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Tank Production in Australia: Stage V. Liquidation of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Directorate

iT/rm /gj
, efC/o14th August, 1952.Dear Professor Munro.Thank you for the copy of letter to Dr. lellor,which will be useful to me in my writing about the Tank project.As for Dr- Iellor, I was advised about his appointment as writerof a
section of the war history, but I cannot recollect thatI have ever heard from him on any subject and so I do not knowwhat he is doing. Professor Butlin has made a brief referenceto the Tank in his story but he leaves the bulk
of it toDr. Heller. 34,, 5-; -‘I w#f;g?§ pleased to read in your letter thatCouncil is prescri>%;j;l~me cultural work in the courses to betaken. Some of the students may be impatient about these onthe first impact, but in later life
they will realise that thereis real value in some little culture. I know because I havenever had the opportunity.Yours sincerely,_//.77(John[Uensen)( Z 'Professor C. H. Munro,Associate Professor,School of Civil
Engineering,The New South Iales University of Technology,§£QA2!AZ, nL§LE'
, m@112 air: males Qniersitg nf lenlynnlnggSchool of Civil EngineeringBROADWAY.1st August, 1952.Sir John Jensen,C/o Department of Defence Production339 Swaneton Street,MELBOURNE. 0.1.Dear Sir,_ I forward
herewith copy of a letter to Dr. Mellorwinch 5P9e-ks for itself. I presume that there is anappropriate liaison between him and you regarding thehistorical record.I was interested in your comments regarding theUniversity of
Technology. It is encouraging to realisethat an impartial observer such as yourelf should havecome to a conclusion which supports the policies we havebeen advocating here. I feel personally that we must learnfrom
America in these matters. By U.S.A. standardsAustralia is fifty years behind the times in appliedresearch and teaching in the higher technological fields.In regard to broader aspects, I was one of the leadingspirits (against
some opposition) in pressing for theinclusion of the "Humanities" in our studies. We pointedout at the time that many of the great American Institutesof Technology include as high as thirty percent of Human-ities in their
courses. I am glad to inform you thatthe Council of our University has laid down that everycourse must include at least ten percent of these culturalsubjects.Yours faithfully,/ //W»/M1"C.E. MUNROAssociate ProfessorSchool
of Civil Engineering.
- h /51/ School of Civil Engineering.BROAD.’-*AY.\ 28th July, 1952.~ Meant.Dr.lellorSchool of ChemistryUniversity of Sydney.»‘.»!:U1..&lDear Dr. Heller,Cruiser Tank Progranme.Following upon your interview with me
wherein youindicated you were writing that section of the officialwar record which deals with science and technology, Iwish to confirm my verbal comments as follows:-A. Points of Particular Interest Regarding the
TankProgramme.(e) It was I think the only major munitions proyectwhich was designed in Australia as well es being constructedhere. For most of the other major proJecLs we copied BritishDesigns and even in many cases
the British drawings of thenecessary tooling for production, whereas for the CruiserTank e local design was developed to suit available machinetools, raw materials etc.(b) The metallurgy of the cast armour and the castingof
the hull in one piece were I think unique.(c) The low silhouette was in advance of U.S.A.and possibly also British design.(d) The power unit was of novel design and in myopinion the tank automotively was remarkably
good.(e) The tank was unoergunned at first but the finaldesign of armament presented interesting features.(f) As was to be expected in a job being developedde novo in Australia design changes hampered production,. but
nevertheless the New South Wales contractors reallycarried out a remarkable achievement in the time whichelapsed from the date of release of production drawingsto date of delivery of components.B. Machine qun Carrier
Production.It should be stressed that the Cruiser Tank wasonly one of the Armoured Fighting Vehicle Directorate pro-jects and I think some 3,500 machine gun carriers weredelivered together with a very large number of
spare parts.vit
/D24 IBl].Q.1‘_ 7 -022? 7 ~ C ‘OUd‘b‘ O§_l§£QmATlON.. b Q. :2 I(a) H.J. Bromley, Production Manager Coote andJorgensen Ltd», 602 Botany R086, AL|EXAIuDhiA, was congernedwith the production right from the original
OrdnanceProduction days, and could give you valuable information.(b) S.Walker, Chief En$ineer Vacuum Oil Co. Pty.L-td., Wybelena Road, ;~rum»;1< s nlh, was chief of design withColonel Watson in the latter stages of
the project and couldgive you very useful information on certain design aspectsparticularly regarding the power unit and gunnery.(c) Mr. Bishop of Broken Hill Pty., and Mr. Clark,Commonwealth Steel, Newcastle, could give
you the insidestory of the development of the cast armour from a technicalpoint of view.(d) Ir. R.Coroett Senior Lecturer in MechanicalEngineering, N.S.W. University of Technology could giveyou details of research work
necessary to develop the largeheat treatment furnaces used for the armour casting andmanufactured by the Australian Gaslight Company forBradford Kendall Ltd., Alexandria.I wish to confirm that with a bit of assistance
fromIr. Bromley I might be able to cover a general descriptionof the project about 20 pages in length which you couldprune or amplify as required provided however that youobtain some additional notes from Ir. Walker on
the mech-anical design eide and from Messrs. Clarke and Bishop on themetallurgy.I wonder if you could be so good as to return to methe report from Mr. Hawker on Hull production and theextract of a speech by Winston
Churchill. I could then arr-ange to have copies typed, and return to you a copy foryourself.Yours faithfully,C.H.IUNnOAssociate ProfessorSchool of Civil Engineering.
* </ZQC/o25th July, 1952.Dear Ir. lunro,Thank you very much for sending no the correspon-dence re Australian Tank. I an writing the story of the ‘rankfor historical purposes, and of course was very much interestedin the
American report. Apart fro: that I was such annoyedlately by a statement in Parliament by Ir. lcBride which was farfron the facts and as lying in wait to reproach him when I seehil. I was delighted, therefore, when I read the
Americanreport - which I clsil is a belated and complete Justificationfor the Australian design. -unfortunately, I had arranged for hr. Code towrite the story of the Tank for the historical record but whenhis papers were handed
to no after his death, there was no storywith then and therefore I have been working in the dark as toIr. Cods side of the project. However, now that I have becomeaware of your address, I will refer to you if anything cones
upwhich needs explanation. Curiously enough -also, I have Justreceived a telephone message from lrs. Code - only a few minutes '‘ago - that she is coring in this afternoon with some more ofIr. 0ode's papers and these
may help in filling the hiatus.Incidentally, I have all the central office papers, includingIr. Lewis's papers and the Lend Lease negotiations, etc. and itwas only Ir. Codels own story that is lacking.I an very pleased indeed to
learn from your letter-head that you are now Associate Professor in the School of CivilEngineering of the ew Bouth Isles University of Technology.I did read in the newspapers of the establishment of the Universityand its
purposes, but that is about all I know about it and I hadnot noticed any notification of appointlents of the professorialstaffs. Having acquired some layman knowledge of the greatUnited States Institutions of the kind, I have
been an advocatefor then here and have been looking forward to seeing one heresole day. ly experience has suggested always that the practicalsciences tend to be overshadowed by the academic in the "great"universities,
and yet something more was needed than was availablein our otherwise admirable Technical Colleges. You have that nowin low louth Isles. I hope, nevertheless, that "culture" is notalto ether despised - I think that evenen
Engineering graduateshould have a ittle tine for, say, a knowledge of mgliahLiterahzre. Iy osn son, B. loch. 5., did anyhow.Kindest regards,Iours sineerel’,{MK<1~ zC. H. IWIPO, E§Qe / 'School of Civil Engineering,‘me Iew
South Isles University of Technology,EBEABAL LL1-
! ac I10!rsgsruaul: M MI!‘FELEGIAMI: " nzn-non ' svnnn m '“n'Y' 'Ll“' °u°n\ . .MAIL’: 7012. G.P.O.. IYDNEY -Awnnsss ALL COMMUNICATIQNS to: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 1A§SlSTANT SECRETARY(u.s.w.)
lg.DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCT|ONDY“°cK'S BLOCKan GEORGE rrnz:-rIvnnzv. N.I.W21st July, 1952.Dear Sir John:As requested in your letter of 16th July I amattaching for your information two cuttings from
the "SydneyMorning Herald" covering the news article and Mr. C.H. Munro'sletter concerning the production for the first time in theUnited States of a one-piece hull casting for Tanks.As you thought, Mr. Munro's letter to the
"Herald"was shortened but I have obtained from him a copy of hisoriginal letter which I am enclosing together with his coveringnote to me.With kind regards and best wishes,Yours sincerely,WSir John.Jensen, K.B.,c/o
Department of Defence Production,359 Swanston Street,mgsoumm, 0.1, Vic.
J
-._c' o‘ P‘ 2THE NEW SOUTH WALES UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYSchool of Civil EngineeringBROADWAY.17th July, 1952.J.W.J. Byrne, Esq.,Department of Defence Production,Dymock's Building,George
Street,SYDNEY.Dear Sir,I forward herewith the original of my letter to the Herald,together with a copy of the letter as amended by the Editor beforepublication. I was not consulted regarding the amendment. I wishto make it
clear that I had no knowledge of any criticism of thetank project in Parliament and was merely commenting on a news itemthat purported to claim that in the United States, the Pattontank, now entering on production, was
the first tank to have acompletely cast hull.You will observe that my letter did not raise any contentiousissues. However, it always annoys me intensely to hear uninformedcriticism of the Cruiser tank project and if at any time
Sir JohnJensen would like any data or arguments from me in defence of thetank project'I would be only too pleased to oblige.Yours faithfully,(Sgd.) c.a. MUNROAssociate ProfessorSchool of Civil Engineering.P.S. The copy
of my original letter is as supplied to meby the "Herald," as I had thrown my copy into theW.P. Basket. I thought I had also included a finalparagraph to the effect that the tank project reflectedgreat credit on the tradesmen
and managements of ourengineering industry. Perhaps I struck this final para.out but I don't think so.(Sgd.) c.m. _
C, OP' YTHE NEW SOUTH WALES UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYSchool of Civil EngineeringBROADWAY.4th July, 1952.The Editor,Sydney Morning Herald,58 Hunter Street,SYDNEY.Dear Sir,Tank Hull Casting.I was
interested in your news item of 2nd instant regardingthe Patton tank which stressed that the hull was cast in onepiece, and the shape was elliptical. The implication is thatsomething novel has been achieved by the
engineering industryof U.S.A.It may interest your readers to know that in December 1941,Messrs. Bradford Kendall Ltd., steel founders of Sydney, cast thefirst Australian Crusier tank hull, about 30 tons, in one piece,and I
believe that this is one "first" we can claim to ournational credit. Bradford Kendall Ltd. had the job on a productionbasis about nine months later, and any delay was due to Armydesign changes beyond their control.The low
silhouette or "elliptical shape" of the AustralianCrusier Tank Mark I was also well in advance of its time, beingI think mainly due to the foresight of Colonel Watson, R.E.Its automotive performance was also in my opinion
quiteoutstanding in the circumstances, the power unit being manufacturedby General Motors Holdens, and the design being conceived by thelate A.R. Code, L. Perrier, and their confreres.The final assembly was carried out
by N.S.W. GovernmentRailways at Chullora, and many Sydney firms were major contractorsfor vital components. Even the later well known Sherman tank hullwas only a casting in its top section, and its silhouette and
armourleft much to be desired.The early production models of the Australian tanks werefitted with two pounder guns, which was deemed adequate inBritish circles in 1941 for a cavalry tank. Bitter lessonsin the field
necessitated radical changes in ideas on firepower,and armament was the major weakness in our first tank.With the entry of U.S.A. Into the war, the arrival in Australiaof a fair number of "General Grant" cruiser tanks, and
the winningof the Battle of the Coral Sea, the efforts of Australian industryin tank production became somewhat pointless, and production sloweddown and finally stopped at the stage when the high velocity
seventeenpounder or the standard artillery twenty five pounder were beingfitted in the ratio of one to three.(Sgd.) C.H. MUNRO
)“ 11¢/III/Im-.-I\" ’~ s/1'/ml; = 25th septamiiiii-'f'T§'I+“5.The Secretary, 23 -Department of the Army,- Victoria Barraeka, iL£& _Reference is made to your memoranéum 1161470 of thekth instant with Ihich you forwarded a
draft letter andreply to questions aekad by the Hon. P. C. Bpeuder, K.C.l.P.,_ relative to the caste of the Anatralian ‘rank Programme.In general, the term of the reply are concurredin by this Department, /but I think it night be
vise to amendyour Part 1; at Aneeer (a) by adding after "purposes" -' "e. g. the Belneaglen annexe, representing anexpenditure of £175,000, has been need forsome considerable time as a store for Coman-Iealth geede,
and a large aeotion oi’ it has nowMen made available to the Victorian Governnmntfor the pre-fabrication of houaea".(J: lg. Janeen)Ste/6 re tary.
' i’ -fa‘ O A ,.._‘-/I k ‘ mJ::|'.*‘r:- Y<1’ ‘*'.,—-"l,».e,-,;- 1 " 1'", ~ -K. -' OEb§\ LiCENTRAL 7185.DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY.m§T§'1§§.‘ COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. ga%AM .... H Ev in/$057115» I 7 51 1 S 0-\ ._
7\_’> T% 7ta ', D................ .. 1 MELBOURNE, s.c.1./0 ey/gyzwjg‘P1//ca§'.\a-JCDM ND€_'&> Q:0» *5Q it of Munitions,iiy Q /M£}{am Street,**\\_f_;/_, _.aLE-OL"RN£, 0,1 .1. Attached hereto for your concurrence is a
draftletter in reply to the questions asked by the Hon. P.C. Spender,K,C., M.P., relative to the costs of the Australian TankProgramme.2. The information cvntained in the attached letter hasbeen prepared in collaboration
with representatives of your De-partment.3. Your c0r.r:u1"'r'ence to the terms of the letter underreference would be appreciated at an early date.ZI (F.R. Sinclair)‘ S e c r e t a r 1em» [MP~/,'
P _¢ -9901 (I) Oirtain etoree, mate:-iale, equipment, tools and gaugee.\“’.."f"“°*”' -»=<<\*>%\:?*\°...' 1".-E\\.f._.K-q'-iDear B-. lpeuier,With reterenee to the question aehed by yourelative to the acute of the Luetraliau Tank
Programme, IIieh to intern you that all expenditure attributable eolelyto the Auetralian ‘tank Pro¢i\_e he not yet been finallyaueeeel. Iwever, the following inforntioa ie availableat this juncture to the twee epeeifie queetione
aekel by .yumR2:::.L2e_ie.L - -What in the total out of. the Tank frog:-nae to date?‘1%!‘ ‘Q! —(1) The hall eoebe are eetinted by the lliniau-7 ofV Iuniticme to 1» -(a) Oeete of produetion including Mapprcz)experimental work
and prelininaryexpeneee of all mimree .. .. 6,107,000(D) Gapital eeete including building,pllni, .t.e ae ee (e) ‘total groee eeete .. .. ‘,5 "9purehaeed originally for the Tank Progranne to Sb ~value 0!‘ £1,276,000 (approx) have
been reaeived bankinto etore to ciate am! further returna are antieipabesi.4 ‘Ihe eventual diepoeai of these, either by eale toeivilian ooneerne or by tranater to other gwerzneatGepartlenta am Iunitione "pi-¢5»n", win be
appueaae a reduetion oi’ the coete given under (l)(a) above.nenti oned total, are 1- ~The min item diepueed or to hue, oi‘ the above-lqiaee to the value or £880,000 have been divertedto aircraft production, and other engine
have beenueed teryvakex-craft.Pertion or the toole am gauge, or eenain aaturee,have been diverted to the by, an eeae have beendietrilmhel to cont:-eaten engaged on Iunitiune 'production-.Goneiderable quantities of
equipment am etoree have‘ been aequired by the Arq tor other purpoeee.I eoneiderable nuiaer of eolponente hae aleo beentaken over w private contraetore. ' _(8) ha addition, woeeede tron the aiiepoeal by any (er neefor
otherympeaee) of the tank, engznenle and eparepa:-ta, ate, than our ty than eeuld appiiea in 1
..' \ I ., v. 1 rreduction or the costs of productim (lie) above) 1: itwzre essential that the actual nott costs should brsrrivedl eIbo buildiw and plant (10) above), other than special »$0011 which 1| DI ltlbl Y thcg u u e or sq o er
purpose, are now_being used tor other pu2°I.Ie-£7. 44. ,,,_,___,_,___~'\4--.1-_/é-7d2:;,. m '{;7€~,,o _‘_,_,’_gm, ,5 . -»_ *4’ - ~-4- _-an ~;~4<¢_ 7.-11.44,-....".'?;.?:zf;;.‘?' ~'-newer (bl J, i It\\\.w W‘the capital costs ot
buildings and plant ($1,481,000) havebeen let tron appropriations, umier the control of theI1nistry ct Innitions, for annexes as a whole.Orders to the value or £11 500,000 were placed by ms Arqwith the Iinistry of sunuions
for the local manufacture or‘I75 tanks. The funds involved wero made available fromthe total authorisation approved for tho overall require-sents for tanks (including those required from overseas)during tho period 1940 to
1942.On the cessation of the Australian ‘rank Program the shove-nontioned odors were rcduncd in valus to the amount pro-visionally deterainsd as covering the costs of productionattributable to tho Arw on account or those
orders.Further adjustments say be necessary when the final cost ofthe progralse is assessed.Local production of tanks was initiated as a rcsult of r0abinot's approval given in Iirmto Io. 3'75 or 8:19. July, 1940confirmed by
Iar Qahinet in Iinute Io. 1191 of 10th July,1941, and tsrainated by Isr Uabinet in Iinuto Io. 2979 of13th July, 1945.Qggstion {cl - \"Ihat was the result of the expenditure of this money?‘Answer g] -\The amount finally assessed
as being attributable solely tothe Australian ‘rank Programs (vido Answer (a) above) willhave resulted in the dolivory to Arw of:68 tanks (including 2 oxpsrimntal models),al- components, of an approxinte value of £246,000,
whichare suitable for uso with I3 An:-ican Tanks.It is proposed to retain 3 or the abovcnentioned tanks as aphysical record (B Tanks AG It I and l Tank A0 It III).Ths balance of the tanks (i.o. 65) will be disnntled andthe
serviceable components, etc, will be put to the noetadvantageous use in meeting such other requirennte as theArq Q have or which can bs roasombly foreseen at thatti_.Those oosponents, etc, or tho 65 tanks which cannot
be usedTN nQne roae WP; K-0., LP"by the 5rq will ‘cs disposed of in accordance with thenormal disposal pI'OcOd\‘Os "Yours faithfully,(LI, P089!)Iinister for the Ar‘.Parliament loose, 'anon; ma ‘
TAIIPDOIAQI$@;[11n/mwyl» Mwww1. Iota-d_uo you unto date! 1 Jun 4! oonounim tin ruquutJunk by the Bl. 7.6. pomloz I.0., LP. rilativo to tho Australianhark Programme.2. A oonrnana or 1-nproantntivoo tron tho lI1n1at1-7
at Inltionsqn4trnn"6", 'N0"an1l"I'B:anehcnrucnnt1.7oom1dcrodtho1n_!b1In-U-Q lial! Gilli DO chili-Quid, at ll 38680, ill tit"BI. IMO. pindd, LC", I.P-3. AI a result or the conference, it 1| apparont that sum tintmy ulapae borne :11
qtpondlhuw attributable solaly to thebattalion rank Program can he finally annual. The lllniltry atInnitlona raprnacntativul advised jzhat, by dzlroetion of Int» Cabinlt,thcyuemkinznmlluportwwlncahlmtonthoprogrnmnouanon an
ruunaimly rim]. gural are obtdlmd. '4. tha inrnuutian which 1: available at p;-aunt, in roply totin than 89001118 quoations ukol, 1: givun hua.mdara-me:s&.2n_.h> ~-wmz 1» the um cost ¢r thn rm mm-um tn um»ag! S82 *1.
Thu mJ.J. coats are oatinutod by the ministry at-‘ -Ziunitiem to be ‘ ..(a) Guts of prnduction including gitllwork and prulintnury uponul 111 natural 5,197,000I‘--(approx)(b) Capital costs imluding buildings, plant, ate.
1,481,000U v(c) Iotnl Gran coats _ .. .. 6,67l:ooo./\
//mginn to the ulna of\ Aircraft ‘reduction and oQt I '\Curtain stores, mate:-111:, Qquipnent, tools and gapspun-chad. 0115111111! ta an run: Pmgrnna 1» tin nun or£1,276,000 hppaar have um roatvod back mu no:-0 toInto
all rnrtlur awn: u-0 antlclpatol. the mental 410-puautnau, utuabyaaaunmanmnanuuwtrcntflr to othc Oovclnnont department! uni awuuom'proJ0¢tu",d11 be applied u 1 Ination at tin nut: givqmint 1(a) show. _tho an nan aspen:
at to an, 0: an nbowdantiomdtotal, aros-E?§.§§§§gi23Portion at tbsbeen divertedto contractor: snags!Ooaaidonhloqumtltt btquiplnntand tlnnlunianasqnl.rdbythcArqy!.:ro&nrpIrpoul.'A euunabh mute: at nonpunonta ha nlao
been himova by prints eantrurtou.Inuldlttn, proceeds tronthcdiaponlbillrhruaotorothcr purposes) or tho hnka, aonponanta an spun puts, atetakon ova by than could be Qpplielin reduction or tho Int:Qt production (Uni) chive) it
it In cuanal that tbactunl. mutt mu should In lrrlvad at. ‘an banana an pm: um mm), other mm spacialtooling ‘blah in unsuitable for any otlmr purpose, are an$52%;git,2:?51.555kin; uud tor other plllpblel.
