ADDITIONAL
        LANDING CRAFT REQUIREMENTS
 
               British planning has continually been handicapped
 by the shortage of special craft for amphibious operations.
 
 
Present British Programme for Europe and Middle East.
 
2.   The present programme of U.S. and British construction
 of landing craft was originally designed to enable 6 Armoured
 and 13 Infantry Divisions and 6 Army Tank Brigades to be
 landed on the Continent from Great Britain in the early summer 
of 1943. In addition it was hoped to build up by mid-1942 a
 landing craft fleet in the Middle East, capable of operating an
 amphibious striking force of 1 Armoured Brigade and 2 Infantry
 Brigade Groups.
 
3   Design and production difficulties have slowed dovm this
 programme very seriously and  in spite of the U. S mass
 production of a most efficient tank landing ship capable of 
crossing the Atlantic,  the plan for landing on the Continent has had 
to be recast and is now reduced both in tempo and extent.
It may even have to be postponed for an appreciable period.
 
       Similarly the Middle East programme has had to be reduced and only 
training and minor raids can be undertaken this year, in that theatre.
 
Far East Requirement.
-------------------------
4.          The present programme does not include any provision for
 the Far East theatre of war in which we are likely to have to employ
 large-amphibious forces for the offensive against Japan.
 
          We are informed by our Supply Missions that vrithin the next
 month the final allocations of building capacities are likely to be decided
 and thereafter it will be too late to increase the landing craft programmes.  
  An early estimate of our combined reduirements is therefore required
so that the necessary orders for building can be placed.   As a guide to 
the magnitude of the problem,  it has been found that to land a British force
 of 1 division and 1 armoured brigade group requires approximately the f ollowing:-
 
          50 T.LC.    (Tank Landing Craft)
          95 M.L.C.  (Motor Landing Craft)
          16 S.L.C.   (Support Landing Craft)
          95 A.L.C.  (Assault Landing Craft)
 
Conclusion.
 
6.   We suggest that, at the very least, landing craft on this scale
 for 1 American and 1 British amphibious force of this size, with
 sufficient reserve craft, should be ordered forthwith, as an
addition to the present programme.
 
7.   We realise that this is, to some extent, prejudging the Pacific
 Appreciation but consider the matter to be most urgent.