Text Version


at the end of 1942. Cumulative ammunition requirements, which must be 
 
met from the balances in sub-paragraph 2 d, which are sufficient after 
 
mid-1942, are 2,880 thousand at the beginning of 1942; 8,570 thousand
 
by mid-l942; and 19,548 thousand by the end of 1942.
 
     f. Machine Guns (except those in aircraft). As of the be-
 
ginning of the year 1942, approximately 330,000 machine guns are on
 
hand. Assuming a five months' life in operation against the enemy, and 
 
one-third of those on hand available to units in actual combat, a force 
 
of 2.8 million men on U.S. aIlowance basis can be maintained in combat
 
throughout 1942, which can be increased at the end of 1942 to 3.0 million
 
men.
   
     g. Small Arms Ammunition. Indicated stocks for the beginning
 
of 1942  are approximately 2,500 million rounds of ball; 400 million
 
rounds of armor-piercing; and 300 million rounds of tracer. Based on 
 
U.S. rates of expenditure, after deducting the aircraft requirements, 
 
2 million men can be supplied early in 1942; 2.5 million men by mid-1942;
 
and over 4 million men by the end of 1942. However, there are serious
 
shortages in certain types, particularly armor-piercing and incendiary;
 
also in certain calibers, particularly caliber .50.
 
     h. Land Antiaircraft Weapons (over 20 mm.) There is an indi-
 
cated stock at the beginning of year 1942 of 4,000 heavy and 4,500
 
light land antiaircraft waepons. These will increase, allowing for
 
normal losses, to 5,200 heavy and 8,100 light by mid-1942; and 7,200
 
heavy and 14,100 light by the end of 1942.
 
     I. Land Antiaircraft Ammunition (over 20 mm.) At present U.S.
 
rates, the following figures compare antiaircraft ammunition requirements
 
and availability:
 
                              (Figures in thousands of rounds)
     
                                   Required       Available
          1st Half 1942                 19,620              25,000
          2nd Half 1942            31,140              34,000
 
 
 
 
 
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