 9 Ihat appropriatiana van nada tron you to ya!!-%_&L|_L mu MI!-"1 W“! 01' W111"-=81 II-I1 plant (£1,481-000)bra baa: not tram app-qriatiana, nadar the amt:-01 0!‘ tinIiaiatry at Imitiona, for annamaa aa_a Ihnla.a’. on-an-1
to the nan» Of :.n,uoo,ooo Iara puma by anAmy with tho liniatry or Imltionl for tha local nanutaetm-aat ‘HI ‘lash. Iha rmda involvad Iara nada availabla ta-catho tau]. authorisation approved for the awe:-allmaquaironantafor
‘lanh (including those raquiz-ad trc Ovaraaaa) during thaperiod 1940 to 19¢.0: the naaatiau or the Australian ‘rank F2-oganna uabovintianad ordara I0:-a raduaad in valua to tho amountwoviaiamally dotaaainad as aavaz-ing
tho coat: of produutimattributabla to the Ara; on ucuunt or thou ardax-a. Pu:-thatadjuatmmta may be naaaaaary whnn tbs final Boat at thaP:_-03:-anna in anacond-8. I-coal production of Tank! ma initiated aa a result atIar
Gabinatia apprtnll given in Iinuta Io. 378 of ll July, 1940,aunfirlad by m Gabinet in Iinuta 1:». mi Of ioéu any, 1:41and tornint-ad by Ia: cam» in Iizmta Io. an at um any,1043.g;|_§_;Q_j;)_|__ Int waa to ruult at the axpanditn-a
or thinj\.10Aunsian1. ‘Ina mount finally aaaaaaad aa being atY_-rmtabla aalalyto tha Aunt:-alim Ian! Frog:-can (vida Aaauar (I) abawa)111 have raaultad in the dallvary to Army at 68 ‘ranks (in-cluding 8 auparinantal mdala)
and Oonpauta , of anIvl1wL4w~'approxhala ulna at £145,000, 1 auitabla for naa withII uni It Mariam ‘mum.8. It is propoaad to retain 8 d th abqvanantionod tank:an a phyaioal racard (2 ‘hm: AC It I and 1 ‘rank AC H III)-
p 91PERU“for: Lt-Col B-hzbart ("lGO" Br) » (1)/In-. J’. Johnston, Dept of '' Iunitions 22)» ‘Ir. J’. Taylor ("1' Br) 1)(Copy for DDSD(l) for informatim)Attached is a statemmt setting out the informationl.submitted by Dept of
llnniticmu md I00 Br in reply to the threequestions asked by lba P.C. Spender, LC. concerning the dusttank programs.It does not ap ear to be possible to give complete2answers to the above-menzioned questions on the
inforeation asit stmds at present. the points which appear to requirefurther consideration ares-(a)(b)the reason for the difference between llunitious'21-“; =':.'=@~:"::a;"-5 ~22:-zqmoasr.-1T ue o o ers ac Lrsw c£100,000 for
sot: on overseas tanks; if thedifference is accounted for by diversion of 2annexes components ete., to other departments \;it would appear that some details are required.confirmation by Arlw of the value of components
h(£245 000) and of the 50$ of tools and gmges\ stated by lunitions as having been taken over (c)(d)and whether these are covered by orders already ~-placed. 'an estimate of the cost (by Munitions) of the ‘Tageeial tooliai
which was scrapped because of1 e Insuitabil tr for any other proJect._ t »an estimate (by lhmitioes) of the remaining ccm- ¢_\)-Qponente, spare parts and other assets purchased ->'in connection with the Aust.tank
programme cadstill on hand.(Iote: It is not sulsested that all the above information(e)should be made available to Km P.C. lpemgr, butin vies of possible repercussions in the ‘ tureit appears to be necessary for agreement
betweenIuni ions and Army to be reached in regard tothe actual approx nett cost of themst tankprograane and how much of it is ohargeeblettoArmy and covered by arw orders); arrangemqts to be made shereby the
remaining Lcomponents, etc.((<l) above) are inspected byLrnv with a vies to gacqixiring those which cm Ybe put to use and for the disposal of the balance /\then remaining. ' l \It is suggested that a conference be
arrsnzeduby30llajor P.8. Barton to suit the convenience of addressees so thatthe points listed above can be cleared up as early as possible.If thereare any other points which you consider should be clearedup, advice would
be appreciated in order that the other addresseesJul 45.lit.Go]. \ex (r a 1.3,Directorate of Staff Duties.I; J/
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN DlGlT|SED IN SECTIONSll ll'0 nene dated31$ /B V Aneennenw no anew: III‘N ‘m i ruins at Imzsmm ma umvrnolu AID IIIISTEI ti nil!' 0 ' ‘r|'~¢‘ h.‘ “)i!§!![ .;![,§]!‘!;Qi n~."'§§_.\ |» ':v'¢'\'i ‘ 0" Q0 is “ ;*..v>
VIdem-nation re aired by the_ gt Inforntien supplied by theH9“ Page e _Iiniehr far Iunitienl" " ,_ Lnusu i ii i i M i _’ Infernltion eupplied by the 1.0.9»(e) Ihet ie the tote). seek of 1Approxiptely I-‘ii Iillionethe ‘lent Pr0grl_e to
due.I(D) lhet appropriation: were Qkpeniiiture by the Department et_-nude from yeer teyeer. " 5-Iunitiem in net tron e Troutham en! recovered from the. Deplrtnent eif the Arq, on wholebehalf appropriation ere nude. .ll '- X
‘aéw‘N /¢_'_4 ;;,»"'J _ /,_,JK7» ‘/3 4." .-1"» “(rubV!’ 4 N _x‘4‘I A 1 27¢. 34 ‘_ a.‘ ,¢4-at‘-3 '- -(e) Ibltne the remlt of the (1)8ix§y $i'I'f‘(£83 tank: were PI‘°" \ 1The tutti value of orders {heed with Department oflunitioul ter loeei px-
edne ien at ‘fume, ape:-e pert:and eenpenene eee (utter elloving tor eeneen nonema adjustment: of oz-den n pieced originniys nu£4,869,000;.1, The tote]. authorisation and eeneelietienn for‘hub (inclining spire pert: enlé
components ate)bath ts-en Overeeu ml local. graduation were needuring the yearn ee given he:-euderlYen!‘Annual ‘ctAmount of19401941 mu' 194$1944=“'hi.:2.II§.1.m 9--qn.-.2»0 eeiwoe$100,000sa,o14,-
nou,41a,eusa,0as",a1s§2|.?J-L__ g,e;1,§agL1’ .917, 33¢‘Oversee: predugtion 883,740,0515.355; nun A . I. 4,ase-,oo0I, Omen yere pieced thraugh the Deplrtnent etIuni-isiene fer W5 hnke and azure pert! te e betel.value of
111.8 I111! epprnx. I eeeutien efpredueiliea. of Australian ‘rent: Kite Depertlentoz lunitienl advised um the ks-1 an etAvlireiinn Teak production to can point Ml been »l4,8l,Q00 which included an eneunt of $160,000(eppez)
for neditieetiom um services to eveneutanks. The Itpetihzrl ineu-1-pd aeieiy rilningto Australian uke nu, therefore, I-4,300,000.lice]. production}! teak: yen initiated by In!0l\IlU§ Hm!" 5'15 Cf Q ‘U1! 194°; "SQ!"-F3‘U; In hbimt
linute 1191 at 117th.-Y\I1J 1941 nilterminated by In whims Iinute‘ llo. I979 et13$! 1943.. P1-aviaieml eeeeptenee of eenplete tanks ere llexpenditure of am: mm. V dueed am delivered to the A fellows; .» ,-Depertnent of the
Lew which else lake A0 It I with unheet ta-egted Inglis ll' hue tehen over oonpanenta to the '1“ bl‘ 15yllue _§848_,O_00.4>i" \ _ Teak! L0 Ii III __l_ A I ""5 - ' 5-.-. --_.\-¢.- e-..\.. -.-|--4 1- hhn An-e in
oxpanllitux-0 at this Maw.1 1 1\ N <,,,:,..;.-J-‘ :1 .;.:/-/' 1 J; av ..»,4/Z I ‘/' 11' . 7" ‘Pk.._<9,;/‘.0---1WI' ~ !In31&9 04. \,= /7.; Z‘ inZ; if M. \ @~=‘- (0) turn. tho 1-nus ¢r tho ‘ (Ulixty as-nwn tank: vlra pr»-Guaa and dalivarad to tho
-Dapartmat of the Any 0hi0h all0baa taluan avar oonpemnta to thovaiaa pt &848,000._>i"-, 'w "'-11.5» V _‘-4 ii T1000 can naaw araauitab1a'tor nae '15; I8 0nd QAaarioan tanks .. A oauidn-abiaunion of eoaponanta baa
0100bun takan war by privata 1;V cont:-alto», i(2):. to tba valuo 01’ 'Pvaraaaa produgtion l§3,'M0,061amihgn L0001 1 4,aoo,oooOrder: 0020 91a001 through tin Dayan-taant ofIuniona for W8 huh and agara parka ta a
canvaiua of I-11.8 ailia approx. a 0000051011 atproduction of Auatraiian Tanks, tho Baplrtaantof Iunitiana adviud that tho tetal coat atAvltralian Tank prodnaaiou $0 that point hi baa V34,80,000 which inoiuad an amount 0!‘
I-100,000(appga) for modification and 00111000 to ovaruaatalta. ‘!'h0 axpanihuz-0 iaaam-pd 001011 1-uni»;to Aunt:-aliaa tanh van, tnaratoa-0, £4,800,000,I-"0011 production at tanks ya: initiahal I1 Ia!Oabiaat link 8'18 of
Rad Jul; 1040, continuaw Ia: ¢ab._i|nt Iinuta 1191 0! 19% July 1041 adhrlimtd W Bar Gabimt linutai Io. I979 at18}! @111 1945. ' ‘1. Proviaieml aaaaptanaa of 001910“ tanks an an....t 11000 0 , 00 ‘ éanh A0 Ik I with unhaat
tr-aaimi hgila 11Iith hilt 1,8Tania A0 It III }Total 00191080 tank: raooivaa by tho Arq 8‘in M1000 Mala 00:0 aauptad by the Any with001-tain quaiitiaationa aa to imp:-ovaaant in daaign.An mania»). 40 um 1; 1 nan" 0en|liti0n
tothan nantionoql abuva 00:0 tab: war for gggloI ‘ ‘£600; 4 <h0v0 D0 u tranafarl-01 ~ T110 2011001. lotion i0 010004 in rogard toto ma Dopartnan: oi’ aircraft ~ ' all of tho mwonntiomrtanh (1.0. a total 0! 66Production,
othara to tin vainof app-uzuaazz no .600 ha" ;; ta)baa: tab: w0r by Gannon-~Iaalth Ainlafi Gorparatiua Th *utiliul in u 01011 araftMl and oihnra again‘ 020 Doing *0)UGggntruaiion Program»(3)5/. w-I-Z2--V»’I’i"%' ‘F .
‘uni:£0010 and gwugoa lava bun tahan (0)awn by dittaraut aaationa ct anArq, and an haw D00; diatri--hatod 0,1030% uontraatora ngagon Iuniiiom graduation.»B tanka A.$.~‘ It Ila! 0:0 tank A.0.,R II! 0111 ha roaaiaad tor
phaiqi100901,, __ _ M _A_ _ ; cu um» s: m a-m‘h.¢-.. as an 1»Giannini an: 001-viaaabio ooapouanta willin gut 80 u nut aavantagioua an inaa0 in; much othar 1-0auir0nat0 00 tha A21‘ ‘Linn for 6:00..at 1- a aouplata
appraaiatioa baa. boon aalain min to M abovo an a nu: aahotionbaa ‘D001: nth 0! iha oonponaatl 000 whichaaa ha and for 082:0: purpaca tba balanao i' (1.; .~. than for -mm mu-0 1| n0oaoaoaiaal an by the Arq) will ha
oiiapoaulin aaoardanaa with the ‘naval. dinpnaal.pr-oaoawu
" THIS PAGE HAS BEEN DIGITISED IN SECTIONS 1’KInternstten requirei by the Into:-ntten supplied by the ' Ilifersustiern supplied by the $0.0,leg LO. SPEIIDB. 7 > linister for Iunltlene (Sheet 9.(0) ¢entl - (4) The speeisl
teens; hes been stripped \ 5. Gonetdersble qulntitles OL/Uiipi sat :1 W jheesuse at its’ uneuitsbillw fer sother pr-ejeet, This preeedure lstens: in ell. uulertektlqs er s spee-tensed nature.1 (8) A masher of ennsnes were
eenstruetel= tor the purposes er the tentpregreme, but they hue been diverted\ to ether purposes eg - theelsglenAnnexe testing epzrexinstely '7 ,0O0‘ he been used by he 0cQemel1tlDepsrtnsnte es s store, sun e
lergessetion of it hes new been nele even-sble to the Vietorlln Hons!‘Conisslon for the 1:1-e-tlbrleetlen\ of homel-(0) It 1| lpprqnt, therefore, me eeoneiclereble preportlen of the expend-itnre will be ales:-ed from the eest
efthe tenk pregrepls sad thet thegreatest possible use is Belgebteinsd 1'1-on the eeptiel seseteacquired for its\\11\stores held by the De sent of Iunlene,st the tins or ees on of thepsiegrene,heve been eequi by the Arq' tor
othervses. The 1 s at parts ed! eseenblles ete.hell by Ilnietlm of Iunitions ere under‘sens review and it is entietpsteel thetin new-e further eoneldex-sble quantitieswill be e.equh-ed;
nun I111 IO B1011‘! {POI ‘nu GUI‘ IIthe tank 71-0311110 ml that thngrate“ poniuo use 1.: holyobtainod from tin nuptial nutsuqulrad for it.IIIL
/7 _ . ‘ ',>-.._._._.__.mu2uu_m= s_T_m '~§;.§~§'§:'3'm- Arw, 1°“ ‘N17’ 1915'Viotorie Ierreeke, £lLReterenoe ie node to e ooneemioetion tron the aeeretary\ to the Ier Mvieory Geunoil eddreeeed to the Ilinieter for
lmitiomconveying e requeet tor intonation from the Hon. P. O. Spenderregarding the 20 mm. Poleten neevy leohine Om: and the ‘renk pro-weIt would eppeer thet the Iinieter tor the Arley ie toreply direct to Ir. Spender
embodying the onevere to thoee perteot the §:::tione which etteot the edninietretion ohie Deperhnent.The fol ng intonetion ie eooorlingly mrniehed a -'(e) 1500 cone. (the eriginel reqniraent wee of the orderof 8,000 cane, but
wee progreeeivelq reeneed tothie tinel figure.)\ M Ilerine A.A- $7110 llountinge552 A.A". lend UPI Ilountinge.0! the two letter, the totel requirunent ie 51;}end 900 reepeotivelp, (b) Ptoduetion ooote total £1,17l+;95l-b, of
which toolingeeooonte for 2129,1051: and re-errengement or theennexe end Iorke or oenerel llotore-Boldene - £26,665.The Iorh hee been oerried out prinoipelly by thieoontreoter.- §J 'II (e) Apprezineteli 67% million.n (b)
Expenditure by the Department oi’ lmnitione ie net trone Trnet rand end reeovered 22¢! the Depertment or the‘Axw, on whole behelt epproprietione ere node.’/51_“;~/ (o) Sixw-rive (65) tanks were produced end delivered to/
v~‘~~/ the Depertment or the Arw Ibieh bee eleo teken over/' eoeyonente to the velue or £2l05¢0O0. ‘then enponeute‘V ere euiteble tor nee with 14.3 end 11.1; Anerioen tenhe.n A ooneiaereble number oi’ oonpoaente hee
eleo beenI token over by private oontreotore.!‘:1 ' ~ A Rnginee to the velue of £500 O00 have been treneterreo' C * to the Depertment othirorert Promotion, othere to. the velne of epproxiuetellqr £80,000 heve been token/ ’
over by the Oounonweelth Airorert corporation Pt).‘ ‘~;.;\\ Ltd. and othere egein ere being ntilieed in the 8ee11X. croft Oonetmotion programme._ ._'/‘ Approxinetelysporoentorthetooleendg\<:*“ V have been teken over by
ditterent eeetione Jug:Army, end one have been aietributed enonget oontreetoreengeged on mnitioue production. the epeoiel. toolinghee been eorepped beeeuee or ite nneuitebility foree/2l
)The Beeretew,Department or ue Any,- IKLBQURIII. 8.0.1. 10th -M17, 1914.5.‘ IIQCIOIOIII IIOOQCOIUO(¢)00516.-eny other prodaot. This prooamre ie cannon in allnndartakinge of e apeeieliead nature. IA umber of
euhexae were oonetruoted tor the purpoaeeat the tank progreme, but they have now been divertedto other pm-poaee, e.g. - the Holneeglen Annexe, coatingepproxinetely £175,000 hea been need by commnaeelthDope:-
tmante ea e etore, end e large aeetion or it haanow been mode available to the Victorian Homing Oomieaionfor the pro-tebrieetion or houeee.It ie apparent therefore, that o ooneidez-able proportionor the expenditure will be
oleered from the eoet or theteak progreme, end that the greeteet poeaible nee iebeing "obtained from the oepital eeaate acquired for it.Beoreterys/
Qrsdburn, Assistant 27th June, 1945.8001-etsry (Finance). 'Ire Tank Accounts.I an wondering what we are doing about theliquidation of the Tank Project. It is n year or sosince the operations upon the tank were closed
down,and it seems that by now we should have a fullstatement of all the expondi ture and the arisingeof equipment, components, etc./%c/(J. K. Jensen)S e o r e t a r y.F?‘/Fr ,s V/77-"5 < egg}r/1. <I/7?/Z ‘-Z/l‘-
}r F,_.__}? " "_‘?_/'__'Z~_"2:.f' ;J__ ”'1"j ,"1,7-laY yK 7%7¢v — H 73 — ~u—=zJ<~<.,t<20?0—/0-2 44¢-u.snz»£o4s\<—wL@- 44'A.NA 4»/5./M/> Aoywz, 67/“""""‘%"“2,°7 ( {M M//vmauwgp,‘\_\£30 (4714 (.280 Q2070-/;-.1-
64:) :/ an ,f£E$3q&- é- V -' /~>”'/1"/’-Q"/“"("/'a.¢(¢;J/a,¢/> ~v /l?3 - -U-..,e¢...¢.,57oe~/r—z_4.~ N/1-7‘ 3 “Q-Co: -/<9-2 :If "(xv'//¢,-ea/s" '61. i‘97,,4..,z4,,_,@,W¢ ;_2'7z6164- /(viR
 l / h iYesterday, the munitions programmewas discumed. The honorable member forWentworth (Mr. Harrison) rnentionevlthe colossal expenditure on, and the in-nitesimal resuilts that had resulted from,the production of
tanks. He was attackedby the Mimiister for Munitions (Mr.Makiu).Mr. BAnNA1to.—Hc was very eectivclyanswered -by the Minister.Mr. HOLT.—I shall endeavour tocounter the Minister’s reply, and I hopethat I shall do so
effectively. TheMillister claimed that the proposal tomaiiufacture tanks in Australia hadbeen approved by the Menzies Govern~ment, and that the bulk of the eXpen~ili~tnre had been incurred prior to theassumption of oice
by the Labour G0-vernnient. He said that in January,1942. three months after the presentAdministration l1ad assumed office, thetanks produced were given their rsttrials. All of tlrese statements may be1-m'r(*r't. But they
may give a thoroughlyuuhalaiir-c<l picture of what is takingplace. I do not criticize the government~iu t'n:'t, I was rt incnibcr of it~—thatnlecirled to manufacture tanks in Aus-tralia when we had no knowledge of Whatrt-
.~'ource.< would be available to us. fromother cou1m'i<-s. We were in the gravestperil, and action had to be taken urgentlyIn meet our requirements.Mr. L.\z;:Ann\'i.—Noho(ly criticized iteither.Mr. HOLT.-—No, but the point I
amleading up to, i11 which the Ministerassistiiig the Treasurer (Mr. Lazzarini),as one nt' the <'11siD(lim1s of the publicnance of the Commonwealth, should heinterested. is that, as the Minister forMunitions (Mr. Makin)
pointed out,_\Tl1(‘l‘lK‘ was able to supply all the tankswe nredcrl. He said—The rst tests were made about three ninnthszifter I took oflice as Minister for Munitions.Snhsequentl_v_ America was able to supply in,Qi'eut
iiiimbers the tanks that this country sourgently ncerled.T contrast the Ministm-’s statement yester-day with what I said during the debateon the budget i11 September, 1942, abouteight months "after the rst trials hadbeen
made-The tank production of America is growinghr loops and lmunds every month. but withthis lcnnwledge in the mind of the Governmentnml its expert arlrisers, they are .~\Lill persistingin what I insist is a most wasteful
and useless/Y/ lI ‘ I-¢<>-a--.<J’-MUNlTlO'*-!S‘p/7/U QECHET317.’/.4?additional burden upon our Inuiritionsprogramme.The Minister, in reply, criticized my atti-tude, saying that I was faint-hearted anddid not have faith in the
ability of Aus-tralian industry to handle the job. I hadenough information to know that theprogramme was a failure, and that itrepresented an unnecessary additionalcharge upon our resources of labour andmaterial. But the
Minister persisted, andnow, in order to evade proper criticism,he tries to mislead the Parliament by say-ing that the bulk of the expenditure hadbeen incurred when he took over theMunitions Department.Mr. Blumsnn.-
—What did Mr. Easing-ton Lewis say about it?Mr. H‘OLT.7~Unfortunately, he is notin a position to speak for himself. Ihave a great regard for his capacity andshare the gratitude of every Australianfor the work that he did in
the munitionsprogramme.Mr. BARNAR.D.—Tl1en why does thehonorable member criticize him?Mr. HOLT.—Thc problem of abalanced allocation of national resourcesdoes not concern the Director-General ofMunitions. He
handles his own problemin the best way he can. It is the respon-sibility of the Government to determinethe allocation of men and materials. Wewere able to see in 1942 that the con-tinuance of the tank construction pro-
gramme was a wasteful use of our limitedresources. ‘Ad," 1;»~.§‘\- i.(._I}_.; or --1=¥'-e‘-5~1"~
" ‘ BB * Yi’Z.Lem June, 1945E C RDear sir Fredexxck,I um in receipt of your letter f even deep,' ' - 'v~ wconcsrnine the Wien of M1. L§HRQrf, a meme?) ofthe Idvisory var COuAC1l, to be supplied witncertain infcrmetion
ruletive tc the fGm.m. Pol~ QPeavy machine Gun and the Tank Pragramme.As recuested, I shall arrange Icr snub informetionto be iuri:h;d airect to r. Spender.101?; sincerely,(Sal) NORMAN MAXI!(NORMAL;
