aids and equipment and full customs services. British Airways have moved in from Heston to make Gatwick their central hub.

June 7
The Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax has left London today to begin a Middle East tour in response to the crisis in that area. He will fly on Imperial Airways’ new Empire C Class flying boats Centaurus from its Southampton terminus to Alexandria via Marseille, Brindisi and Athens.

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Sunday, August 10th 2008, 11:01am

This is the BBC Home Service...

June 10
The Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax today met the new monarch of Egypt, King Farouk. Both men appeared at a state banquet and King Farouk made a short speech, “We shall continue with our long-standing co-operation with our British allies who have always protected our nation and in these dark times powerful friends are more important than nationalistic aims which would divide and weaken our country. It is vital for peace in the Middle East that we help the British maintain a presence in Egypt.”
It was confirmed that another two battalions of the Egyptian Army have already been raised and that an Artillery Regiment will be created with surplus ex-British 18pdr field guns and one motorised MG Company with new tracked Carrier Machine Gun No.1 Mk I vehicles from Britain. Deliveries of both will begin by August.
Early proposals for a new Anglo-Egyptian Treaty have been deferred for two months for unspecified reasons.

June 12
The Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax today arrived in Istanbul for high-level talks with the Turkish government about the Persian situation. He was in private talks for five hours and on exiting the hall he gave no statement but was driven straight the airport where an RAF Bristol Bermuda flew him to Baghdad.

In other news today marks the first test run of the Whittle Unit (WU) at the Rugby Works of British Thomson-Houston.

June 13
The Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax arrives in Baghdad for talks with Regent Emir Abdullah and top Iraqi governmental members. Emir Abdulah was happy to confirm the conditions of the 1930 Anglo-Iraqi Treaty (giving Britain free military access through Iraq) still apply as recent tensions with Persia continue to worsen. He said he welcomed British protection and offered extra facilities and said he hoped both countries would work together well for a long time.

The latest bomber aircraft intended for the RAF, the Vickers Type 284 Warwick, has flown for the first time with J. ‘Mutt’ Summers at the controls. After manufacturers trials it will go to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath. Designed by Barnes Wallis to B.1/35 for a new twin-engined heavy bomber to enter service in 1938. Basically an improved Wellington the Warwick can carry 10,000lbs of bombs and is armed with a twin .3030in MG nose turret and a quad .303in MG tail turret. The B.Mk.1 is powered by two Bristol Hercules engines and the B.Mk.2 powered by two Bristol Centaurus radials (which also has a twin .303in MG dorsal turret) is due to fly in late 1937. 100 B.Mk.1 and 250 B.Mk.2 are on order off the drawing board and due to be built in Vicker's new Blackpool factory.

Meanwhile problems have surfaced on the Handley Page H.P.53 Hereford during testing. Climb performance is not good and the Napier Dagger engines are proving troublesome. At lower altitudes they overheat but at high altitude tend to freeze. The cockpit noise is far worse than in the Hampden and the main test observer in the rear fuselage has felt ill after several flights due to the resonance of the sound. Handley Page and Napier are working to solve the problems.

June 14
In Baghdad an agreement has been signed that Britain shall send equipment to the Royal Iraqi Army to form another Artillery Regiment, one Cavalry Regiment and three engineer companies this year. This afternoon after an inspection of British troops Viscount Halifax left Basra on an RAF Shorts Singapore flying boat for another Middle Eastern country.
Meanwhile rumors indicate that Turkey and Great Britain have signed a mutual defence argreement concerning Iraq.

June 15
This morning the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax arrived at Muscat, Oman. Here he met the Governor and the Commander-in-Chief Omani Defence Forces. It is believed that the current Persian situation was discussed and in the afternoon Viscount Halifax inspected some coastal fortifications and made a brief speech to a large group of Army officers and civil servants, many of whom have been transferred from Pakistan.

June 18
Geoffrey de Havilland today announced the formation of a new subsidiary company to access the Far Eastern trainer and light aircraft market. De Havilland Siam will be formed to licence build D.H. 60 Tiger Moths and other selected light aircraft of the de Havilland firm. Also attached will be a flying training school run by the firm who will provide all the aircraft and instructor training.

June 19
The Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax arrived today in Aden onboard an RAF Bristol Bermuda transport aircraft. After a private dinner with the Governor and his staff Viscount Halifax then witnessed a naval exercise off shore before touring a military base before long talks with the Governors Office which lasted until 10pm. No press statement was given but an RAF transport then flew the Foreign Secretary northward.

