WAR DEPARTMENT
                  OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF
                          WASH I NGTON
 
 
                                        February 12, 1942
 
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRTARY OF WAR:
 
          Subject: Status of Aerial Torpedoes.
 
          Estimated number in Australia                        - 20
          Arrived on PRESIDENT POLK                     - 60
          Enroute aboard ship                                       - 24
          Scheduled to be shipped in February               - 30
 
       Information indicates that accelerated production of aerial torpedoes will get underway in
April, and we should be able to get greater deliveries.
 
       Adapters have been made for our B-26' s so that all B-26' s can carry torpedoes. There will
be a total of ll5 operating B-26's in the ABDA area capable of carrying torpedoes.
 
       Our total torpedo requirements as furnished to the Navy is for 150 torpedoes immediately
and 5,000 additonal for delivery as soon as possible. The type of torpedo desired is the Navy
aerial torpedo MK  XIII Mod-1.
 
       In this connection, your attention is invited to letter from the Secretary of War to the
Secretary of the Navy, dated January 5, to which I have been unable to find a reply, and also letter
from the Assistant Secretary of War for Air to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air dated
February 4th. Copies of these two letters are attached.
 
 
                                   H.H. ARNOLD
                                   Lieutenant General, U.S.A.
                                 Deputy Chief of Staff for Air
 
 
 
Incl: Cpy of Ltr to The Sec.
        of Navy, 1/5/42 frm. Sec.
        of War.
       Cpy of Memo for Ast. Sec.
        Of Navy for Air, 2/4/42 frm. Mr.
        Lovett.