maxim)"1MIBISTHP FOR VUhITI“E~Sir Frederick b. Sheddan, KClu., 0BE.,Secretary,Advisory War Council, eDepartment of Defence,CANBERRA. A.C.T.M S nder for theSECRETARY — for preparation of a reply to r
peMinister's signature, pl€3S9 - extra copy to beforwarded to Sir Fredk. SheL.G.W11liamSPRIVATE SECRETARY6/6/45
; (i) If the last is correct, why was thisI (3) Tank Programme:¢ i \,~17 1“ Ji/F’-é Jf “VJ \/ ‘;;,’i"k‘M~- < V .E '71{'*7§EToms 1‘ ‘$."J ~_~- -¢> \5 aiTELEPHONE:CENTRAL 7185- COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA.DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE C9©RDl'N:\§'l0N>.‘~, ‘”\ CANBERRA,A.C.T. »\t'a@w--" w ‘Dear Mr. Makin,\The following requests have been made by theHon. P.G. Spender, K.C., M.P., a member of the
AdvisoryWar Council:-u(1) 20 m.m. Polsten Heavy Machine Gun: / HEP La'~ pa4 \p<.\,_ ,\,l,_,\,_,_m wemowwx4 \.\._.\.\,\.How many have been produced; ~"What is the total cost of production; /(k<l§éc%’» How many have
been issued;““‘ For what purposes they have been issued;Is this solely an anti-aircraft weapon;Is it not a fact that this has beenused elsewhere for general purposes;What type of ammunition it uses;(h) Is it a fact that
Ordnance is clutteredup with these guns at the presentmoment;' programme embarked upon to the extentto which it has; and(j) To what extent has this gun been usedin operations, both here ad in England,and to what
extent has it been used inoperations in the forward areas in NewGuinea and New Britain.1 | 0 1 u 0 - Ir/' I should be glad to know -‘ .(a) What is the total cost of the Tank,‘ ‘ Programme to date;I ' ,‘ (b) What apprppriations
were made fromX year to year; and I;_. /4W:Wa” ,@~ aZ7(c) What was the result of the expenditure//-, '_.~4dM ’_ _ of this money."m 'x; 2. The Acting Minister for the Army has also beeninformed of the above and, at the
Acting Prime Minister's1 request, he has been asked to arrange, in consultation with,iF " yourself, for a reply to be forwarded to Mr. Spender's‘gl -,“ enquiries direct to him.,, Ll',f"* Yours sincerely,AJ n I ¢wE’ ">._.y’ S‘e d r e r
y,Adviso ar Council.The Hon. N.J.O. Makin, M.P.,Minister for Munitions.h
‘.<'~_5' I, ,, Q ‘ MINISTRY OF MUNITIQNS — MINUTE PAPERi _ \Ti.;:g;)Secretary Date H V _ t‘ Xttentn of Your Rats M r‘ M45 Our Ref.o3'V" “V-* /7.’ SU,nc'r copies to '9/Vi’»' FINALISATION OF AUSTRALIAN TANK
IRODUCTION- A.FTV. DI§E§TORATE.' ;55L’_The Liquidation Branch is not in a position to ,'\submit a comprehensive report on the liquidation of the A.F.V.; Project. The progress made to date is difficult to ascertain/ from
any one course, and doubt exists as to who is reallyheld responsible for taking the action necessary to presenta reasonably correct statement. I understand that youarranged for Mr. Gurd to undertake this task.So far as
Liquidation Branch is concerned, we areconfined to accounting for and disposing of certain propertywhich has been declared to be surplus to requirements. Notall of the surplus property arising from the closing downof
A.F.V. however, is reported to the Liquidation Branch.To enable a comprehensive report to be compiled, the followinginformation should be assembled :-1. Buildings.(a)The capital cost of each building which was
approvedfor the A.F.V. project. This should be furnishedby the Chief Accountant.(b) The_disposal of each building for other uses; the dateof handing over, and the Department concerned, shouldbe stated.If a separate
building has been provided for Canteenand/or Food Services; the capital cost should bestated as per (a). The new use, if any, of thebuilding in question should be indicated as per (b).(0)2. Equipment (fixed) in situ.In some
buildings, certain equipment, such as overheadcranes, heat treatment plant, dust extraction plant, etc.,has been placed in situ.Details of capital expenditure on such should be stated.This should be furnished by the Chief
Accountant. Theuse, if any, to which such equipment is now put, should beindicated, and if any financial transfer is involved, theChief Accountant should report the actiontaken. Inthe case of Food Service Equipment, the
Chief Accountantshould say if Financial transfer is necessary, and if so,the action taken.5. Movable Equipment.In respect to each building, it is necessary to account forall movable equipment.Machine Tools & Gauges and
other associated items under thecontrol of the Director, Machine Tools and Gauges, should beseparately listed by the Director, Machine Tools & Gauges,and a clear statement as to disposal of each item submitted.Lend
Lease Property should be shown in a separate statement,Financial transfers crediting the A.F.V. Project should be madeand the Chief Accountant should be asked to see that such havebeen effected.I‘memo - on back
starting at em. edge.) w. am».-' A . -4 -\_ .7 \. _,.. ,/i _ ___JI1vI_ >~i_ _,___|V\(\‘l.i
J‘. \' .- 3 .-4‘,Other movable equipment has been listed for Liquidation 3purposes on Forms L.l and action has been taken to disposeof those items for which purchases could be found. Thereis still a residue to be dealt with.I
1Stocks of Special Equipment.Large stocks of engines - Cadillac, Pratt and Whitney andsome other types, were imported with spares for the A.F.V.programme. The surplus stocks held have been listed onForms L.l and the
Liquidations Branch has arranged for or isdealing with, their disposal.In the case of Lend Lease property, any disposals to Serviceshave been reported to F.E.A. Where disposal to the Serviceshas not resulted, the facts
have been reported throughDivimpro to the F.E.A. Mission for advice as to future action.Stocks of other special tank equipment such as TransmissionAssemblies, Bogie Wheels, etc. etc. have been similarly dealtW1
thespecial mention should be made of Ball Bearings importedunder Indent for the Tank Programme. These stocks have beentaken over by the Directorate of Machine Tools which shouldreport as to quantity and value, and
the disposals made if any.gtocks of Trade Items, Hand Tools, Raw Materials, Etc.Both in Sydney and Melbourne, there were substantial stocks ofraw materials,trade items, tools, etc. for use in the A.F.V.Programme. These
stocks have been listed on Forms L.l and theLiquidations Branch has arranged for disposal of portionStocks of Components, complete and incomplete.The closing down of the A.F.V. Programme resulted in surplusstocks of
Tank Components, complete and incomplete.Stocks held in Munitions Stores, of Completed Components, havebeen listed on Forms L.l. In some instances, some disposalshave been effected to the Department of the
Army, but nearly allof these items, including Tank Hulls and Turrets, are notusable other than in Tanks, and must be written off as worthless.Action has still to be taken to deal with this phase.Components, in an incomplete
condition, have been listed onForms L.l as they were taken over from the hundreds of contractors.It is not practicable to ascertain the cost of each suchcomponent, and a rough mass valuation for purposes of accounting,is
the only course open. The disposal of these incompletecomponents, will, with few exceptions, be affected by transferto Salvage Section for sale as Scrap.In conclusion, I suggest that the time is opportunefor a clear plan of
action to be defined, in which the partto be dealt with by each Branch concerned, will be madeknown and pressed to early finality._____._--KJ. . WESTHOVEN- 'CONTROLLER OF LIQUIDATIONS.fir‘ .. A_/ _ . . ._ ‘ ‘of the
stocks taken over. ‘
2»-. _’ Asst. Secretary el‘ ~"' ' ‘”'rinanee) \ ‘»,..<_,. ,:e.1- w l; 1._*s.11_~r?.;_.,,;.;+ 4,31: =-.z.u*nzv_.'_~: '!'!;l\'l'l!l'!-fl€l'I§s1',¥.'l<!4 LThe Liquidation Branch is not in e position tosalnit a omsznrehensive report on the liquidation
oi’ the AJJ.Prc,1ect¢ The progress ads to date is difficult to ascertain£rce.nycnsccnrse,anddcabtexists eetcwhoisreallyQM responsible for taking the action necessary to presenta reasonably correct statement. I understand
that youarranged tor Kr. Gard to undertake this task.so tar as Liquidation Branch is concerned, we areoczrtined to accounting tor and disposing or certain propertywhich has been declared to be surplus to requirements.
Hotall or the our lusp property arising from the closing downor A.F.Y. however, is reported to the Liquidation Branch.To blena e s comprehensive report to be compiled, the followingintcnnticn should be assembled :- -i (e)
Zlhe capitol cost oi’ each building which was approvedfor the AJJ. project. This should be tarnishedby the Chief Accountant.(b) The disposal ct each building for other user the dateor handing over, and the Deperhaent
concerned, shouldb8 Sgltds(e) It a separate building has been provided tor Ganteenand/or Food Services; the capital cost should bestated as per (a). The new use, it any, or thebuilding in question should be indicated as
pea: (b).nu t 41-nu mum.F1 ill"In some buildings, certain equipment, such as overheadcranes, heat treatment plant, dust extraction plant, etc‘,has been placed in situ.Details ct capital expenditure on such should be
stated.This should be furnished by the Ohier accountant. meuse it any, to which such equipment is now put, should beindicated, and if any financial transfer is involved,’ theChief Accountant should report the acticnteken.
Inthe case or Food Service Equipment, the Ghier Accountantshould say it rinanciel transfer is necessary, and it so,the action taken. ~In aspect to each building, it is necessary to account torall movable equipment.Machine
Tools la Gauges and other associated items under thecontrol or the Director, Machine ‘Boole and Gauges, should beseparately listed by the Director, Machine Tools 8: Ganges,and a clear statement as to disposal ct each
item snhitted.Lend Lease Property should be shown in a separate statement,/‘1financial transfers crediting the AJJ. Project should be sedeand the Chief Accountant should be asked to see that such havebeen effected,_
\r~,__\>‘ )IC
Mmmnunoununatmubqm /rx/5%éfEE2;;LE5%?"'P'"' :" "=;'.,'-mz.,."**...""... ‘an va attain to be 011$ with.-Larga stock! at uagima - Oulillu, Pratt la Whit!!! andIona otlor typos, in-0 imparted with lpu-on for tho AJJ.mmpnnnv
ulmmumnumnhdnnnhamlhhienLlgntionn B:-anon ha In-mgod ta: or inO , any disposal: in Bettinablm. mmnnmnnmtouaunuuntbs tutu hmn boa: regatta! through3-A. nianion tar advice u to tntutu
nation.Sumunrmwuumuhmtamownutnuhaonmuuamu:{:buu, Bagio whnoln, oh. eta. have boa similarly haltOsmnumnnmmaumnlbanuaotnnllumulhumnunlcrlnduttcrthohnkrrogrnun. rhnaltockahliahooataken en: by the
Dlrnctonto at Hashim ‘real: which should§s§;§§8gggggEgggia Kai‘rowortatoqmat-1tyundn1.no,udtl\o,d1a1>o-aa1smd.ultlzw¢EHQ2JLIklihlllkpilhl-and lulboumq, than an substantial noon ataJ.n,s:uu nun, mu, eta. for an in the
AJJ§§sg:1Pug:-man, than noon have boon 111%! aa Pan: I-.1 a|1.tJuLiquianuou Brunch has u-rangoa tor dhponl. or portionof tho IROB' tuba unr--,r.r. Prozruno malted in surpluségauploto and
lnaaplutm§@=§:"a@%§§gz§§§r'§§- =" 5:=§§§§§;§§EE*§:>'l:u:kKu11nua'mrrnta,uonottodulwlththilphnluE2nu, at Gunplo In nun ialtunu, noun £1090 V éDcputnont or &0 aw, but mu-11 111Qnlnuthwrlttaotturorhlnln.lam LA
uthqnro tqkonwuttrnntlm torn-iii?$555Guwoanatl, in an Luaanploto condition, have baa inoIt in mt pzatinablo to ‘iMt®Ioaapuun a mm nun Ill on oris taoo:lycouIoopon. Tnullcyonloruupuaatn, 11111., with ton eruption, hoin
Sling Sutton for nip an Scrap-In oamluinn, I Iuggut that the,p1ll~_O1' action in ho mamaby ouch ax-munto any tlnnlitn5%?égi2;;33» 31 l50YiI-
h p M ~52/"'°'"""”' "P ' am In-oh, mas.‘Bu 9111 out-1n~0hu-go ,Icon tn:-ht,gggg. 5.0.1.The following ll reply to Quuum Io. 1 on tholouse or Ropruontauvu Uotloo Paper for mrlduy 8thimtnnt.(1) Approximltoly £7,500,000. This
figuro I111 Insubstantially rodueod by the utungott at eu-pcmntn and capital nuts aunt other project:tor mien ay are being nu and by lubuqucntrullnctanl.(2) llzty-tho (85) an a_.<,=ronchiug oouplotiou at theti.» ut advice Ia
rnooivod {rm the Departmentor tho Army that the pr-ajoct nu tc sun.(8) 800 Io. (2). _H) ‘mo tank programme III scammed in Augu: t, 1941,with the lpp1'OVl.1 or the Oovornncnt of the day.I6 no luporviud by Ir. A. R. 00110
undo: tho gone:-01dircotiau or Ir. Inlngton Low“.(5) Ir. 0040 10 not occupying tho ponition or Dagny uDirutor Oonnrnl or Arnouro Plxting Vuhiclu inWu Irl tllh Iinlatry at lupply.(G) 800 (1). ‘nun mutton I111 rocoin the attentionof
the Sooondu-y Induatrin Ooniuion and thoDilpoolla Cmmiuion.(J. K. Joann)S 0 0 re vary.
Ce e ery Vnuln, / 4 A _...:::;.::**';i... /¢1/A //Aw , %6~4/4;;.”.- 4 %/,, if /4Pr!“om" ,=¢-ml,Executed.,4->-»..»_v~r _»=»--:".;~::'~;.": 441 47 *<€€-=--<§~é/(Lw. HOLD \E l P W HDWI ’ g ‘"E W"-'-1*" "°W='-I-’ /V Mor.J’»c:u-rA|.
SCULFTOR,Illnnuni c T u n : n u N n I u I o n TIR g 6 — - 2 z 497 .. >‘ . ,. . .. Ttvznvu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ALWcnx. 1ggwn 51-5551-_ |-|A|y|||_1'QN_ ................... .................................................... ....... .. I /’/ IM
lnenh A _ "Molnorinl Books, . L ' ‘ \5cl0|||, - . /$6and Tubletu. I ' '1”! ¢ ’% @ P MéwmuoW----1-I ---1 wt Cut-Iron/1 4”» 4* / ¢MZ:/% %/fn@.»a/z‘-1'£¢¢¢.¢dC,é./% M%WlcriptCm r.Public, Church, 6’t‘/ i i : % d d nlhor ‘\
;:morilla.";.¢j;7u/4Zéf7;,ZQ/ -Q _ / ,w‘ M4/:,<.%_ ‘.5: &-ucr ea. ‘ 7‘ _“" V1. 4.1
'/> _ ,, r”_____.-.,..2' J ‘S» COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. A l é- —_1 5’/, ..=".*._,i~DEPARTMENT CF THE TREASLIRYQ, LP‘! /_,/’// Q, 1In reply plum quote ‘M ' I //No ............... .-652-1<.-<= A.3B. OFFICE OF
TREASUR In FRESENTATIVE. *c/o DEPARTMENT OF nersucz,MELBOURNE. c.1_ _A ; 21st February, 1945.MEMORANDUM: for !- . Q. 8 ,'\ ‘£4’/is €8"9¢5The Secretary, »_ M 744:,Ministry of Munitions, ‘Q44 4!83
William Street, ' 'mmounmz. c.1. ,Einelisetion of Australian Tank Production.I refer to your memorandum of 8th February, 194-5, and toearlier correspondence.Whilst appreciating the difficulties in the way of liquid-ating a
project of this magnitude, the fact nevertheless remain! thatuntil it is cleared e very substantial expenditure remains unadjustedin the Manufacture of Munitions Trust Account.the position. IIt is urged that special endeavours
should be made to clear 7W .2.-' “""’ M 1,,“ 'QW.E. Dunk, MTreeeug Regreaentetive. - \(l(4.9‘MM <s°°\\\ I5 ~we-,, @w9~v/B-!' , -Xe” /4157 ;°4"M I” 01?; 5_ £3/4-/"5 ' C’.v .‘L3ii§1" ‘,1 ‘,"V/;-Vi£.[/1.’/fir-4 5 / I __ /_ ‘ ’—’ .-
\¢>~*~- ‘1'1<1
 , £2 5 Y‘\ Ihe Treaeury Representative,‘ Department or Defend 8thFb - .Victoria Barrack: " . rust!‘ ‘Q45IELBOURN8, s§c.1. ‘gs/-1-,[ -H "AWL‘; C.‘ '0rnu\L1sA';-Ion or Ausrmnm max PRODUd}1‘!@_*_ ;__’1;. 41$/Ilth
reterenee to your memorandum or Oth January1945, (No. 6190 - A36) I deeire to advise that investigationsare continuing end a progreea report will be furnished as soonel practicable.i / %*'for S e e r e t a r 1TREASURY
QQAZSON OIIIGER:Referred tor your information, .1L0 ‘~4y(i\ (' I for S e e r e t a r 1\ -, LP\, i/:>// '*1}<>(:EZ?£%0§a~u¢/”¢f"~* J "4;;;'l:k/4~'é; ‘ ,_ ._Q ,~:,4£..;;..4,¢.:..¢=¢"4-***4/"€‘4“/'w'h““A7&4‘_“‘ 2 “_,,¢,;,.,[email protected].,;_
41%|’/\_»¢'_‘:4-1/<1‘:9,“ ‘._,<4,_? . .M .4.» . ~2~ ‘F “/4qi pg /Z/:9°;‘Z[§¢Mu=1»»+"‘4-;*fk“uj,“;“‘,;A°l ¢+~"*'"'”1z M/"‘‘°‘”"“'" W4v»q\»w MA My
4COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIAym-HON; DEPARTMENT or THE TREASURY -~£" "NPUTUP R:c|nocA|. Lnm-Lns: Fnumc: Szcruou i[N "P/I P'"" 511°“ "um:-rn" noun: Z‘N0- ............................. .. ——- no-no FLINDIII
LAN!/ < MILIOIIINI. C.l\ur. c.z. spm-1, \ ~ 2m Fobruary, 1945.Dogartmont of llunition\?3 Iillinm Street, J ‘ 0 0 :1‘Dear Ohu ,I um farwuing horovith Truaury lhmorandum inaonnoction with Tank Production in can you urn
unable to locatothe original-Iill you plane ring In with some information on tho‘ lubjoot or nlternativoly can an intorin reply be prepared-’ Your: faithfully,Incl. /74't*’»"1~4,<_7 /, £00 4»\lf_ ¢,:?“,,¢
Copy/YV6190 A.36. H‘ \ \lEll_O§@Ull FOR :- 9th January, 1944.The Secretary,Department of Munitions,83 William Street,E0UBNE- C-1-FINALISATION OF AUSTRALIAN TANK PRCDUCTION - AGEXDUI 62¢?“I refer to
War Cabinet Ilinute No. 3300, and in particularto paragraph 3 of that Minute, wherein the finncial implications areto be examined by the Treasury.It is understood that your Department hes been engagedin assembling the
costs assooieted with the Tank Production Projectbut up to the present no advice has been received as to the amountsinvolved, either as to capital expenditure or production cost-. As this matter hes been outstanding since
February,1944, I would be glad of advice as to the present position and whenI. statement may be expected.(SIGNED) LE. S-IEEHAII mQmr1?l iX1 Kw0,‘;-,I j/W l
t’, f COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, _S;//€j" 4!‘“ DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY,No.(s2s/012/91) METBQURNE. s.c.1B svsaSecretary,Department of Munitions,85 William Street,MELBOURNE. C.l.Production of
Carriers, MG(Aust).Forwarded herewith are two copies of WarCabinet Agendum No 41/1945 on the above subject whichhas been forwarded to the Department of Defence forsubmission to War
Cabinet.U1F1’?!I0'90I=12TaIi!-'DPP-HX»KcoPY; ‘F 26 Jan 1945,1
.’ "‘0,. 1. / y1mrD&1)Js/Ian.t War Cabinet AgendumNo. 41/1945.‘ ~-*4C01)? NOIIIIOOOPRODUCTION OF CARRIERS, M.G| _@AUST|L-1. -INTRODUCTIONIn Minute (2978) War Cabinet endorsed the recommendationof
the Defence Committee that the production of Machine GunCarriers in Australia for the period May 1945 to June 1944 shouldbe limited to 505.2. OBJECTS OF THIS AGENDUM —The objects of the Agendum are to submit
to War Cabinetdetails of the excess production of Machine Gun Carriers and toseek authority for the Department of the Army to take the Carrierson charge and place a covering order with Department of Munitions.3.
EXPLANATION OF THE OBJECT OF THIS AGENDUM -(1)The Defence Committee recommendation on which WarCabinet Minute 2978 was based envisaged a productionof 505 Carriers for the 14 months from May 1945
toJune 1944. Of the 505 Carriers to be produced duringthis period, 405 were planned for the period May toJuly, 1945, based on the number of Carriers whichwere on the assembly lines of the various contractorsat the lst
May.(ii) This recommendation was not approved until 13thJuly, 1945, by which time May production of 106 andJune production of l22 were already in existence,and additional Carriers had come into the assemblylines.