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Sunday, August 10th 2008, 11:41am

*grabs a bucket of popcorn*

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Sunday, August 10th 2008, 2:29pm

*Decides to be healthy and snacks on an apple.*

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Sunday, August 10th 2008, 4:34pm

MunchMunchMunchGulpMunchMunch....

It seems that Lord Halifax is having success getting all HMG's diplomatic ducks in a row...

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Sunday, August 10th 2008, 6:02pm

Hee. I love that phrase, "ducks in a row." I had a professor at school who used it a great deal. :P

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Monday, August 11th 2008, 7:14pm

June 20
The Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax after an overnight flight arrived in the capital of Yemen, Sanaa. This morning after leaving his hotel he met up with the Dutch Foreign Minister Pieter van Grootveld who has also conducted a Middle Eastern tour. Both men all day have been in secret talks with the Yemeni government and no press statement has been released. This evening a group of Turkish diplomats arrived and more British diplomats have arrived by air from Aden.

Today the Air Ministry announced that 400 Hawker Henley dive bombers are to be built to Spec B.1/36 for the RAF to replace older biplane Army Co-operation types. Another 200 may be ordered next year. The Hawker Henley was designed by Sidney Camm to Spec P4/34 for a dive-bomber which was subsequently abandoned after prototype trials. The prototype has been modified for Spec B.1/36 and undergone testing at Martlesham Heath and Orfordness. The crew of two are carried in enclosed cockpits, the radio operator operates a twin .303in Vickers mount and the Hurricane outer wings have eight .303in Browning MGs. Four 250lb bombs can be carried (two internal and two underwing) and hydraulic dive brakes are fitted. Dimensions 47.10/ 36.5/ 14.7 ft; 1x 1,030hp RR Merlin III; max speed 316 mph at 15,800ft, range 900 miles and service ceiling 28,000ft.

June 21
A group of Saudi diplomats have met several Turkish officials today before meeting the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax this afternoon in the capital of Yemen, Sanaa. A Saudi spokesman read a brief statement with the Turkish Ambassador to Yemen. “These talks have been brought about by all four nations. Our friend, Turkey, has graciously agreed to present the case for the long-standing claims to redraw the Saudi/ Yemeni border. Turkey as a neutral nation shall assess all claims equally and fairly. Yemen’s allies, the Dutch, who served in the neutral role in advancing the Treaty of Taif defining the Saudi-Yemeni border, are also here to help in negotiations with the British. We hope an equitable agreement can be found.”

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Thursday, August 14th 2008, 10:10pm

This is the BBC Home Service...

June 23
Viscount Halifax today made a statement that Great Britain agrees in principle to adjusting the borders to a more equitable level to ensure prosperity and security in the area. The government feels that Saudi and Yemeni claims should be looked into in order to strengthen the area from outside influences. Discussions regarding mineral rights are still continuing.

June 25
It appears that after two days of discussion that a new border plan has been laid out for discussion by all parties concerned. The lights were burning bright in the conference hall tonight.

June 26
In private discussions potential mineral rights have proven to be a point of contention. Royal Dutch & Shell surveys have been used to make a stronger case for redrawing the borders as potential oil fields are marked on the geological maps.

Royal Dutch & Shell is a Dutch and British company, and the Viscount Halifax and Pieter van Grootveld have prevailed on its board to agree to modify the exploration contracts. The new contracts will entrust the company with exploration and production in the remainder of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as the areas transferred in a border adjustment. The company will reduce its share to 40% of production after the first three years a well has produced, with the remaining 60% considered the national share and belonging to the host nation. In order to best benefit the Kingdoms of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Aden, the national share of all oil discovered in the areas transferred will be divided among all three nations.

June 28
Tonight a brief press statement by the Turkish delegation indicates that an amendment to the Treaty of Taif is being written with the consent of all sides but not yet signed. This will take place in a ceremony, provisionally, on July 1st.

June 29
The Foreign Secretary meeting his Yemeni counterpart has discussed various defence issues. This has led to a British pledge, with Turkish consent, that Britain will send military aid to Yemen if she is attacked by an outside power. A caveat is that such aid will be equipment, not manpower or advisers.

This afternoon Viscount Halifax and Pieter van Grootveld took a break from the border talks and had a private Anglo-Dutch SEAR meeting discussing the Persian situation and other SATSUMA intelligence issues.