Investigation of the production positionproved that it was impossible to terminate productionat less than 596 Carriers from lst May, 1945, result-ing in an unavoidable overproduction of 91 Carriers.(iii) The procedure
approved by the Department of Defencein Memorandum SS.lOl63 of 50th November, 1943, forthe "Ordering, Shipment and Channels for Deliveryof Army Items of Munitions Required for Overseas orfor War Office
Reserves or Produced in Excess ofServices Requirements" states, inter alia, that -"if production of any item exceeds theapproved programme figure, the disposal ofsuch excess shall be the subject of a jointsubmission by
Departments of the Army andMunitions to War Cabinet."4. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION -Approval of the recommendation for the placement of acovering order by the Department of the Army for the 91 Carrierswill involve
the authorization of £156,500 additional to theArmy Programme.ChLC
I‘; ’-3-5. SUBMISSION TOJi CABINET -Approval of War Cabinet is reDepartment of the Aquested for thermy to take on char c thof 91 Carriersg- e excess production, and to place a covering order thorefor at anestimated
cost of £136,500./(N.J.O- Makin)Minister of Munitions(F.M. Fordo)Minister for the Army.1
MINISTRY OI‘ HUNITIONS' ‘ MINUTE PAPER5 cm‘: 16th 5§;=.nh§1#y,' 1945.TO THE CONTROLLER OF LIQUIDATIONSn-rzrmou or mun REE OUR REE -S/11-4comes To - PQUE-me’! ARMOURED FIGHTING
VEHICLES DIRECTORATE: LIQUIDATION OFSURPLUS PROPERTY.I refer to your minute dated 16th May, 1944,in connection with the winding up of Armoured FightingVehicles project, and shall be glad if you will
pleaseadvise the present position.... File is attached.- iiAsst. Secretarz Finance)M 4‘ /W” %m@m»é:~'»~ _L,___,. /V $6’.679*/5;4*;%’§l .£-"4**°P>P~_7°" (Continue on back, starting nt this edge)*\\1iI4P!A
\T?“QHIEF ACCOUNTANT 13th January, 1945.*13/Towan PROGRAIIE6 I2The a ended memorandum has been receivedPPfrom the Treasury Representative, Department of Defence,Ie1bourne:—"I refer to War Cabinet
Iinute No. 3500, and inparticular to para raph 3 of that linute, whereinthe financial implications are to be examined by theTreasury.It is understood that your Department has been engagedin assembling the costs associated
with the Tank Produc-tion Project but up to the present no advice has beenreceived as to the amounts involved, either as to capitalexpenditure or production cost.As this matter has been outstanding since February,1944, I
would be glad of advice as to the present positionand when a statement may be expected.”A copy of War Cabinet Iinute No. 3300 iss e e attached sThe Secretary, Department of the army in amemorandum dated 10th
larch, 1944, refers to War Cabinet IinuteNo. 5300 and states, inter alia:- ,"Certain panm, or proprietary items, are common to otherArm equipments, or can be used by the Army. These partsarezeing abstracted from the
Stock Lists forwarded fromtime to time by the Controller of Liquidations, and thenecessary Orders and Credits passed for the items required.All tooling and manufacturing equipment can be disposedof as indicated in Iar
Cabinet Minute 5300. All parts,assemblies, and materials not required by the Army, andnot covered as indicated in paragraph 3 above, can alsobe disposed of by the Controller of Liquidations as indi-cated in War Cabinet
linute 5300.When the whole programme of disposal is completed certaincredits will probably be due to the Army. Undoubtedly,also, certain debits, not yet passed to Army, will bediscovered. Until both these aspects are
finalised, itwill not be possible to arrive at finality, inizerms ofparagraph 3 to War Cabinet Minute No. 3300."Attached also is a copy of a memorandum fromthe Assistant Secretary, Defence Division, Department of
theTreasury»dated 28th December, 1945, in respect of provisionof capital expenditure for projects in the tank programme.There is no indication on the file that youhave been advised of the above requests.Iill you please
advise what is the presentpositio regarding the assembly of both capital and productioncosts. The relevant file S/$2./4 will be referred to youas soon as it is available. 9/42;2zL)1€;%It ;1=~=1=~)i
F D _Mnulsrné MU%|ONS 4. MINUTE PAPER~§T‘;)“Director-General of Munitions °‘" zuth May’ 19%‘ATTENTION or you" R5‘ OUR REF_ Mo/JSJ/JJ=<=P'I= *<>Material Supply Directorate (Mr. Noad) , Director of
FinanceSUBJECT> IA. F. V. DIRECTORATE.‘ In your memorandum, 210/30/36 of the 7th October,191;}, addressed to the Director of Armoured Fighting Vehiclesyou advised that this Directorate would be responsible for
thefuture administration of the Tank Track Link Annexe attachedto the Steel Co. of Australia Ltd., Sussex Street, Coburg-\ For the purposes of record we wish to advisethat by arrangement with the Controller of Castings &
Forgings,Materials Supply Directorate has undertaken the control of thisunit.1. ,- I _ S. »$~=-/~£~>Q ~“ V. ~* J» FRANK s. DALEYr \ ' ,. ,IL fr‘ _ ' Controller ‘ ' V Ordnance Production Directorate' w k D ,1», > '(Continue on
back starting at this edge)4
 - '§F., ' ¥"‘ 4.-.i ...I Ap ‘ MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS 1MINUTE PAPER . TO 5 SECRETARY .ATTENTION OF YOUR REF OUR REF.COPIES TOHATE 16th May, 1944.QZ'\'>SUBJECT A.F.V. DIRECTORATE -
LIQUIDATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY. /<"'I have noted your Minute of 5/5/44 hereunderand have taken a copy of the Army memorandum - 516.2958 - of10/5/44 for reference.2. Much remains to be done before a
comprehensive reporton A.F.V. liquidation canbe prepared. In this connection,I attach a copy of a memorandum of today's date to theDirector, Ordnance Production which is self-explanatory.Gontm ller of
Liquidatione,Noted. but I think that we should notwait for a complete inventory but immediately '_eommenne disposal of items which have been located - ' --¢-"the list supplied. by Mr. McI.a\:u3h11n for ( C.
Westhoven)'7"ole. Could not that be sent to CONTR LLER OF LIQUIDATIONS.P“ th a request for decision as tot. Q é 1 ementxqttne parzienalar items’? Q‘/£5” % W./I ~ -M . (c ue of ck§,Z;€1;€at um edge) ‘ ' Z-if’
’ . :o ' JCW:LCD. ;' V =1;5 r/ 4 'Ihenlglireeter, 16% I11. 1!?!" I OED OI PBGWGIION f57Ir. Jensen/Lest. See. (Pinanee), Aset. See. (Adeline). Z, V_A'_.F.v, DlBEO_1_'g§_A!'B e Iwvmrrqnms or SUR!LU§_PROPHIT{.It I111
be renumbered that the deoision to close 'dean the A.!'.V. Di!-eeterate was made in August, 194$. At thisdate about nine (9) months later, the taeh: or compiling andsubmitting on Ferns Yul inventories or surplus property is
stillineonplete. no Foo-as L01 1-eeeiveei to date deal with surplusproperty in lelbeorne and Sydney at Annexes, Oontraetorh premises,and in some Iunitiens Stores. Some items at the Oakland‘: store,notably the Pratt 8:
Whitney Engines also have been listed. Butthe greet bulk or special equipment imported tron U.S.A. and atpresent stored at Oaklande still has to be dealt with.2. I mmeretand that ayetenatie records oi‘ sueh propertywere
not kept by A-Fev. and, therefore, it will be necessary tooupile it do nova. At my requeet, an inepeetion was made byone of my stat‘! last week to broadly survey shat property could,be identified as beleuging to A.F.V. at
Qahlands. Ehie etrieerh. . » reyert e. e er which is attached, shun that a great quantityor costly empmt is held there, eeaprieing ever 5,400 eases;the eontente oi‘ ewe can be aeoe:-tained by reference to therelative shipping
doouaents which show identiiying shipping marks‘l on the relative eases. In other instances, hoiever, it seemsthat the oaees Iill have to be opened and the contents identifiedby qualified officers. ‘5- ~ I have personally
perused correspondence files dealingwith A.F.'\:'. imports under indente and have formed the opinionthat the oust of this equipment not at Oakland: represents alarge proportion of ‘the funds provided for the A,F.V.
project.~i»».._.___/1_ I32 _1a\ 4. It is xeoet important, therefore, that urgent and % special action be directed to the task of compiling inventories. Consultation with our Army Authorities will than follow to \l‘. 'aeoemine
whether any of the items can be usel for our Armypurposes. Then it appears it will be neoesea to consult .the Lend Lease Commission as to disposal or items not sorequired. \5. Finally, the Department of Army should be
advised assoon as practicable of the financial position covering the'~ A.F'.V. projeot as s whole. In this connection, your attention K. . . is invited. to the attaohed oopy of a memorandum dated 10th March,. 1944 vhiehhae
been ninutod to me by Hr. Jensen as under :-Ji) (1; re note and for action '‘/ / (2 [Per particular attention to Paragraph 5 “ J’ or the Army memorandum - an.-aoza or 1o/a/44. A;' 6. Iill you kindly give the foregoing your early
eonaidenn fl' atien am! advise me. I should be glad to eontor with you it ' you so seeire. ‘-6 ;»;- <,__ 1*" OF .;. 7.! ~"- ,. -: ‘gt?-’?‘_Y;..'<\gv . 1. -,5‘ ~. _‘ \-1.. ~' ‘ . ./'> ' ‘ _, ‘ '/.1.-* -1"“o -. _ ,. _ »
r_J)?»---~— ' ~-~-—~» §a',.'LL"’_"_'7*"'~ ” ~ |7'-rIa.~-y—-‘—'~.'/"""‘"' " ' .“ ' "~*""';**.;"1Q GOI'!:§£_I;-I\IIIHISTRY OF IUIIITIOHSMINUTE PAPERr-l.1;-_‘L*4.___. 1?INSPECTION A.F.V. STOCKS : OAUANDS.1rm. J. c.
wrzswnovmr,CONTROLLER OF LIQUIDATIONScrane.5.‘ 4.24829058113251'78815609515010252'716'151The following is an interim report on my recentinspection of A.F.V. Stocks held at Oaklenda.2. To effect an
accurate check it will be necessaryto open a large number or the oases and group the stocks whichare at present acattered.throughout store No. 6. This wouldentail considerable time and labour and the use of a mobileThe
main items on hand are as shown below.This will be supplemented by liate in detail-Cages oont:iningIHISIIIQSIS1Clutch cover plate assemblies-Transmiasio assemblieaGear AseemblieeA.B.C. Bantu car partsFord
partsEngines Pratt & WhitneyGenerators 310-2A.Idler Roller:Tank Track Assembly RubberSprocketsSuspension Unit M.3 & H.4 TankT2§re2‘Traversing Neoh.PartsStarters Direct Model 58.Large stocks of Miscellaneous
Tank Parts.Stock of Castings for A.C-5 Tank.(r. .1. MoLAUGIlLIN)msrzcmon,LIQUIDATIONS muncn16/5/1944. _
!__ .?*'\"-";IY=I1rO);'\ "\ J‘\\.EGW/ll-3/DW copy = cm. LIQUIDATIONS: '"“"“7— V.21:1: April 1944.. sqDIRECTOR OF ORDNANCE PRODUQIIOQ \ 'Q5) »/For your information, we attach hereto copy of Departmentof Arm
mcmorandu R0. Sl.z936 dated 10th larch, 1944.It is undorstaod that this mlmorandum is in reply toyour memorandum I0/F50/JI dated 6th larch, 1944.259';€;ntrollar, -7/l!,__f /)f0 O_W_,( 0&4/§:.r"'<K /raw u §~o/I»-\-
/6»»v<4. 3"/ J \/,¢7’/2/</ZV<;737%s<°s\§6.’? 175
an--...~.~ 1\ ‘ Ia I - -is ;'/Q4/.5 We;‘I ' ‘ / I' . ,. _',_>,’f{'.P:._‘:‘<. )X’/W52;/\)/p\ “~</_. w*“f,‘;";°'1f§_" /»":/ .\EébM5Nw_ RLTH OF AUSTRALIA. ZnmmguCENTRAL 7 I B52;-'3 7.1. DEPARTMENT or THE ARMY.14.1‘ V,’ ‘No
............ M 0- M. I‘ MELBOURNE. s.c.1. 'C V/ 10th March 1944 ,4‘. __ 2The Secretary, ;Minis try of Munitions, '83 William Street, ‘MELBOURNE, c.1 _ »P ‘YQ- A1 'mm:<s, AUSTRALIAN cnoxsm - TOOLING mo muxrmy
'__,,\~ M,‘5‘ f\\@\‘S°\With reference to your letter dated 6th larch 1944, ‘War Cabinet Agendum No. GB/44 was covered by Minute No. 3500which reads as follows 2" In view of the decision in Minute No (2979)relative to the
cessation of the Tank Production Pro-gramme and the proposals new submitted by the Armyregarding the action to be taken in respect of Aust-ralian Tanks and components, the War Cabinet assumes.that work on tank
production in the Munitions Depart-ment has ceased.+2. The recommendations of the Commander--in-Chief,AMF set out in )l-1'I.g'lph 10 of the Agendum wereapproved, subject to the disposal of parts andassemblies net
required by the Army being a matterfor consultation by the Controller of Liquidation,Department of Munitions, with the Central RealizationBoard, after consideration by the Treasury of theconditions cf Lend-Lease procedure
in respect of itemsobtained under Lend-Lease from the USA.3. The financial implications of the foregoingdecision in relation to the funds authorised under theArmy Programme for the provision of tanks are to beexamined
by the Treasury. "2. Para 2 of the above quoted Minute indicates thatthe Army will first decide which spare parts and assembliesare immediately required. Since this tank is being declaredobsolete, no spare parts for the
maintenance of the A C Tank1 are required at all, nor is it desired that any productivefacilities for the manufacture of spare parts and assembliesbe maintained. , 3. Certain parts, or proprietary items, are common toother
Army equipments, or can be used by the Army. Theseparts are being abstracted from the Stock Lists forwardedfrom time to time by the Controller of Liquidations, and thenecessary Orders and Credits passed for the items
required.L/E I ('4, 1 ‘A / Pp *(,1 (M f 3 :7 , \ /PW’ 670/ ‘r./7“\_ ~ ' ! ‘M''. ‘ /.,,
" - 2 - ' . s ‘T > I4. All tooling and manufacturing equipment can be dis-posed of as indicated in War Cabinet Minute 5300. Ailparts, assemblies, and materials not required by the Army,and not covered as indicated. in
paragraph 3 above, canalso be disposed of by the Controller of Liquidatione asindicated in War Cabinet Minute 3300.5- When the whole programme of disposal is completed 4certain credits will probably be due to the
Army. Undoubtedly, also, certain debits, not yet passed to Army, will bediscovered. Until both theae aspect are finalised, itwill not be possibleto arrive at finality, in terms ofparagraph 3 to War Cabinet Minute No. 5300.
/J},7_/\_/ . Z‘ lair),I I‘ yeT“V"P"'15!obM5Q. I - , i - ‘ H ~$§-I W)‘ - > H C“ ‘.7. '- I 3 V ’ ;~<»\ w. '-‘-€s‘l-£l..2/1. ""’-3§v,_ .,-Q-4-v 34
f:;>"1i Q r '~.5 \\IO4'r'~‘".<'??”-*l'j.l" _; 4,v < 7- ‘1~'1;* ,, _ .». --nuW, — t — +Mn o "Wéme 1~ re )) “V. ltth larch, 1.944.Eeeingtce Lewis, Esq"Director-oenerel or Munitions,Ministry or Munitions, 'BS, William Street,£[email protected]£-
Deer Mr. Lewis,-";L'_~- .~=., 0 y- WI! l'* B9W‘ - For ecue time pant the Board has been uneasy eboutconditions generally relating to Ccmcnueelth work being done atthie Annexe. At its last Meeting, an the 8th instant,
theBoard considered several reports on various aspect: otproductioeand coating end, ac a result, feels that c careful inveetigetlonct the etatt organisation, management and eystems employed at theAnnexe should be
lmdertcklqn», Nhils the Board appreciates thedifficulties cont!-outing any nenageriel etctr uder war conditionsthe mount or Gamcnwealth capital involved in pleat and buildings,and the importance and value ct orders now
being placed with thisrim, are eo peat that no efforts ahould be spared to ensure thatfuture production is or a high- The Board considers that e consulting engineer ofrepute ehcuid he retained to spend such the es is
necessary stthe Annexe to enquire into general management and atinistraticn,standard and reasonable in coetwtogether with those tectore which are, and have been, contributingto coats which th=: Board has been advised
may he excessive.The Board reels that auch an engineer should not been employee or the Ministry or Huniticne, or any other GounanweaDepartment and, therefore, hasDonoghue 8:. Carter, Gcnmlting Engineers 12
O'Connell Qtreet,Sydney, and Julius Poole at Gibecn, “hgineers, av CastlereaghStreet, Sydney. it in suggested that Heeera. D0nOg!me 8r. GarterThe cost of thiscomparison with the cont of pAnnexe during the next-
twelveauction which ie planned tor thismonths, and the investigation isreview and report would he minor in‘necessary in order to eatesmard against possible financial lose tothe Ccmdnseeleh,’ ‘which wouldWith e View
tofirm it was considered wise tocome to this otrice to diecueeresult from inefficient management.listing the co-operation of theask Aieesre. tcote &a Icrgcnscn tothe queationvotr an indep?ec.tinvestigation, cowering the v le
ct the activities or t e Annexeincluding pleat, mnegement and tinanc Messrs. Goote andIorgenaon exp:-eased their app aviation‘! § snggeetion andpromised their wncleheartod support. ‘\_» ‘V w r_ .Having already apokan
to Ir. -Inns: at the abjectwe are theretore going aheadnoseihle, with lessee.‘ Dcncghuor reierence whidh uni be asshould be selected. -‘ rc. - ¢ , Iv’ Qmoretomake the necessary arrangements,& Garter, and to drew up the
tom:rcsrse»pcss»ible. x ‘ E"_"\~» l. 1__ ;..< a, " ",.L'—-’l'- ,_ ,, < _-*5 . -' ~;»>’ -1- ".1/. 4 » '_.v'-12 '-~;r¢_-t»-1..--.._ -_.a..~.....-_-ré:-a.:=-4:5’-ea.-<-_".,~ ./_‘_v --_,. '11. 4.-.-;...__-..i_>-.,_.'-'_. =24-.~¢_1'. ’ifIWAconsidered the
names ot Maseru-. '\
and with kind ragardn,\‘ 0.0. Mr. Jansen.‘ MI’. K1110!!-1 Hr. Merrett-Q’nKFTrusting that tha above meets with your ap>rovul,Youru sincerely,I /\.4-4(¢"*Chaigggg
4 F M5 52/16th February, 1944. 1- *\T. J. Hartigan Esq.Connissioner for H.§.W. Railways,19 York Street,§.¥2l§X- N-5-WDear Sir,TANK ASSEMBLY SHOP, CHULLOBA: SMALL
CRAP!.._._._A,@LABY§§9.¥L¢K1LI.1i¢°PQ.¢e 7" In the absence of Hr. Levis from VictoriaI have opened your letter to him of 11th Februaryin connection with the above matter.I have taken the opportunity or discussingthe
subject with Ir. J. K. Jense, Secretary of theDepartnnt, and it is his intention to see you aboutit either on Tuesday, 22nd or Iednesday, 23rd February,in Sydney.I shall, of course, see that your letter itplaced before Ir. Lewis
immediately he returns.Iours faithfully,(J. L. Jenkins)
1//--.-/< WwDirector Ordnance ProductionController of Liquidations.O OeeO0-’ M/K8 ».i1T€FT6 Assam“?’ 1__wwirController, Materials Supply. 1Director, Machine Tools & Gauges. 8'.ret x9‘5/9‘3 1 ('\. 31} _ 'It is ‘desired to
edviee thet the fineiisationor tank Production hes nee been approved by .IerCebinet under linute 8800 deted 4th February, 1944.This Iinute provide: for the tine]. eeneelletiunof ell orders, the diepoeel of pert: end
eneeblieenot required by Arey being e‘ iitierier diepoeelutter eonmltetien between Ooatrcller of Liqlidationsend Oeatrel Reelieetion Ieerd eubject to eoneideretionby the ‘Ireeeury in regard to has originelly obteinedunder
Leele Lend free-U.8.A.Ieeeeeery eation is being taken through Di:-edtoroi’ Ordnence Production end Qontroller of Liquidetiaaeend this eoenunicetion is being foreerded for yourinforeetion. ' Vf .%(3/zk M\_\.-VIK (hat:-oller, .
- \/ ff‘ <~.5 'E ilr-1;“ cw éI,Q” i) ./V’ iU
iv/1 ?;§A§;§AT£QI Q] I585 PROQUCTIOR:wk! ; — _i ‘1Director,Ordnance Production‘ _/Q44Attached hereto is copy of Hat Cabinetliinute Io. (5500) dated an February, 1944,relating to the finalisation of Tank Productionin
Australia.Your attention is drawn to the provisionsof this Minute. -Tho immediate action required on the partof your Directorate is that a letter bet rwardndto all concernad through Central Adm1R13tl8t1Onadvising that Tank
Orders which have boon in astate of suspension for some months, may nowfinally be cancelled enabling equipment concernedto be put into the hands of thé Controller ofLiquidation-~sL/N '3 \iController,PE3DUCI;gH ¢RbF*
‘ 5TnTt$1;CS.c.c. Contruller of Liquidation. '7“/'3/1'5.91- K ,, r, ="//
-¢ 1 _ _,__.-E,~ _ > -"- - '=f:‘2*,"?_g‘:.\" _ ‘ ''/ *1:-*3" §~ Tn.:r 1ONl'I: ‘ ,'CENTRAL 7185 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. -'-'“'-*‘ 'MXY 44°.‘ No. *'‘K2 ‘€_K ' //_ , , _1 - ‘L?ieilii4.--‘-'T-‘F;4:" 1....'.','j1 Z‘Y 4,7E /04<.>’:Q_l£_\“
V‘ , DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE. 4 MELBOURNE. S.C.1. ;\The Secretary, 9 HEB 1944Department of Munitions,1%'§ELBOURNE.AGBIWI I0. 68/1944 - IIIALISLTIOI W AUSTRALILI 2ILIK PIODWYIOI.QQQDEQ1 ‘»\In-
with in torn:-406, for masonry copy at llmnto Io. (8300) which records tho hail at In Ocblnot in rolation to tho nbonlmtlannd mg Ii‘lvblittod by the Dopnrmont 0!‘ the May. ‘Q5” . /V _ . 1'» (r.a)f}/s‘§‘a':; . , ‘E/\ 80020811‘!- ¢
/7;/€#<;</ E ,\
i{\’.95 ] f_ |, ~ wan cmggsr x1@" 9_AllB13RRA_- u resnvsxx, 1044,, --Cr:FT?1";5?’“*1(3300) AOENDUI N0. 62/1944 - FINALISATION 01" AUSTRALIANI TANK PMDUOTIOH. f -,V '7IIn view of the decision in Minute No.
(2979)relative to the cessation of the Tank Production Programme andthe proposals new submitted by the Army regarding the action tobe taken in respect of Australian Tank and components, the Warcebinet assumes that
work on tank pro<iuction~ in the MunitionsDepartment has ceased.2. The recommendations of the Conmanderein-Chi-21.‘,AJLF. eet out in paragraph 10 oi‘ the Agendum were approved,subject to the disposal or parts and
assemblies not required bythe Army being e matter for consultation by the Controller oi‘ <Liquidation, Department of Munitions, with the central RealisationBoard, after consideration by the Treasury of the conditions of
'Lend.=Lceee procedure in respect of items obtained under Lend=-Leasefrom the U.S.A.3. The financial implications of the foregoing decisionin relation to the funds authorised under the Anny Programme fortho provision of
tanks are to be examined. by the Treasury“to Secretary,War Cabinet./v\
I\ //\,1» 1 /7;/V 5» »J , WAR CABINET MINUTE Q.osmenm =» _4TH__FEBBI!ARY,,_l.944¢ “' * - #(3300) AGENDUM N0. 62/1944 ~ FINALISATION OF AUSTRALIAN ~TANK PRODUCTION.In view of the decision in
Minute N00 (2979)relative to the cessation of the Tank Production Programme andthe proposals now submitted by the Army regarding the action tobe taken in respect of Australian Tanks and components, the WarCabinet
assumes that work on tank production in the MunitionsDepartment has ceased.2. The reoomendetions of the Comandersin~Chi¢£,A.M.F. set out in paragraph 10 of the Agendum were approved,subject to the disposal of
parts and assemblies not required bythe Army being a matter for consultation by the Controller ofLiquidation, Department of Munitions, with the central RealisationBoard, after consideration by the Treasury of the conditions
ofLendeLease procedure in respect of items obtained under Lend=Lessefrom the U.S.A.3. The financial implications of the foregoing decisionin relation to the funds authorised under the Army Programme forthe provision of
tanks are to be examined by the Treasurye4L£X;7U\”Mn\ .fo Secretary,War Cabinet.l _.I L
'- > t. ‘ J Iv ¥ _:"""" H _ - “fie 4'1P» »Aa§w9,~..‘_ > " ' ,.._-=-L - - Muwmoz s. $“C?TT81:1: February, 1944.non-Ir. [mu-0,' man! for your letter or Om Fobrunry, 1944, QMmomlnont X204 Nah Fobrunry, but at tho mmllnt my
toolingin that no puzwnlo would bu In-vod in taking notion in thatmnttnr. ' I pa-open, this-ore:-0, ho adopt your auggoltionto hold your new-, so that it might ho avuilnblo lhuuldlannthing aria vhcroby tho info:-mutton givm
would beundul-Iuur: :1 ncorolq,(J.K.Jonnoa)Boorotary.Ir. 0- H. lunror,Suparviaing lngimor, \hull Graft Suction, ’loud or Aron Imaguacnt, , ‘\llJ.0¢ B61 78¢ 5 ‘ -1' "l / _QE, u,a.w. \ _/ I(-‘\ r\ ~-aE1ifl
. u. .~-t 1 Irsnsemruuc ADDRESS; “ AREAMAN.“ svnnsv. J1 \ - /1-6 *7; -6.!-'~>. aox Nu. 12cc svuuzv. . ’ _ ' M042: ._ If *' ' nany;-ig'|;LgpnoN:-4~ , ' 1€l|§_:1zf£_~‘_ f V . _1 = . ‘ JMINISTRY OF MUNITIONS,BOARD OF
AREA MANAGEMENT.ALL COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE ‘ADDRESSED 1-o P R I T J‘ ';_‘ E‘THE SECRETARY. -—"'—‘*'-** mRvuOWKNm H3431 CASTLEREAGH STREET, SYDNEY9th February, 19hh.J.K.
Jensen, Esq., ISecretary, Ministry of Munitions,83 William Street,MELBOURNE C.1 VICTa___.' _.____'Dear Sir,On re-reading my letter to you of8th February, it seemed to me that the finalparagraph may not convey exactly
the meaningI intended. My view is that it is my dutyto inform you, as head of the Ministry ofMunitions, of certain facts which I know tobe correct-My letter is, however, intendedto be essentially a private
communication.Should you consider at any time that it isdesirable to take any kind of official actionarising out 0P my letter, I assume that youwould inform me.Yours faithfully,.%1¢»-~/(0.11. MUNRO) .SUPFR'V'I'SI'NG
ENGINEER.sm./\LL"c'R‘A'1.~*T SECTION-" COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. lj/9*‘ 9%! '
,1“ 1|__. __ w______... .._ ._.-..,_ - -~ Y. ill Olll .. 1 sr I11ntzrnouzg. , I \ r~ ' V.!|"uiGlAPr<1c Anunzss AREAMAN svonzv __—i»'%‘, ~r.,'-/-<;,j.’:_1>‘ ', '19,’0.! . lox nu. 12:: svnnzv -his-»v..,; ~_ ‘P » (Q>D ‘ COMMONWEALTH
OF AUSTRALIA. /9%] quf ‘. MINISTRY OF MUNITIONSBOARD OF AREA MANAGEMENT. °°““1?!;'§£J;ZSiZ"°“‘“ " P R 1 v A U.‘ E. MTHE SECRETARY. , —. _ ' Y._"“°m"N“. 113131 CASTLEREAGH STREET. SYDNE8th
February, 19bh.J.K.Jensen Es .83 William Street,MELBOURNE, 0.1. VICT-Dear Sir,You will recall that when I was in Melbourne on 13.1.hh,I pointed out to you that my discussions with the Board's LegalAdviser had led me
to the conclusion that the Board of Inquiryinto Industrial Steels test bars was covering aspects associatedwith the general administration of the tank programme, as well asthe specific matter of certain test bars. On
Wednesday, 2.2.hh,I was called to give evidence before the Inquiry, this being thelast day for the taking of evidence. I feel that it is desirableto confirm to you my previous verbal statement of the following facts-2. I was first
associated with Mr.R.Russell during l9H0, when~I was Lecturer-in-charge of the Engineering Department, SydneyTechnical College and when Mr.Pusse1l was in charge of the BristolBeaufort Bomber Production for the
N.S.W. Government Railways. Myassociation with him was in connection with tooling being manufac-tured at the Technical College for the Bristol Beaufort project.3. Some months after my first contact with Mr.Russel1 on
thimatter I learned that he had been transferred back to ordinaryRailway work and it was stated to me that this was a result ofcertain differences of opinion in regard to his organisation and8supervision of Beaufort Bomber
production in the Railway Departmentin New South Wales-h. Early in l9hl, Colonel Milner of the Army Design Directorate,visited a number of large Government Departments and other organisa-tions in Sydney to obtain
draftemen for the purpose of designingAustralian tanks. Chief draftsmen were not called for as it wasunderstood that the senior posts had already been filled. Shortlyafterwards, Mr.R.Russell telephoned me and convened a
comittee, ofwhich I was a member, to prepare a statement for the Institution ofEngineers, Australia, to use as a protest to the authorities thatthe best type of professional engineer had not been obtained forsenior positions in
the tank programme. The most active members ofthis/---1 Q. 2 1) éSecretary, Ministry of Munitions, fl. _ A . ;;.\--=‘=.~11
-"';'f ‘GUI '_ 2 _ x,/r this committee were Mr.Russell and Mr.R.G.Griffin (then employedby Sweetacres in making sweets). I formed the impression atthese different meetings that Messrs.Russell and Griffin werevery anxious
to obtain some senior appointment for themselvesin this work. I personally, at that time, had no thought ofbeing associated in any way with the tank programm-About September, 19h1, when I was expecting my
appointment5-to the Army, I was telephoned by Mr.Funnell, Personnel Officer _of the State War Effort Co-ordination committee, asking me tointerview Mr.Code, as the latter was looking for a Chief DesigningEngineer for
the tank programme. I interviewed Mr.Code and toldhim that I was joining the Army and that I considered my trainingand experience were not suitable for the position of ChiefDesigning Engineer for a project such as the
Australian CruiserTank. Mr.Code agreed with me on this point and stated that hehad already decided to appoint Mr.R.Russell of the N.S.W. Govern-ment Railways as Chief Designing Engineer for the tank programme.Mr-
Code asked whether, if my Army appointment failed to go through,I would be agreeable to take up the position of SupervisingEngineer, Board of Area Management, in New South Wales. Mr.Codestated that the duties of this
position were to organise anddrive production and that Mr.Funnell, as a result of his work withthe Technical College, had recommended me as an engineering adminis-trator with driving force and organising ability. I
indicated thatthis would be acceptable to me in the unlikely and unfortunateevent of anything going wrong with my Army appointment but Irecomnended Mr.Code to approach Mr.Griffin, as I knew he wasanxious to
undertake munitions work; Mr.Code stated he had alreadyinterviewed Mr.Griffin but felt he was not,suitable. Subsequently,without reference to me, the State War Effort Co-ordination ‘Committee wrote to the Army stating
that I was not available forthe Army appointment and also wrote to Mr.Gode stating that I wasavailable for the position of Supervising Engineer, ArmouredFighting Vehicles, Board of Area Management, New South Wales.
Iwas later informed that several persons had advised Mr.Code againstselecting Mr.Russell as Chief Designing Engineer.6.Mr.R.Russell called on me in the S.M.Herald Building and spent 'Shortly after taking up my position
as Supervising Engineer,approximately 1% hours with me. He complained very bitterlythat Mr.Code had told him that he was selected for the position ofChief Designing Engineer but that he had subsequently been
ignoredand apparently discarded as an applicant for the position. Hestated that he had received a definite letter of appointment andhad then been dropped. I understand that copies of this letter
ofwmmmmtwemMm®M%pMmmfwwHhweARWDun-torate at Fisherman's Bend. I gathered from Mr.Russell that he~17‘-.**L _,.is i E was very anxious to obtain a position in munitions work instead of\ ordinary Railway work
and that he would have liked to have occupiedthe/---
\A._;,._,l_,,,'-— :3?-i'§"Fii,. gay. ' 3' We!the position I held in Sydney as Supervising Engineer, in defaultof being selected for the position of Chief Designing Engineer inMelbourne. I gained a strong impression that
Mr.Russell harbouredresentment against the Ministry of Munitions on account of the factthat he had failed to secure a responsible appointment in tankproduction.7. Throughout the tank programme I was aware of much ill-
informedcriticism and gossip inspired, in my opinion, by malice. I do notsuggest that some of the criticism was not sincere but I do suggestthat a good deal of it was not sincere.8. When I took up duty as Supervising
Engineer, one multi-piecePilot Model hull had been cast but not assembled, and that waspractically the whole of the progress as at October, l9ul. Produc-tion drawings commenced to flow gradually in February, 19h2, allthe
drawings eventually being received by about June, 19h2¢ InOctober, l9h2, we had twelve tanks capable of traversing a testcourse at Villawood, more drastic than the average test course inAmerica, and production was in
full blast with the A.C.I tank; Whenone considers that before the war this country did not make anymotor vehicles and that this was, I think, the only major projectentirely designed in Australia, I submit that this constitutes
awonderful tribute to Australian Industry and to the administrativestaff and others associated with the project. You will appreciatethat it is most disheartening to officers who have worked loyallyand competently on this
project, to find, at this late stage,persons who did not participate to any great extent in was productionanxious to carry out post-mortems and to find fault with thingswhich have been done. If this kind of inquiry is to be held, it
issurely obvious that the evidence of persons such as Mr.A.R.Code,Colonel Watson and other senior officers should be obtained if afair assessment of the efficiency or otherwise of the project is tobe attempted,9. I attach
copy of memorandum addressed by Colonel Watson tothe Master-General of the Ordnance, which compares tank productionin Australia with tank production in Great Britain. Sir John Duncanson,on his visit to Australia,
expressed himself in similar terms.10» I presume that if the report by the Board of Inquiry confinesitself closely to the terms of reference, the facts set out abovewill be a matter of relatively minor interest to you.
Should,however, there be a number of Riders criticising the work of thestaff of the Ministry of Munitions, then these facts, to my mind,will become distinctly relevant.1Yours faithfully,1'ENC], Copy CO1.Watson's
(C,,MUNRO),mcmorandumu §QPERVIS§NG ENGINEER._ __—<*1 AF. -" SMALL cggr SETIOE. =1
1\I,1A’!~j?#vg i:51.sf‘ ‘<4pL’1”T. '¢t§%sa’lyre. \¢Ltr*1 CI5‘181-"‘\'_,_,~1, , > V _ -_\|'_:L4jv';60PY¢vs. s.c.s. T (- ) Iv ,-1’/O 3‘;-m:m:o;,1A_11_ruu T0: 95*’S”*9>The fact that D.A.F.V,(J?) has recently held up production,
‘¥;,temporarily, of the cruiser Tanks in order that certain ’ 1“;modifications, found necessary as a result of experience with 3;;the pilot models, might be incorporated, has caused the charge T,of slowness and inactivity as
regards the project generally to . be raised, in some quarters, once again. I feel that it is gnecessary therefore that I should inform you how it compareswith the production of "Govenanter", a matter with which I was
intimately concerned, immediately prior to my departure for ,-Australia in October, 1914.0. _ The original designs for "Govenanter" had been initiated;~\:£’19.months before that date, and it had been decided, about May,
1939, to go straight into "production" without awaiting the Qtrials of a pilot model, in view of the threatening situation on. {jflthe continent. In spite of that, when I left England, the first production model was not "in sight"
although it looked as if one might be "off the line" in 21 or 22 months from the starts ~22 months ago, in our own case, the Australian CruiserTank existed only as s C.S. Specification and its design was in .the earliest
stages of preliminary investigation. Today, oneproduction model has been delivered, and 1L1. more are within one 'month of delivery, and, in two years from the inception, the .production line in New South Wales will be in
full operation. ' QEven this does not give due credit to Australian Production, because "Covenanter" started with tracks, suspensions, bogis j*wheels,sprcckets, final drive, idlers, gear box, gun mountings,traversing gear,
telescopes, periscopes, fully developed and in -production, and had behind it the experience of the DesignDepartments of S-of D. ,Nui‘fields, L.M.S.Railways, and Meadows,‘ " ,;(all of whom had previously made tanks or
engines) with at least ~ Rthree firms ready to produce its armour. We had nothing. ‘(Sgd) w.n.wATs0N. COL. ;‘_4,_¢eLL<..£::-L"~\MELBOURNE- November, 1252. ~‘t1\x
 4‘_. =14 -~; e.e.'.ir.Bsia¢tcn-Lewis Y’ V ; Ir. Brodribb _ - 3rd February, 194-4.Ir. Gantield é 4 H-_Bh m‘u3.“he Io Kc JQHICD, if /Secretary,llBli§l!_9X._hllmaIn our memorandum of the 10th December, 194-3
(referencellO:F'B8:BI, 15838) a resume of the then position concerning A.!'.V.Production Ins given and it is now desired to bring you up todate with the s tuation as it stands at present. -All building at I'iehernen's Bend
formerly occupied byA.F.V. Directorate have nov been vacated and handed over to the_ incoming authorities. The wood-working plant has been closeddown and disbanded. All tankspars etc. have been removed tron' the
area and the labour associated with Aftag activities hasbeen transferred. A list of surplus conponents removed tronthis area is in course oi‘ preparation for submission to theGontroller of Liquidation.§?.QI§.I.99R-The packing
proofing and assignment activities at3pO'C8'IOOd have been transferred to A.R.C. Engineering Co. ofAlbion, and the Spctswood store has been handed to the IeohineGun Carrier Group tor use as a butter store for
componentsflowing to MILO. Engineering Co. for proofing and despatch. -In our nomorendul of the lOth December it was stated thattank production cannot be settled until war cabinet has considered“@2322? '?°“J:i
;§‘”‘§°S12£2°’:‘..”?;:?*¢°€,‘§" E3’ "$3.23..I0 O B. 9 8 Q 8 Y Q I0 Bas to the ultimate cessation of this programme. The position atpresent is that all production on tank manufacture has been sus-s;“k1“,n.":,::Pn::dPm :';:*:r:*
'=2:1:":»“ “‘°%..Z“i“'°%2's ra -ea o . ssorsu nonController of Liquidation are being prepared but until WarCabinet decides that this programs is cancelled it is impossibleto make further progress. Our understanding is that a
draftagendnn has been forwarded to the llinister or Army for approvaland subnieeion to War Cabinet.There is a long list of tank and armoured car modificationsyet to be carried out. In the najority oi‘ oases the work is
selladvancedvand with a few exceptions should be completed during thenext three to tour months. The long range items would appear to be:Tank Recovery UnitsModifications to Btaghound Armoured
CarsCupolasDismantling and reconditioning lax-non Harrington EnginesThere is still a fair flow of small orders tor auxiliaryitems and stores for tanks’ these have the appearance of representinga continuous propane of tank
work.ENEM-A very heavy task in clarifying the position or orders forcarriers, carrier spares and assignlents has now been completed. Itwould appear that a further 605 carriers will be available _1'or'»-is
.2-» H "IQ-eeeignnent from produotion, with the probability oi’ .a likemmbor surplus to Army requirements. Carrier production iseoepleted with the exception of 100 which are to be proiuoelin Iestern Australia at the
approximate rate of two per wooll-This represent: e. further yeer's work, and there ere twelveon tb verge et oonpletien by the Metropolitan Gee Go. There ere172 oerriere etored et Spotswood end 49 at the Ghnllore
TmkAnnexe, which ere uniting instructions for aeaignlent {rmthe heignent Om-ittee. , ~The work of eeeenbling, peaking end proofing nodeepeteh of carrier parts for aisignlent represents e verylarge cont!-eot. This work in
being done by the leeaeI-ngineering Go. and en up-to-date automatic proofing plantis being installed.Present order: oell for en eseignnent or euttieientepu-ea to neintein 1400 eerriere for 20 nonthe. This bx-eekedown into
141 kite, eeeh comprising 37 tons or materiel.Arny hee asked for a minimal produobion rate of 6 kite perweok which is the equivalent of approximately 200 tme ofoonpceeats. The assignment or e further 605 oerriore
willleen that an additional 60 kits are to be packed and theire; has now indicated that they require e further 50 kiteof oompononts to be peaked from Army stores. The produetionposition is being reviewed in the light of the
suddenlyinereesed orders with e view to stepping production up to‘10 or 12 kits per week-A Victorian Railways are continuing as major oo-oz-dilatingoontreotor on the carrier spares production end have taken
overreeponeibility for the A»!-C. Ingineering Company-FRAKK S. DALI!Controller ~Ordmnee Production Bireetoeete ~¢~.-1 _ ,_‘_.-<$-."Y v. ‘ ~~>~-sg.1, _@\x<— Q5‘1111
¢/ ‘ .\ 5’ DEPA - ~ = THE 'rREAs!lRY. ‘In reply please quoteNe.......nmuomunuu Sm; v.$ ' M-s§ .n //09/54/"Z-/1»-v-4;‘-\r~r->QT\7 "" COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. _ , ~.n5,19..°..v.,....4...l-38. é‘ 4* €<<,~d |c|: OF
TREASURY REPRESENTATIVE, 4 .c/o DEPARTMENT or nzrzucs. /'E 10 JAN\945 ‘O MELBOURNE. c.1: for " gm MT * 9th January, 1944. ,The Secretary, MDDepartment of llunitio . ‘B3 William Street,BOURKEFinaligtion
of Australian Tank Production - Agendum 62[l94-Q.X A‘ I refer to War Cabinet Minute No. 3300, and in particular toparagraph 3 of that Minute, wherein the financial implication! are tobe examined by the Treasury.It ie
understood that your Department has been engaged inaeeembling the costs aleoeiated with the Tank Production Project butup to the prelent no advice hat been received as to the amount: in-volved, either al to capital
expenditure or production eoet.Al this nutter has been outstanding since February, 194-4,1 I would be glad of advice as to the present position and when a etate-ment my be expected."\=1‘/I
 MUiv.;;;'.I'*2A/'1"? ‘I» ‘{ ‘,';:.':;.',_'1" / -‘ ~\.I “X 1; VICTORIA IARRACKI(J DEPAR “r or THE TREANo. ...................... .. ‘I SURY MELBOURNE. I C I....._. rung: pnvunou I IMEMORANTIIM for K i SECRET V-Secretary,
4”-'4 as 0501943DEPARTMENT or murrxous -AUSTRALIAN TANK PRQDUCTION POLICYFollowing on War Cabinet decision in Minute No. 2979(Agendum 299/43) regarding the cessation of the tank productionprograms,
action is being; taken by the Department of the Army tosubmit to War Cabinet a statement of the funds position under thatDepartment's programs in respect of the tank roductiop n projectin order that approval might be
obtained for the deletion from Armyre dcor s of the authorisation of funds not now required.2. It would be appreciated if similar action mivht be takenby your Department in respect of the provision in youroprogrammeof funds
authorisations lI'1 respect of capital projects under thetank production programme.e/K$$”(G.P.1\T. Watt)' ssistant Secretary,, OF AUSTRALIA. S 7 C '2 ‘la ’"~:::::::-.... 49/ D /M M ¢nlxv m 7/ Q1 gy A ~ 3,735/2 _ _; \%9‘3 ‘.1
_‘.. , \‘
rJ ‘ ./ 31968/94oo&4na-§¢- 1945-llligg F08" -fhe Secretory,Deperment of Defenoe,gggvnlz, 8:0,}.AGEIDUI I0. an/104: - coaaomm-mm Pnoonnum or nnnqmgm pumozmm PIOH1f;I0 vnnicnns) _1. Iith referenoe to your
oomunioetion of 19th July, 1943,I regret the deley in preeontotion of tnie Report, but it he token1 omuidereblo enount of tine to deel with ell the teotore involved,not the leeet inportmt being the tezminetion oil’ eotivitiee of
theAnoured Fighting Vehicles Di:-ootoreto and the eheorptim ofrewueining doteile in other direotoreteo. It hoe been neoeeeery tohold nuneroue oonterenoeo with the Arly end deperhmtnlly beforethe roll inplioetione or the
Her Oebinet deoieion oould he deteauined.»2. It in noted that the deoieion retere epeoitioelly touncured Fighting Vehiolee oaer than Tenke, but ue odniniltretiveoperating oonditione hove been euoh that it would be
extraelydifficult to extreot the Tank projeot from the eurvey of theproduction effort. ‘nae Report consequently will be oonpreheneive.5. The implementation of the War Gehinet deoieione in reepeotoi‘ Armoured Fighting
Vehiolel prodnotion, including ‘lento, can beindieeted, no for ea nenpewer in oonoerned, ee follower-' APV otherrmn ‘iE|T“E 2 angrit-.1, '|Ei3'T-Ti. -3""-'. 1--M,Iereonnel C-910704 onSlot loroh, 1943- 1732 369 8040 60 3771
439RI tileted reduotione . -- -- -- -- 3371 829Pereonnol eetlneted to be -enployed when reductionsoupleted (5142.48). 400 100It should be undo:-etood that the foregoing oovere only direotlyenpleyed personnel. It in known
whet other pereonl any h-Tove beenenplzed indirectly, probebly intfeznittentlyn “Pd! A:-nouredIigh ng Vehielee production, butthe--Deperbent deele only withprineipel oontreotowe, end hoe no je__onteot with out-
oontreetosre endtheir supplier: end enb-oontreotoret '-4. I etteoh eleo e eteent o.f,_Annexee end ueiotenoo rende:-ed'to Gonh-eotore in the deweloinent production of Allowed ' ‘Fighting Yehiolee. The it@e oellizq for
pertieuler ettation anI 1 . -’g e§oEd be no dittionlty in recovery or the loenhr£00,800. lt ie invented in e workehep velneble to the leilweyeeperetiooo. Iooh of the plant I-35,128 wee opeeielly eenetreetedId {H illlllléllt velee ll
dotfolt -* - n do _ ~, ._. ____i .....--nI4\u
---_ - ""1. . ;‘~(\rC'~h7‘: 7 -. . I_ 2 _ - T ~ . .. _//14 ._ll Hbut h000u00 01' it!0100011020, 1: 10 dmbttul Q10 G8%. Bt&1'Qd 1036011. £16,034. ’U3. Ildblll 800018 LN. £89,263- 'u0tu1 outing 00900181 but C0070:0 pr0b0bl7 in
000000 of 90000 200011-Q00“. It 10 d0uI0hn,~ = .la:-0t0r0, 0b0\h0r tiny 000 b0 0014 protihbly.B9. 00000 0 J0:-300000. £641,808.90. rlnnnu-6010 I01. LU. £804,588.Sum: ‘00100 01-0 010000 00011011 00004 by
0_00w001\h, I100 put pot0nt101ltl00 for p000-00! 206000100, _£0 0 1110000010030 tlut 0b0ut h01t th0 phat 10 and-1.0000. B0000 Rain $0 0v1n0-lug 0 d10p001t5.00 S0 00nt00t 002 right 701:00 on 0000;-00¢ 000k 0v00
though it b0 in 8:0 001- 0800-8. “= @tmudw@0 our aatpwtind §_this 1nv00h0nt 01tu0t0d upon his works 0t 101u0ti.a|.. B0 1-0;u'000atlng nu-0 than 1:01! Q10 tohl 0xp00d1tur0, I111 ho 11070! 1"?pretmbly upon 06:0: pa-
0100a. P1001 00000000uh0 an 70% can 0000. u 1-0m10¢0r at Q10 propwty I100 500:1 r001£00b10 10100. It 0111 b0 ob00rv0d at only Q10 we big 00001.03 0000100 020 ditmlt fer u00 an 0&0: pm'p0000.2;?5%ézé-
:4!iii2*:.5?5. ‘m0 nark 0! 00301‘ 01:01-0000: ruuuning tron projaotn in 1:00! ‘in u .u-0001-04 Pighttng V0h10100 D1r00t0r0t0 1n01u600 ouphtlnl 01' *A:-0m|r0d V0h.lo100 in had 00001-4105 to t-h0 lntntllnl of I0: 0091008
4Again an/104:, -0 an pravlllm or 830:0 mu tor on-una.'la000 0:-0 bung 0060:-$0300 by mo coatrautwn 001510011! 1-00pa0$b§0¢' 00rt01n Ink I 20010 0:-0 to b0 00n10t0d 000006103 to 10801)’10% to b0 0cnp10t0d nth
Q10 Arm. 00290111 00001000 £0000 ~01-0 D0naaulitlanad 00:6 081000 0:0 bung oounrtd 00000610; 00 dcnlll0 h0r1000 and Ma0tr01l0n'Ar0£00. ‘Ball ark £0 00105 dlvdl80080 I0100 004 vlota-100 801100;: 00:-
tahopo.4‘I110 lawn 0001201100 3t0t0 30510002103 Inks 020 000 I—§01¢: Q 00602 £00 100 00221020. :~6. Puma R0\0L0lt1m0 for A1qo\u'0d Pltlng V0!!!-0100 I111 0061000-b001nth0on-
¢!1n0:7produot1o0ro\n.000tth00:d00|a00 . ~;P00600010: _B£r00t0r0t0,00d0111 nal 0000000501-0301606000 _ »00p0r000 00¢ 00100 0008.00 at £00 PI-odu0t1u 0t20rt. .‘Bu p:-000:-£1 an Lnvuhanta at 01.00: 109;-£0000
0:-0 b0$§~ Mi‘0dja0\0d an r001.100d by nu cmmuu or Llq01d0t£o00. an A @»-,5-00300 1:000 0: 92090:-1:1 and 1010010000 I111 be 1:010 £00 :'0!= to N10 80000¢0ry 1040001100 01100100 mm no 10030:‘ 2000120! "T
Inmlttaun pnrpaou. ‘ jq§j,Js?§EE‘-1; gr Zw,:'1'.-‘Q. 9 - ~.' ff[ 50or0t0:-1. (J. K. 800000) -- .0 .1 F.w* -A.,. . M
Kw.»-= '.—‘. —-V — —w|;\_/<lFI>1\Fi\.r'-\1\4‘>Li\\.>IAISWAIIRXI$..M.-‘YAIE.11‘ ia‘a'o 01111100!PURPOSEDIBIOIE005?BIATURE 01? COIIMOHWBALTH IRJBIKIT ‘U8!II'VE‘$I‘l'Aalaubly‘Danialradtart Ionian In 60-
hiAlexandriaGal tingsI00 lradarn lnlall a ca. rankAlasannrta »ll IaanailalillaaibaGal ngaBIOOII Ltd. _ hnkOaailngl90,0003,188sumac14,0046,9003Q,ICB'3 LII‘. km) M . Alamanlla rlar GaatlngaI Gaota t Jargauaan,
trunaniaaleun lgluialaunntrtaIQ SOIIIIGIII Pt). 3&6. Gilt! 886,583n Sultanlit aallilla P87. Lid. Gaar DIIDI 08,500lIaiallhan.nmLI? latra. Qaarttaray178 6. RluultBlabll“Ill Stall @0-L Q WW:,49o,s5v0'0 g prnduattan4
wankOaatlngaTank traaklink:18 ,W1(66,98013, 130488 I OFZI' :' 1_I-nan for buildingsPlantIholly anaaPlantLnan for buildingaIlnatBuilding! an PlantIholly nnadIhnlly annadPlantBuildings and plantBuilding: and plantlnildlnga
and plantA.I.V. rannanto, probably aallaratt aanaiuaiian.Ulaaad darn.cdnn-an wart. lBanrant wart.contrast wart. ~Gontaat work.Gontraatarark.Buntraot cart.$Ql@l§§ Ika IIPI»U180‘ Mnnntraat nth. .
' C QI ‘' Ill! Q‘ PUBP083 0081' IATURI OF OOIIIIOIIILUH PRBIIT UB1DIBIOIRD 8 IIVISEIIITnhnillli nu ., 1 . " , _, .ll‘ David honor LN. Gurlu tracks 7,130 thatllama '. .A.!;v. ups, Pllhuupnh mum mu coo,-ran Ilwny 01501! on
loan to Aircraft n-nuan-lull, hlbcurno. gpciinontnil. Dopuhant.nmu uvaanuum n,n'n,a'roXi.4--0‘
9O. 51/I lQu 80020%bcnt zgnoruno,. *-no/04nun», ma. ¥‘\§5~.‘4. mxmuu lo. 515/194: - couaoumvmn ruoonmlz or nn.1. Illh reference to your communion or 19th July, 1948,I rug:-Qt the 601:1 tn prucatnucn or this Rupert,
but it has takenn onunldu-able mount or time to am with all tan tutors lavolvoi,not mo loan lnpurmt boing tho hrnlnncn at “mum; or theAnon:-on Fighting Vomclno Blunts:-nunnudthnabuuptlcnotramming mmn in och» dirootu-
nus. It has boon nuooury tobald man-can snafu-omen I181 u may and dcplrhmtllly DOIOI-'0u full inpllcallcnl Q1’ mo War cnbinnt (bullion mould be determined8. his noun thntthodooln poulrlullytoArmoured Pl Vomoloo
0gating OurOpitltllg canal an luvs boondlttlml to an-nu. mo ‘rankproduction “tut. ‘nu Report ccnaquun2$55522 E§=:2? 1-E5 F8t the adatnllwaunIn mutual:survey at tunlvo 1I \,8. ‘nu lnplcnutattm or mo In Cabinet doqlolcnl la
rupee-I:at Armoured Fighting Yahtclu pecdnntlu, lunlulng ‘rah, an Inludlnhd, ID cr u nnnponr 1.0 oonurund, an followu- ‘.::za..iiiiii@aa:a..»Icnuunnl aqua: onan In-ch, 1 - 1738Rldanhd nuottom. -81718371aeoaow so mgIn-
luau; ntlmtod to In:""'"‘..,,.t.¢“¢‘:1'.‘1?¢‘3:§‘f°“'G00 100. ' iIt lhoumbo mulultooi that mo rm-0301.1; cover: only dlratlqmployodporaomul. It hlmona tut on-urpcrlonnnqhnvoboou-913: indirectly, prdubly lntnnlttnq, was Anaurod -
mi Vdatolpo production, hutdavqnrtntdanll cnlywtta1901 contusion-0, ml bu an cannot Illh at-amtruwn andair luppnorl and nab-oouhuatwo.-- 4- InttnahnI.aoulIn&ntctAInnxnll|alau1n€anurodnra1to Gontantwl In tho clonhpnat
ml production 01' llnnundrighting 702110100. Rho than 01111113 III punur cttntlnu no:“"'“'-'-‘ii890000. Itlllavoceodlnnova;-nun. mm ¢: n puns 1:35,?“can its "luau; ulna ta doubtful.8'5§~12%’248EaZ5?24:
can ll/_/botbeoeuee of ite negnitude endeleeohere, it lo doubtful. dnethov AIQ. Bredfwd Kendall. £14,084. V83» Zbiflll Blll LN. £39,868.-~.. Q . ‘~- - -. .metal oeetim oepeeity but theyere probebly in eaeeee oi’ peeee
requircente. it ie doubtful,therefore, whether they een be eold pa-otitebly.80. Ooote I: Jorgeaeelu Mil 808.co. .8nnneIdo1e ny. nu. aai4,aea.. oml ee if-n, obioh ere elnoet eatirelfeoaed byUs here greet potentielitiee tor peel»-
oer preduetioo,eedvenhge tint ebout bolt u pleat ie bend-Leeee.Iieeiea in evinein; e diepooitioo to eonteet our rightcontreot ooik. even many: it be in me oer effort. %on aunt:-eotedtotekeovermetpm-tieootthie invoeheat
eituebed upon hie Io:-In et veluoticn. lilo reminder,repveeeating more than lull’ the tetel expenditure, will be “:iloyedmqebebly upm other projects. Pinel eeeeeenente not yet eted.Baernoinderotupropertybagoodnelieeble
veloe.It will be obeerved that ail; ibe bwobig eeeting ennezee ere provingdifficult tor we an other purpoeee.5. ‘me work or mjor ohemeoter 1-pining tra‘zo_1eote in headin the dammed Fium vehielee Direeterete iael e
eoupletioo erAnmured Vehioleo bend moulding to the intentions of Io: cabinet“emu an/104-a, an the provioiur of spa-e Forte rev can-zen.meee ere being uhdortekea by the conweotore originelly roopuaeible.,0ertein Kerk I
Tenke ere to be oapleted eooording to deteileyet to be oqleted with the liq. Certain herieen teake ere beingreooriitienod and othere one being oolnvertedeeoording to deeuendetremthe Anerieen nd Australian Arniee. ‘mie
work ie being divertedto the lee Boulii Ielee end Vietorieh lleiloeye Idrkehope.:5:aag=225%5%!$2555;?‘me Ieetern Aulwelien Btete Engineering Ioite ere oontinuingwith ax order for l00 Corrie:-e.6. - Future Requisition: tor
Aznoured Pigbid vebielee willbedeoevbediniheerdinu-79:-oduetienroutioe thedrdnnaeeProduetiennireetorete, endeill mun ceeeetobex-egerdedee eeeperete and lejor eeotion or the Produetiu: ettort.
4'.Ihepropertymdiaveehenteoi’nino2i.Ipc-teneeerebeingedjueted em reelieed by the bontrollev or Liquidation. ‘menojor itano or property end inveeueate will be held tor referenoeto the Beeodery Iaduetriee Ccaieeim ihen no
longer required twIvaitione purnoeee.(J.l.Jeueen)leereterye
‘Ill W AIIRXI PURPOBE 005? IATURK OF COEMOWBALTB PEEK? U8!DISIGIID 8 IIVBSTIBIT ""'1 Iii W \__u_ __ ii ' n*_""'_ i 7 ll.!!!!!.!lli -216 l.8.I. lnlluun chnllcrn AnlanblyII Iunltcoi Konlnll A 00. IhnkAluanalrla ~ cantlugnan
Iroiturd maniac». mmlloanndia OnattngaII Ililll Shall Ltd. ‘linkLllolq CntlaglII lnltlllll lust. n|a., ihak a Oar-llcsnnlla é I10! OililnilI0 Quota t Jcrgonlun, IrunnnmunlunlAlcnnlrin . _Qua’
.00,00035,138lO0,l8016,0366,9003U,8av,aa4QQJB00 unnimua ny. nu. than ao4,saa. Itiurnhln~ll4 llllllllln PI1. Lit. Gnu: DIIIIIoiuuuhnn -02,5001,49o,ssvO? Iowan. 0:: 00., carrturItllrny pruluntton18,991I" G¢ RGO” that
650,9“Bluhnnnl QnniingsIII ntnol G0. Tun: trakHutu; link:13,130488,071ban for bulllnglPlantwholly ennuithatI-an for bullinglI108Building; can IluntIholly cundIhnlly ennuiPlantBuilding: and plantBuilding! and plantBullngn and
plantA.7.v. runnnntc, probably nullclurt ululiunilln.610006 Inna.contract nurt-Ocntrnt null.cuntrnot rari-Oontrllt Inuk-Ooniaot wart.Gentrnnt unri-GOQUQQS M0Oanlnot Inuk-010001 down.Guatruut wilt.r
IAIIQAIQGL0bkPWPME 008'! IATURB 0? O0l_i0lNlKAL'!8 IIQII1‘ USSDNIOIKD E IIVISIIIIITL_LJI '186 Dav“ liar» LN.Inna !BEOlrtr trunk! 7,180 HutAJJ. 9090!, Illhnlntnh Duip and 890,188 ‘ Ihnlly and é in loan to A11-croft
"dado:lat, Iolbourno.6l::.0:;llnuh1 Doplrht.‘NTAL IIVISHIITB lI,l'lG,8'70 s\=
,Q§<:\ 1948/94/W’ W, __‘ ‘Jin Deoenher, 1948. 'he Secretary,Depertnt of the Army,wlmlm. 8:§.}-I deeire to inform you thut I have reed the draftor agenda propoeed to be submitted to Ier Oebinet, inreepeot or Aunt;-alien
‘funk Production, end otter no special 'aolnent in regard to the objeete ot the eubnileioa. Suepencil alteration: have been luggee ted, which explein thou-selves.I lake it ran the lubnileion ie dealing only withAmy expenditure
upon production, and that it in left to thinDeporhenn deal later with capital expenditure which anyhave been incurred upon the teak program. It will be lonelittle time before the liquidation or the tank projeote orthis Deperheat
will enable no to prepare e survey of theirreoovemble expenditure.(-7.5!. xenon)S e 0 r e t u 2' y-\
us-I _ ', . “ -‘ D > ‘J 51/403/38?-./7-l¢,Q~l @1-’ I i ‘I \,_,-,/,-.<.~. ‘— ase___-» H -_| s \ s ,-m§§:?'1§»=1' l COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. " '“ " t1' <cm mi " ‘ DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY.G = n » 1N0
______________ __r;._;_,-ab 4' 7 MELBOURNE. s.c.1.. f°r=The Secretary, 7,_Ministry of Munitions, ””"ym"Western House", “783 William Streeté!LEQ§BE§a ~1-A2si:alian_Taa¥;lar1u2iisn.With reference to previous
correspondence on theabove subject, I attach copy of an Agendum, in draft form,which it is proposed to submit to War Cabinet forconsideration of recommendations relating to the followingaspects of the cessation of the
Australian Tank ProductionProgramme, viz. :(i) the deletion of funds from the Army ProgrammeStatement in the amount estimated to be surplusto requirements after your Department's out-standing claims from contractors
(Para. 9 ofAgendum and Appendix 'A').(ii) the disposal of completed tanks, parts assembliesand drawings (Para. 10 of the Agendumg.2. The favour of your comments on the draft Agendumwill be appreciated as soon as
possible as the Departmentof the Treasury is desirous that the financial aspectsin particular, be submitted to War Cabinet at the earliestdate.é};ié§;¢1n:621i/1;,(F. R. Sinclair)S e c r e t a r y.I_ E E E l‘ so E ._E_J
V ‘1\J .11 . ‘>. 5.. pm N.‘, ,';,¢~.._.u.,1 - ~. ' ' / I /o.x ¢ 9/COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.MINISTER FOR DEFENCE i°NI"$E¢RET 20 DEC1943. /9 E7My clear Minister,Reference is nzlde to your letter of lstDecember‘,
1945, advising; that the 1*e1i>e1"'b required inconformity with War Cabinet Minute No. (2978) of 15/'7/1945 relation to Armoured. l71_'_,1_13i11fj Vehicle production isI note that for the reasons inclicatecl in ‘Your- J u ~
Jletter it has been found. l1T'1TJ1‘£1OtlLC8.bl6 to <le“.l ith alland I desire to ezmress 111] appreciation of the eflortsbeing made to this end.Llmster for Munitions. tI\} , W1’ ,~>~now going forward. 1, * . wthe regorts as
exrsedxitiollsly as would have been desired, \\ ncerThe Hon. N.J.O. Ila!-zin, LI.P., ‘\~" D.» -1
2/"— '7, 4E1/1/?/5<M_‘...W“ DLU il)-HMy dear Prine llinia ter,With reference to your oomnunication of 16th llovenber,1943, and previoue correspondence, I deeire to inform you thatthe report required in conformity with War
Cabinet linuteNo. 2978 or 15th July, 1943, in relation to Amoured FightingVehiclee production, ia now going forward.I am informed that the oeeaatron of the greater part _of the aotivitiee or the Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Directorate,and abeorption or the remainder in other Directorates, hasthrown much additional work upon the Director-Oenera1'e officeand the Secretariat, and it has been impracticable to deal withall the reports deeired aa
expeditiously ae would have beendelired. The matter wae the aubject of repreeentatione to noby the Direo tor-General on 3rd November, 1943, but I did nottrouble you with the matter.Yours eincerely,, , y 'rM2LIi‘\'1 B23‘
“DEM” 1(HORIMI J. OJIAKIU)The Rt. Hon. John Curtin, ll.P.,Prime llinieter or Australia,CQ§§§BRA. A. C . ‘T.‘ .l‘\/~ " Y‘_'-~ \‘\ /. -f A/M, s:\ ‘I , '\/Z 2’‘K \ \ ’ /‘ ' ~=_.3- Z
it- Y y.- ,.‘. _ _A» _ !'~~;'{':;5i'..~._@‘Q;-,*r>:,_. .A;:';~".:~,‘ 5‘ » :\'nl_J|-1| ;'‘ COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.MINISTER FOR nznzucs ceonawnwwa1 NC‘! 194$"=. V .')'1.'»;'~\->.l... \. I ‘L.~44My deer Minister,Reference
is made to the decisionrecorded in War Cabinet Minute No. (2978) of15th July, 1945, that your Department shouldsubmit, as soon as practicable,.a report inaccordance with War Cabinet Minute No. (2968)\ as to the effects
on the particular factoriesconcerned of the implementation of Defence -Committee's recommendations regarding the productionof Armoured Fighting Vehicles other than tanks.Although a number of enquiries hasbeen
addressed to your Department this report hasnot as yet been received. In view of the periodwhich has elapsed since War Cabinet's decision Ishould be pleased if you would arrange for thecompletion of the report to be
expedited-/-/1*// /.-'Your incerely, ;_/// 1§%§_~ ~_\__4f~~/L"The Hon. N. J. 0. Mekin, M.P.,Minister for Munitions.~i_-i_______1J
__l_ ___,_. ._-cui r‘G:?‘: I1- W‘- i, ca Me'\ — . ‘. ‘ u ; 3/. " ‘_ ' fa g.\‘:;;;;..= X A/:5.Q m§§:§.§',§."§‘1’;=u _ ~ €bMMoNwE:A1_T|-| OF AUSTRALIA.Mxv“°' "5 ‘\3"\/‘H3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE.No._______ MELBOURNE.
s.c.1.sECRET §-/1 rm 1945MEMORANDUM for:-The Secretary,Department of Munitions,85 William Street,a °_-lMLBOURNE .AGENDUM NO.5l9/1945 - CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMEOF WAR MATERIALS (ARMOURED
FIGHTING VEHICLESLWith reference to your memorandm of 6th November,1945, on the above subject, the information furnished hasbeen noted.The necessity for prompt action to submit the reportscalled for by War
Cabinet is illustrated by the followinginformation which has been furnished this Department.One of the recommendations of the Defence Committeewas that production of Carriers, M.G., for the period51/'1/1945 to
s1/'2/1944 should be limited to & maximum of20 in any one month and to a total of 100 for the wholeperiod.In this connection, the following information hasbeen furnished by your Department to the AustralianAssignments
Committee as to the production of Carriers,M.G.:-Total actual production —August, September and October .. 154Total forecast production —November, December and January ..Total for first six months ..60194‘(F. m)S e r
e t a r y.14, ~ ‘/-., ¢I
_ X air26 0°‘ L.l‘.Y. numcronmi. U/Y1/' ,§\‘;I 25th October, 1943 .m-. L.n. GedeAraonred righting Vehicles Directorate, -I have taken the Director-General‘: memorandum ofthe 30th September as a general indication of the
terms underwhich the Ordnance Production Directorate shall assune controloi‘ the renaininx Armoured lighting Vehicle: activities. thebroad nature oi‘ the phraeeology used, however has nade exactinterpretation difficult, and
so I presented to the Director-General my own translation of hie nelcrandul and the circul-stances which I consider should apply.Ihie was discuaeed as between the Director-Generaland the Secretary and accepted in terns
oi‘ the attached nencran-dul dated 15th October. Advice was also received that the words"remaining activities" concerned not only project: but evcrythinathat remained, i.c. Tropic Proofing, Aftaging Activities,Packing ct
Components together with whatever staff we chose toretain in the interests of continuing these matters.Based upon this clarification, we are now in aPosition to aaaune executive control along the liner indicated.All officers
of O.P.D. concerned with the matter have been madeaware or the position, and I would appreciate it it similaradvices could be given to the remaining A.l‘.V. etafi’.FRANK 8 . DLLEYActing DirectorOrdnance Production
Directorate.c.c. Mr. Essing on Lewis Mr. J.l~I. J: s \ - ,. .M1‘~\P}<{3<-‘T1-hardt: 1'/Ir. IIaI‘sde:\na?1€’I.I¥I:.Jg1€5i§;2ld’ M‘ Bows’J//—'w
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4.:11;:3?='=~:§1"g‘Ir;i‘ gilo(I.'&-Ruins)V loniitnry.,JN-NawVJ L L’‘ ‘>91 /S’ u .2‘ Q5“ ; 'lo <5 J4
\ _.. I 5' *»(_ £55-I Em 8": MlNlST UN|TIO ‘J1, ,/ D‘ I I PAVPkE,Q{_A,‘» \ L ‘TA: -’ctobggfz6;h 1943”TO . nmmcmn-umihdfoiémln I), M \ ,1 98SUBJECTA-1'-W mew“. ,-. Hemmer Amuse. T aRIn accordance with the
request contained in your memorandum of15th September for a further report in one month's time and furtherto your mnoranda of 30th September and 7th October, it is desiredto report as followa:-ANNEXES:Complete
inventories have been made of the total capital assetsof Industrial Steels, Hadfields and Alloy Steels Pty. Ltd..These inventories are now being typed and will be presented tothe Controller of Liquidation and the Controller of
Castingsend Forgings by llcnday 18th October. The Latest casting figuresare still being compiled for Bradford Kendall Ltd. and should becompleted. by the week ending 22nd October, when they will be for-warded to the
Controller of Liquidation and the Controller ofCastings and Forgings.Machine tool inventories of all annexes and sub~contraotore arepractically complete and will be forwarded to the Director ofMachine Tools and Gauges in
the course of the nert few days.Some details of erpmditure for buildings, plant and equipmentin respect of certain of the annexes have not yet been completed,but it is anticipated that a complete statement showing
thecapital expenditure to date for each annexe, together with allrelative correspondence will be available shortly for transmissionto the Controller of Liquidation and the Directorates which infuture are to control these
annexes. In this regard, llr. Brcnley,who is to transfer to the Directorate of Small Craft Construction,in the near future will arrange for the necessary information to bemade available to llr. llerrett as and when required for the
followingannexes:- ~Coote 0: J’orgensen's Ltd.,Sonnerdale Ltd. ,N.-8.1!. Railways (Chullore),Ford Motor Co. (Aust.) Ltd., Geelong.PROJECTS.All IIGO Orders, correspondence and relative records, as well asall work in
progress in respect of current projects will be handedover to the Ordnance Production Directorate on Saturday 16th instant,and it is intmded that, as from Monday 18th October, all requestsfor orders in connection with
these projects will be referred to theOrdnance Production Directorate. The method to be adopted intransferring control of the production of LG. Carriers and spareparts is at present being discussed with the Ordnance
ProductionDirectorate, and finality should be reached during the coming week.Arrangements are being made for the transfer to Ordnance ProductionDirectorate of all tooling and planning records for the CruiserTank and
other projects. These records should be in the hands ofthe Ordnance Production Directorate by Monday 18th October.Arrangements have been made that the production staff engaged onprojects which require to be
completed will be transferred to the(Continue on back starting at this edge)
_2_Ordnance Production Directorate for a short period prior to theirtransfer to the Directorate of Small Graft Construction.'mm:s_,- AC mmx Land _1;1=At a conference of representatives of the Department of the
Anny,Directorate of Ordnance Production, Directorate of AFV Production,Controller of Liquidation and Mr. H.J'. Breen (Assistant SecretaryAdministration) on Tuesday 12th October, Brigadier .T.W.A. O'Brienstated on behalf
of the Army that:-(a)(b)(0)(<1)(e)(1')it had been decided that the Munitions Department would notbe required to make any further modifications to TanksAC Mark I;no spare parts would be required;production tooling for
Tanks A0 Mark I not common to TanksAC Mark III was to be destroyed;in order to facilitate the use of the Ghullora Annexe by theDirectorate of Snell Graft Construction, the Anny will makearrangements as quickly as
possible for the transfer of TanksAC Mark I from this annexe;The Department of the Amy does not require any productionmodels of the AC Mark III to be built. The pilot model ofthis tank is now in Melbourne;production
tooling provided for AC Mark I, which was common toAC Mark III should be retained pending further decision by theDepartment of Anny as to its disposal.' |AAt this conference it was decided that e small committee
consistingof Army and Munitions representatives be formed to decide upon thedisposal of AC Mark III components (complete and partially completeand tooling. 0?; A11’ F-swL;m=Ha:u_nSrmw<'s The following inventories
of plant and equipment located at head-quarters building of the Directorate at Fisherman's Bend have nowbeen completed:-(=1)(b)(c)(<1)(e)(I)(2)(11)(1)(J)(k)Furniture and office equipment;photographic and cinsmatop-
aphic equipment and apparatus;blueprinting and dieline, photostatic equipment and apparatus;machine tools and equipment, experimental workshop;machine tools and equipment, mock-up workshop;tool room,
experimental I01'kBhOp;tools, equipment and apparatus Service School and Lubritorium;drafting machines;A.R.P. equipment;scientic equipment and apparatus, Research and DevelopmentDivision;)measuring equipment
on loan to the G.I.A.!'.V. , Department of AnwStock sheets of materials end equipment in New South wales annexesbeing completed as quickly as possible.As these inventories are completed, they are being forwarded to
theController of Liquidation, the Director of Machine Tools and Gaugesand the Director of Materials Supply for re-allocation.BIBB .
-3-.Requests have been lodged with the Controller of Liquidation andthe Directors concerned for the allocation to other sections ofthe Department of llunitions and the Department of Aircraft Produc-tion of a considerable
proportion of the plant and equipment 'located at A.1|‘.V. establishment, I'ishernen's Bend. These requestsare being fulfilled es quickly as possible. Certain surplusmaterials and components have also been released ex
productionstocks on instructions from Central Administration, Ministry ofMunitions. :A meeting was held on Wednesday 13th October, at which representativesof the Departnmt of the Army, Ordnance Production Directorate,
StaffBranch of Central Administration and the Directorate of Smell CraftConstruction were present, and decisions made regarding the allocationof the staff of the Design Division, Production Division, Researchand
Development Division of the Directorate. The work of thesethree Divisions will be completed within the next two or three weeksand the transfers will take place thereafter.An examination is now being made of the current
projects of the SpareParts and Technical Service Divisions and, in accordance with thedecision reached at the meeting on 13th October, the staff of thesetwo Divisions will be dispersed as soon as possible.The Staff
Superintendent of the Ministry of lunitions has been providedwith e complete list of the names of members of the staff additionalto those nominated in my memorandum of 13th October, who are nowavailable for immediate
transfer.DISPOSAL 01' 'i'EGHNIC.AL DATA:Arrangements are now being made for the disposal of drawings andother technical data to the Munitions Supply Laboratories end theDepartment of the Amw.if’-——<*—_'_ A.R,
Code ,Director,Arnoped lighting Vehicles l’roducti_c_n.
e i67i%T* ‘ma. on»: nu, mes. 57¢/Ot BII.%lIIEAL01' IlIIIIOI8ea>’ XaaoeerdanoeelththereqaeeteontalaedhyoeraqerenborL5thie9tqbertoreturIherreport1aoneaeeth'atheend1'eI'&I'to
youraunorenhe!80thBepteaberand'!th0oteber, it iedeeiredorepertaetolloeah “Goaglete taeqiorleor udoetrial heelilwnterleo ere MI ‘lingQontroller of LiquidationIorgi e londay,'5:25:fggsagg§§;18H! Gctober'»‘2¢.“? ""f‘Z‘ “$2..Pt)
sopreaentedtozheerotéae randlateat 11:81:31are I311-{elm oonpued tor Bradford Kendall Md. and gm beooupleted by the eeek nding can October, men they I111. beforwarded to ghe ontroller of Liquidation and the
Controller orCastingl and orginge.leohine too]. inventories or all anaexee and aub-oontraotera arepraetioellr eoeplete and I111 be forwarded to the Director otIaehlae ‘hole ad leegee in the ooarae at the next for days-Bone
detalla of eapuadlwre for buildings, plant and eqnlpluxtin respect of oertaia of the anaerea have not yet been completedbut 11'. 1: anticipated that e complete IMKQOBS ehoring the eeplialexpenditure to date tor each
annexe, together nan all relativeoorreepoadnoe 111 be available shortly for truaiaeicn to theController or Liquidation and the Directorates ahioh in nature areto control. taeee ennesee. In this regard Ir. Bronley, elm la
totmaater to &e Directorate of nal). C221!‘ Gaaetruetiou, in the neartum: I111 t thee arrange er neoeeaary information to be madeavailable on Ir. llerrett aa undone: required tor the tolloeingannexes» _CooteeldJergna' a Ltd.
,Beanerdele Ltd-IJJI. laileeye (Gmnora)hm lotor 00. (mu) I-m., mum.A11Il)00rdere,eorreepoudeuoeendre1atlvereeorda aerellaaenwork in progreu in regeet or eurrnt plkt I111 be headed overto the Drdaeaoe Produo on
Directorate on tnrwdth instant,and it Le iateoded that, ee tron Ioaday 18th Bo , all request:for ordera in ooaaeotloe eith these projeete I111 he referred to theOrdnance Prediction Dlreeteratea ue Iethod to be adopted
intrnmeterring eeatrol ot the production et L6. Carriers and spare5::-ta 1e at yreaeut being dieeaeaed with the Ordnance Productionreetnrate, and nality should be reached during the easing reek.Arrangements are being
lode for the trenater to llrdneaee ProductionD1ree0orateo£a11teo1Lngandp1em1.ngreeordatortheOn1aea-Ieakandotherproieote. iheeereeordenouldoeiathehandeor the 9rdnu\oe Production Directorate by louday, 18th
October-rodnA Arraqqeuta have hen aadegrojeete idem require to bee Prodnelleetranefer to the Directorate of2%?5%Dlreotoraettoo let! engagedbe 8:“-attrred to govaried prior to theirCueetruetloo.
' 71‘. _ an-an 4'; “’HIl4£ VAt 1 maintain at 2 tad I tin llnprg {pg Jf @ P‘:-;.:1:dcItE::‘3I_.lzc¢tnu'a? at L;EV I O O .:4‘:1‘=‘§a.t:a:1£:€:c:‘Iuthn:da7 12?“ grater, Irtgullor @835-A.0'm'1a(a) it M4 ban 6001501! at the Imitluaa ’ t
OM16 not(B)hmmdh&omwmrm hn|w.I1mnparopnwtaumldboroquiridg '(e)produttentuo11n¢tor!aaklA¢Iuk1notouunn'tohnkn(4)LG lurk II! was to be dutroyad;inardorbtuuttata thuunottlnmlluulnnnzcbythnUirwtornto 01' hull.
Graft Qnaatauction, the luv 11.11.aka stagnant: u quickly as 9000010 ta: we taster attanks AC lurk 1 tron thin anon;(0) Ila npuhant at the Any dnu not 1-squirt any productionInll. lib Alarklllcblhdll thnt dnf(1') goéucuca toolinl
pram1 0 0 . p nothis ank 1: an in lolbourncznil X, mm: In commending mttlur dnclaioaQlljllllo"acg?'e5=LC lltk I11 lhlmld biby the Bnparhnnt or Any 0At this cents:-can it was dacidcd that 0 anll conittoo consist-ing or Amy mi
lunitlonl ropruuntattvu in hand to doeido upenthe 81-lpglll at AC In;-k III components (eeaplnto and partiallycaaplptc am! tall‘;|_ 1-1:31; .4: 0" ‘ ‘Ly ;> {:2 7» 1 ;~t 11¢‘ ;~ ' :1‘-* 2,‘nu 10110119; iavuntarlu at giant and oqupant
located athadqurtcu building 03' the rcetaratn at Iinhcna Baalhave an has GQ5I1ItCl—IDGP Rl(K)lurnitura aadofrta Qquipnmt;photographic and ciacantogrnphic oquipnnt and apparatus;blmiintl and Malian, photon-181:
oqulpmnt and 1?;-&1'atl_n 0 »Z§. and cat!-pant, expo:-iuntal narkshop;nchlno tools and oquipnuat, mock-up workshop;tool roan experimental workshop;koala equipment and applrltll Buwico School and Inbriuz-tun;Qrntang
nachiau;1..P- nqnipnatjBztiitic oquipumt and appuutu, Banana and DevelopmentW3nrnring oquipnnt on luau to the C.I»A-I.V., Dupu-tauntO ‘YQQBtack abuts or atuiula and oqulpnnt in In Bout: I010 manorare bola;
aonplotod an quickly as possible.An than inventor“: an eonplotod, they are being to:-nzalod tothe Qntxullcr at Liquidation tho Director at Inahinn ‘I001; andhuge: and tin Director or l.a£u-1:1: upply tor rvalloution.mush has
boa hdga with the ¢cnt:~nI.1c at Liquidationthe D11-actors ounce:-and tor Qhn allocation to ottur autismat the Bopartlnt at Imttiou and tn: Dopnrhnnt at Mural‘!rmdnetlcn or 1 canine:-ulna proportion or the plant and
oquiplunllento! at AJJ. utnhltahnnt, Illhcrnnln ind. Inca 1-squatsIota; manna as till! ldbl . On-tau suyluai’-‘mm. BIC mmulan aztuud an punctuation
stocks on instructions mm cum-1 Adninistmtioa, “miseryor Imition.Anutiagnnholnlonlodnoaday Dlhbcubcr, at minkrepresentatives oi’ the Department oi’ the Any, QrdunnProduction niroclorata, lint! Drama at ¢cntra1
Administrationand the Diznctorata at lull Curt Construction are prucat5:: 4%? nah rqiszngmcza ¢u»::m\ at :3 stat!’ -1 5:0sip homo an lion nu-on DadoDivision or anrliroeiurato. he In:-k of t-non than PivgaioaaI111 be
00310001 Iithin the nut tun or than not: and thetransfers 11 take place tho:-carter.In examination ia an We at the current projncts at tho3c.roPnr$lmdhchnicn1 in Diviuiaaaad inuarhnatn the decision round at the muting on
13$ Octoiur, thestar! at than in Divisions will ho siispcrud an coon an poniblo.In Bur: lnpnnuums of an Iiniltry at Imam» nu honprovided with 1 conpllto lint at tho nan at unborn at the
staffadditioanltolhounoninntoniiauynmorudx-ot18\0o\aMr,no an now anilablo tor inndiah ti-nutcr- EHELlmkangnmtl no norutter technical datatho Dopartacnt at the1ii-iindo tar the dilpoul 01’ dralilga andluniticna B09911
Laboratories andugd. A-ll. 0018.Director, Ax-neural lighting Vehicles Predation.——+(J
emcysox No. 7a¢fi..l_1n'|’IY., . ~ I,;\?~'f‘§*§ > ' , 943 T§?;.l%i;R%gd()P¢YV]§AL1lPII ()1? AKIIESTHRAXLJZK._\ Q. fa5 ¢-“K -L -_y'¢\_ \. ll’ 'K? "§ " ”* . 1 . 1 ‘if 'ru.Ir|-cons: 04 on: V _ \‘\\_ ,"‘ ‘1'z|.ta|u|-|-uc _AnnnlIl\\'3_(|iiA .1?]
w\\ _A ,’_ /gnu uvqun. 1J;‘_~§;}-‘; - S!-_i_ , ,;)1»»\ _‘ '|'"—'”' ARI] O AREA MANAGEMENT,ALL coumuulcnlous suour.-n asHAD /341$», mmsmv lTlQNS.ADD_n,ED To _ /4 ‘I31 CASTLEREAGH STREET-THE
SECRETARY, ,, SYDNEYIN IIIFLV IUOTI NIL _H, h October, 1943.Kw ‘WV 'Essington Lewis, Esq., G.H.,~,Director-GeneralDMELBOURNE. C.I.Dear Mr. Lewis,, the 7th October, in regard to the re—allocation of control of
AMinistry of Munitions, - \\AJ8} William Street,Having considered your memorandum 210/30/36 of ‘ ‘Annexes formerly administered by the Directorate of A.F.V., I amwriting on behalf ot the N.S.W. Board to submit for your
considera-tion the following comments:-2.Firstly, in the present stage of production theBoard cannot visualise the liquidation of any one of the sixAnnexes named. Examination has disclosed that contrary togeneral belief,
which in the Board's opinion is encouraged by mis-leading newspaper statements giving a wrong view of the presentsituation, the actual production orders now in progress underMunitions supervision in N.S.W. are in
excess of those currentbefore the Munitions programme (as originally planned) wasdepressed. The character of the orders is of course changing inmany respects, but the production called for is neverthelessequipment for
the Commonwealth at war, and the Board feels itwould be good policy to refrain from referring to the diminutionof Munitions production and the transfer of labour therefrom whilethe same labour is vitally necessary for the
newer war projects nowcontrolled by the Ministry, even if these do not include guns,shells and tanks. If this viewpoint is not clearly understoodwithin our own Department, the general public cannot be blamed forimagining
that the production of war equipment is ceasing, and thatthe Ministry of Munitions is therefore becoming redundant. Itappears likely that still more calls will be made on the productionfacilities of this Board by the time the
new conversion programmesare under way, and it seems to be all wrong, therefore, to adsvertise that the activities of the Ministry are diminishing andthat it is in the process of liquidation.3-/
‘J1 ,W..+_1|» _ ‘.. _ _ 4 J _ _ .."M. vn small craft production, aircraftearth-moving machinery and refrigeration, the Munitions| 4.is as fully occupied as ever before. Gun Ammunitionwhich has always been limited to a very
small staff, is;~-‘i.-‘than ever with the new projects, including Spare Parts,Bolts and Nuts and Refrigeration, now allotted to it, whileSmall Craft Section (formerly A F V ) will be unable toits new orderewith its resent de leted
staff heyp", U.>V'P Pmachinery programme now allotted to 0 P Directoratesubstantial increase in production capacity, especially onfAtitit~‘i'?<_-__5M’?751;}-_t11. '?51.< .,1~¢iiUTla.\ I“;L1 "{:1 1castings and machining side,
and no decrease of O P staforeseen at present. The work of thehadio & Signalsis increasing and Locomotive & Rolling Stock is notThe above remarks are of a general nature, butcoming to the re—allocation of particular
annexes, it is notedthat control of Chullora Workshops, Coote & Jorgensen‘s Annexel/B/89, and Sonnerdale's l/B/90, will logically pass to theDirectorate of Small Craft construction.In regard, however, to the Annexesat
BradfordKendall, Hadfields, and Industrial Steels, the Board desires tosubmit that their transfer to Materials Supply (Castings andForgings) is not in the best interests of the Ministry for thefollowing reasons:—(a) To the
Board's knowledge it has alwaysbeen regarded as definite policy that when Annexes are establishedg,and come into operation they come under the administration ofBoards of Area Management. These Boards are
responsible forthe placing of orders within their respective States and thesupervision of production, but under the re-allocation a changeof policy is indicated.(b) This Board has of course been closely associted with the
three named Annexes from their first beginnings, andon it is thought that the knowledge and experience so gained warrant’ continuance of the present system of control.(c) The Controller of Castings and Forgings
hashitherto been represented in N S W by an officer of Materials eSupply, whose appointment has been of an interim nature onlyRecently the Controller of Materials Supply requested the transferfrom the Board's staff of an
officer with high metallurgical iqualifications to act as Mr. Noad's representative, as part ofthe local Materials Supply organisation. As this officer is full‘1’*§ engaged on important work for production Sections controlled
by¢rthe Board, his release could not be agreed to, but the Boardoffered to allow him to act as Mr. Noad's representative in N S W.\1while remaining an officer of the Board of Area ManagementIn view of the Board's close
relationship with the Annexes,including the financial supervision exercised through the Costing,_.%.er; Investigation Section, this appeared to be a good working arrangeéiment (No reply to the offer has yet been received. It
would ,therefore,¢r3;i‘
.q_,n. _3_therefore appear that if local control of the three Annexes is tobe placed in the hands of the Castings and Forgings Section ofMaterials Supply, that Directorate has no facilities for control,whereas the Board's
existing organisation has all the facilitiesnecessary. This is particularly vital on the financial sidewhere a detailed knowledge of past history and arrangements madein the light of special circumstances is essential.(d) These
facilities cover the complete organi-sation for placing of orders in the lnnexes, and their supervisionby technical officers permanently stationed therein, and as thisorganisation is not existent elsewhere in Sydney, a change
of con-trol would consequently mean a duplication of facilities foradministrative pruposes.6. TheBoard would therefore like you to give someconsideration to permitting the control of Bradford Kendall's,Hadfields' and
Industrial Steels‘ Annexes to remain as hithertowith the Board, on the understanding that an officer experienced incasting and forging work will implement the policy of Mr. Noadin foundry production matters generally, and
that the technicalofficers located at the Annexes will be available to superviseany orders placed therein in accordance with such policy.1. I am posting these remarks on to you with a viewto discussing the matter further
during your visit to Sydney nextweek. 'Yours sincerely,- I.1(Chairman)c.c. to J. K. Jensen, Esq.
 F;./ /*{~;TP ' ’ 1 MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS' -, MINUTE PAPERi 1 _.F§ =“‘ nu 7912,? . DAYE 15th October, 191;} pI To The Director General of Munitions*7TEN'”°"§<°‘~' \ YOUR REF. oun REF. M0/JSJ/JJ<=c>P#=S To
Mr. J.K. Jensen Mr N.K.S. Brodribb_ W?-;—~ ___ _, ._ in _ __ _ ~ if 7 . _ i __SUBJECTA.F.V. DIRECTORATE.Since receiving a copy of your memorandum of the .30th September addressed to the Director of A.F.V.
Production,we have taken active steps to become acquainted with the remain-ing activities of the above Directorate so that this transfermay take place with the least possible delay and dislocation ofcurrent
projects.Arrangements have been concluded with the Directorof A.F.V. Production for us to take over as from Monday, the18th instant, control of the projects upon which further produc-tion is required. To effect this we are
transferring theexisting Project Supervision staff and associated staff handlingthe supply and progress functions, together with the recordsdirectly concerned with such work. We consider that the physical0 transfer of the
staff is essential for proper control.This transfer involves all current projects includingthe Universal Carrier, but excludes the tropic proofing, "Aftaging"and packing of ccmponents, which is being handled by Industrialstaff
anployed by A.F.V. Directorate. pWith regard to this latter phase of work, it is ourintention to explore fully all the factors associated with thiswork, and as soon as possible arrange for this work to be placedwith a suitable
contractor.It appears to be the view of the Director of A.F.V.Production that the A.F.V. Directorate is to carry on for approx-imately 3 months until the buildings are finally handed over toAircraft Production Department, and
that during such period hewill retain the responsibility for clearing up the proofing andpacking project and also the completion of a number of comparatively0 minor Jobs which are being carried out in the Dtperimental
Workshop.- _ We would suggest therefore that the policy to beadopted on the transfer of the remaining activities to this Direct-orate be fully and clearly defined.Although our investigations to date have not made usfully
conversant with the present position and it will be somelittle time before we can finally determine the detailed actionto be taken in every phase of this matter, we are perhaps in abetter position than yourself to outline a
general policy. WeV are therefore attaching hereto a suggested "charter" to be givento this Directorate.isV We consider that it is essential for us to receiveclear instructions immediately, as at present we are acting on
thecopy of the Director General's memorandum, upon which we have placeda different interpretation to that of the Director of Armoured1 Fighting Vehicles.egg3*\ There is another point upon which we wish to receive’
clarity. This concerns the transfer of A.F.V. staff to newQ mt ‘ , positions. It has been suggested that the Small Ships‘ Directorate‘ 3‘ >7 has been given absolute preference for all A.F.V. staff. Whilst(X iv‘ we agree that such
preference is reasonable in a general sense, we“'1 U1" consider that staff experienced in A.F.V. work should be retained,‘f ‘7 ‘ where required, to handle the remaining activities./(Continue on back starting at this edge) PI‘-1-
"O" .
It would obviously be foolish to transfer experienced A.F.V.men for small ship work if it involved the selection and train-ing of new men to carry on A.F.V. work.given absolute preference for the transfer of staff who havebeen
directly associated with the activities we are required to0&1‘1‘Y on.(-- 2 - 15th 0ctober:'l§Q,} \We therefore suggest that this Directorate be\ii-‘“..-,-Jes;49.1L-/7FRANK S. DALEYActing Director_Ordance Production
Directorate _4
Ordnance Production Directorate, in conjunctionwith the Controller, Production, Orders & Statistics, is to takeimmediate action to have all current Production Orders applie-able to cancelled or suspended projects, cancelled
or suspendedimediately. This means that Ordnance Production Directoratewith the assistance of the Boards of Area Management will beresponsible for the liquidation of such projects through theController of
Liquidations.Ordnance Production Directorate is to be responpsible for all the remaining activities of A.F.V. Directoratewhich are to be transferred as soon as possible, and immediatelyupon request by Ordnance Production
Directorate. The transferof such activities will embrace the following:-(s)(b)(c)include(s)(b)(e)(<1)(8)(1')(s)(h)(1)(J)The transfer of such staff as are engaged uponsuch activity and O.P.D. will, as soon as poss-ible, advise the
Superintendent of Staff of anystaff which may be in excess of its requirements.The transfer of such office furniture and equip-ment as is normally used by the staff transferred.O.P.D. will supply to the Controller of
Liquidationslists of such furniture and equipment surplus to itsrequirements.The transfer of all records and the like associatedwith such activity, together with any office equip-ment, filing cabinets and the like housing
suchrecords. Lists of items not required by O.P.D.are to be supplied to the Controller of Liquidationsby that Directorate.The remaining activities of A.F.V. Directoratethe following:-Modification of Matilda, General Lee and
GeneralGrant Tanks and associated miscellaneous work.Conclusion of Recovery‘Tank Programme.Stripping down of Marmon Harrington Tanks.Tank Transporter. Handing over of Pilot Modelto Army.Mark IV Pilot Model
Tank and Spares - Handing overof components and the like to Army as requiredand the balance to Controller of Liquidations.Mark III Tanks and Sgares. Similar action asrequired for Mark I Tank.Mark I Tank and Spares.
Complete disposal ofall components, tooling, and the like, throughthe Controller of Liquidations.Conversion of English Mortar Carriers to Universal.Carrier Programme -(i Manufacture of complete units.(ii Manufacture of
replacment parts.(iii Tropic proofing and packing forshipment.In connection with the Carrier Programme, the workis to be withdrawn from the existing MajorCo-ordinating Contractor as quickly as possibleand the functions
handled by this body which arenormal to the Boards of Area Management are to betransferred to the Boards of Area Management.__
-2-(k) Tropic Proofing and packing for shipment of Sparesetc. other than those associated with the Carrierprogramme.(l) Any other Sundry production, maintenance or repairwork not covered by the above.(m) Publications -
Iork is to cease immediately onall publications not associated with Army Ordersand those concerned with projects which have beencancelled. The remaining publications are to bediscussed with the Army and the material
whichhas been prepared is to be handed over to the Armyfor completion as agreed by the Army.Ordnance Production Directorate is to take over andassue control of the following Annexes and the equipment andmaterials
supplied to these Annexes as quickly as possible:-(a) Steel Co. of Australia Pty. ma. Sussex st., Coburg.(b) Metropolitan Gas Company, Fitzroy Ibrks, Melbourne.(c) David Shearer Limited, Hannun, South Australia.In
general, Ordnance Production Directorate is towork in close association with the Controller of Liquidations inrespect of all furniture, equipment, tools, tooling, materialsand the like, which are surplus to the remaining
activities ofthe A.F.V. Directorate, and with the Superintendent of Staffin respect to staff which have not been transferred to otheractivities and which are surplus to the requirments of OrdnanceProduction Directorate.
/4 ' ~-~— ~——— — ——.< ——..l 7 _ _ = _0001‘,. _i Mp", K I _ ,1 . <. - _- A J uuu|T|c»§'.,*‘?‘¥"f,v_e V 525/3°/15@: SECRET" *~ ¥‘ ‘ qé"-'J§’.*.Ti~=.'T <4; » ~ e _ X :‘:;j»;~_<;~i;;:r;. 7 c S <'\é 3 ‘ "‘J~--g_';»ms‘" V i*__“
2Ah‘=9 5g _3\Y _ Q,551;”, "ct ‘_ COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.III 5I ‘W DEPARTMENT or THE ARMY. /q¢l“%....................... .. MELBOURNE $cJ.» 29th October l94$.MEMORANDUM FOR: 7 "“'”""'4.wThe
Secretary,Ministry of Munitions,85 William Street,MELBOURNE.AUSTRALIAN TANK, PRODUCTION.With reference to your letter dated 14 Oct45, in connection with the continuance to a limiteddegree of the forwarding of
technical informationthat has value from a production aspect, copies ofsignals WM 1486 and MW 1855, between the AustralianMilitary Mission and Landheadquarters are attached.2. Since it has been decided that the
productionof AFVs in Australia will cease, and that all AFVsrequired for use in Australia shall be imported fromoverseas, it follows that from now on we are onlyconcerned in Maintenance, and the few drawings,
etcnecessary for the purpose and for modificationsapproved overseas.3. In your third paragraph it is s gested thata continued supply of drawings etc shoul§ e‘e1\dedvia the Australian Military Mission, in t“ eve t thatat some
time they might be useful. It is consideredthat, since so many drawings of many different equipmentsare being prepared in the States, no good purpose wouldbe served, for their value is almost sure to be nil.Furthermore,
the bulk and extent of these drawings etcwould be most considerable and would necessitate the"employment of extra personnel to record!and file them.4. Therefore it is decided that the principlesindicated in AW 1855 shall
be followed and that, iffurther action in any one certain direction is necessarysuch action will be arranged by this Department.Naturally this will be extended, if necessary, to includethe procurement of all drawings required
for themanufacture of some article that may require to bemanufactured in Australia for some specific reason. Thisemergency, you will observe, was catered for in ourM 1855.U-1(D/-\0'13’H w(DU-I‘-1:w\ / 0% . ' 018.1!‘ ) ." _’
/I If a r y. ,K;/J%\\\,, " ,gI"J// M /M/a 37”/We
”fA_P-/. 4/» ujlw
M':L0UHNs nov3 BAH:953‘/!fTf‘Q!r_______ J' 0.1’.-uhn ,7:-useN*AVY—ARMY-OFFEF? GOOD ClYT ,i‘.§‘P_.§E§Z”-n_ C.B.E¢ -
Q QF Copy. MB.. hI¢ . v..Aq§mm1L WASHINGTON ‘LANDFORCES MELBOURNE RN” I855 21/ 9YOUR VIM 1486 16 SEP AFV 'IECI-INICAL I1\TFOPCu~'[ATION (-) DESK %CEIVELIIELY TO BECOME PRODUCTION
TYPES AND OF INTEREST TO AUSTRALIA (JREPORTS TO COVER PERFORMANCE MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATIONS (JDRAWHTGS AND PRODUCTION DETAIIS NOT QU_.[RED UNLESS SPECIFICALLYP-
E';,jUESTED (.) ALSO DESIRE‘ CONTINUATION RECEIPT ALL BAS US ANDCANADIAN REPORTS BIAITUAE AND LISTS SEIILAR ITEMS (.) FORGETPRODUCTION DETAIL UNLESS IT WILL ASSIST
MAIPTTENANCE (JA. G. V. PARKERD A F V Lt. Col.SD 1.1365240/79/302Landforce s mie lbourneAUSTmil WashingtonWIvIl486 16/9 l6llOOQAFV TECI-INICAL INFORMATION.IN VIEW OF POLICY TO CLOSE
WASHINGTON AFV OFFICE REQUESTINDICATION BE GIVEN OF PROCEDURE TO HE ADOPTED WITH REGARD AFV‘TECHNICAL INFORLIATIOII PREVIOUSLY FOR‘;/ARDED BY ASH TO CODE.THIS
INCLUDES COL HOARE'S TECHIMICAL LETTER AM) TAT-\TK DRAWINGS ETCOBTAINED FROM INSPECTION BOARD.ALSO REQUEST ADVICE T0 WHAT EXTENT WE PROGRESS THIS MAT’I'ER
FURTHERTHANVl<'ECESSARY TO PROVIDE. INFORMATION REGARDING LIAINTENANCE ANDMODIFICATION A1»EHICAl\T AFVS.REFER i=.IU1\YITIOl\IS CABLE V 17666 of 15 SEPTEMBER FR-OMI ASH TO
CODE.DistributionG(Armd) CorpsMGO (DAFV) ACTION ACTION COPY8 Sep 4883513PEPORIIS ORIGINATED AUSTMIL ON CURRENT AFVS AND DEVELOPMENTAL AFVS ‘ K
/ \ér/ ‘ , .I~\-4Q. T ,N-\~\<_)NSX 6:) Q’, 1;-'3 1;4/7? 1§§- °‘Ibo 800:-nary,Dopnrhcat of the Army, -Athohod an copies of eahlogrcnl roooivod tr;Aurmlim In Suppllll P:-aux-amt, Iuhlngwn, and our"P ,0Referring to the portim nu-
Izod "A", it Ieuhl Innppranlntod it tho Ililitnry Iiuim at Iuhlngtm could benutharlud to act for this Dapu-hunt should I-II! toehuoulnnqula-in be noouury in rolpoot at A1-neuron P ghtingVehicle: prohmllm. It you up-on prolmnbly
you Iauldomuat to GXPOOB oomunloatton, but II lhnll. bu glad tosupply eoplu at oonmioutlml it dnolrnd. .Iii: rohrunao to u (undo: ruled in punsmrkod "A" u to supply at Lntonntim, 11:11.0 it would Inllrply 1 utter for the law to
Guido, it Ll nggutnd _hat in supply should continua in the an-at at at nun$0 it niatbo mm. If you Agra it 1| nggoltod that101 lnllruoi n Iilltu-y Ituiun to u-tango In nmtlnnnuo,and that it nhnum ho tronuithd to Any lnnqnnrtox-
I.harocthraanuqmnmhnhlchln toluldttumbou-ru;d,it hall; Qdontood at thin Dopu-but an haw daoon Inpartial in which it my be intorolbd.:1 "wixI V { ‘iii? -r \ 1%‘; x\_;;)->.' A (.1. 1. nun) lourotnry.
,, 6 . _>5L:;&)Hi;1’DEPARTMENT OF MUNI TI CNS . 3 ’OUTWARD CABLEGRAM .M.4499. 21.9.1945.AUSTIMPRO vmsnrncqom 'ATTENTION ASHM'V.'742O FROM MUNITIONS.REFER YOUR V.1'7666.1. AGREE
YOUR PROPOSAL RE ITEMS A, B, AND C AND REPORTS,ALBUMS AND BROCHURES ON AUSTRALIAN AFVA. STOP2. REQUEST ITEMS D, E, F AND G BE OFFERED ‘IO AUSTRALIANMILITARIMISSION
BEFORE TAKING ACTION SUGGESTED STOPIF AIM NOT INTERESTED AGREE ACTION PROPOSED STOP5. DISCONTINUE DESPATCH HOARE'S TECHNICAL LET'I’ERS- STOP4. IF NECESSARY WILL
APPROACH ARMY TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FORMILITARY MISSION TO PROCURE OTHER INE~‘ORM.ATION FOR US STOP5. N0 FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED ON OUR BEHALF TO PROCUREDRAWINGS OF
AMERICAN AFVS STOP WILL ADVISE ARMY WHO,PRESUHABLY5: WILL MAKE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUTUREPROCUREMENT OF SUCH DRAWINGS STOPUNABLE AT PRESENT T0 INDICATE
ASH's FUTURE DUTIES.(sgp) Director-GeneralSecretaryA.R.CODE, Director, AFV Production. Chief ClerkCanberra Secre taria t... _ LJ.(sad E%BI¥2gQ§rL§gR§raIegf Munitions \
F.-_| \ ‘ V M1-:'3~._\ .,\;U-. v ;.1:<'?r\¢.\i‘1.‘.‘a..7‘='*i1"Ir"1;‘ ‘VI;\ .8‘.YOU HILL B8 IIBTRUOIBD BIIUQ RIOIRDIIU IQAIIDIR Q _|AI._\-IE»,,I‘."J. . ‘I “OCO.IIQIOIIIQQIIIIIOQIQIQIW R1‘ xQ _‘ MuumousA SECRET‘ I ?~ ‘ ”
1‘u'o$c,o‘p ' no.1!..!.9..5.£..I 4DIPRBMM PBWIIAIII OHKIILII KIRK UIAILI SUOORT13;» -!ITIBREAHiIA!1.Il!Il'LUIBD-'IlIll’lI6lI0!l&!8iXl%'l' KIWI] ‘IQ llllll-IA LBVALRIIXI IIDIOAQIDISUD Ii (A) (B) AID (G) AID (MRI! HEB
10AUSTRALIA A8 I00 HAVE BUOOIWEL BERG! (D) AID {I}un1nm1m_(v)un(o)-zoaouncnononmxl. Vxuromumou ax ms IILXTAHI uaamr. 1': nummuD0 I01 TIHIIATB SUPPLY OP BUG! IPB'IIl'!I@->, 'looatnry 20.0.4: Ila I. -
Q- . Dorian, 8o:,Ir.v -AGPOII», *0 ha. 0-6., 11.0.,luDnU-; IQ‘!-, 1.!‘-V-, cI'Q°l| o.r.o., 1.o.l., Me r. a I.- F1
I M? Wm yum mm__ q _m Wm“ _K Wm “M _MmU_ u E M _m trim‘ NT ha“ % , K _ ~__I1:5,>_“_“_ Q: _ L 4 _ ‘ T5 __W_ _m _“_ NJ _ma WmmmM_WmmM_w mmmw WWW W :1“ A M Z; 1”“: __ : _%m
mmmmmmW%WwmMW_M_w M HTWh M ma M “mm _m M“M_“MHmHm”m_mM~mmFmmW‘ ‘ ‘l ‘ IW ‘\\\ k 7 if,_ /_I 3 _ A _v__m__Nw_ /I M > H iv q Q ‘ vH““m_W_J_(MH_I_¥L\ ‘.'_£_w( ]_;P_ " _ I, K ‘ _ ‘\ i
>/'1; 11? /+8 Cw/<,»IPROJECTSTATEMENT OF PRODUCTION OF LRHOURED FIGHTING VEHICLEPRODUCED UNDER THE CONTROL AND SUYERVISIONOF D.A-F-V. P.———— —7——7——-*S"H"TOT
PRODUCED T0 uuumsa PRODUCED wmmxe 9/45ENDED 15/9/Z51TOTAL rnonucmn T015/9/45.Carrier M-G-Carrier 2—Pdr-Carrier MbrtarCara Light ArmouredCu‘: Scout (Auat)Carl Scout (U-S-A.)Tank A.G. Mark ITank
Recovery4 , 7 82ZOO4002532&4465861811,800200400237324-446586PROJECTTOTAL PRODUCED TO NUMBER PRODUCED WEEK15/b/ks Ended 22/b/45TOTAL PRODUCED TO22/9/ksCurrier M-G.carriers 2-
Pdrs.Carrier MortarCars Light ArmouredCara Scout (Aust)Cars Scout (U-LA.)Tank A-0.’ Mark ITank Recovery4,800zoo#002532444eas612 L4,812200400253Z4446586‘ T Co§’U rs.-_ L. 47/4500:1 _q<‘10%‘ lwrv 1--
rate‘e1_1i:<._D ,,%,“§'E Qygi
'.>/ A F 1%/W :41»;‘ 30th September, 1943.MEMORANDUM FOR:DIRECTOR OF A.F.V. PRODUCTIONFollowing upon our discussions regarding therestricted scale of the operations to be expected infuture in relation to
Armoured Fighting Vehicle production,my conclusions are as follows:-(a),1(b)Q(c)i’—w ' (<1)(e)(f)(g)(n)(1)c.c. Secy.O.P.D.B.A.M. Syd.Mr. MerrettDirectorate as such to cease operations and itsremaining activities to be
transferred to OrdnanceProduction Directorate.The land and buildings at Fisherman's Bend occupiedby the Directorate to be employed for about threemonths on A.F.V. matters, principally packing carriersand parts for
overseas, and then transferred toAircraft Production Department.Annexes and contractors set up for the purposes ofA.F.V. production to be transferred to the administratiof the Ordnance Production Directorate but Mr. F.T.
Merto be consulted as to the utilisation of any of them inSmall Craft Construction. In the latter event theSmall Craft Construction Directorate to be responsiblefor their administration.Holmesglen property to be transferred to
Stores andTransport Branch. Annexe Extension of Bradford KendalAnnexe to be transferred to Stores and Transport BranchOrdnance Production Directorate to consult withAssistant Controller of Castings and Forgings
regardinfuture uses of Steel Casting Annexes. .Work of a constructional nature being undertaken byA.F.V. Directorate to be transferred as quickly aspossible to N.S.W. and Victorian Railways workshops.Consideration to be
given as early as possible byDirector of Ordnance Production to termination ofarrangement whereby Victorian Railways acts asCo-ordinating Contractor for Carriers. The suggestionbeing that Western Australian
Government should dealdirect with Ordnance Production Directorate throughW.A. Board of Area Management.‘Controller of Liquidations to arrange for check andtransfer of all movable property in charge of
A.F.V.Directorate. .Chief Officer and Mr. F.T. Merrett to arrange forAdministrative Staffs of A.F.V. Directorate in Sydneyand Melbourne to be available for transfer of so manyas may be required to the Small Craft
ConstructionDirectorate. The staff not required by latter to betransferred to the Munitions Bloc for allocationMr. Bree“ ' lsewhere.Mr. WesthovenDirector-General of Munitions.gonrett15- A +
‘|':L:r|-mun MY 2.50COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.IZLEGNAPHIC Annkrin -mumnza" Mrueouunc M'N'5TRY OF MUN'T|°N5-"Wnlem Home,”6'3 “Wliam Stmel,Melbourne, ClIn reply quote Ne.30th September, 1943.~ ~
=DIRECTOR OF A.F.V. PRODUCTIONFollowing upon our discussions regarding therestricted scale of the operations to be expected infuture in relation to Armoured Fighting Vehicle production,my conclusions are as
follows:-(a)(b)(c)(<1)(e)(1')(2)3%0:0 U-0 OB.A.!l.Syd. (h)Mr.IerrettHr.Breenlr.IesthoveQi)7Directorate as such to cease operations and itsremaining activities to be transferred to OrdnanceProduction Directorate.The land and
buildings at Fisherman's Bend Occupiedby the Directorate to be employed for about three ¢months on A.F.V. matters, principally packing carriers]and parts for overseas, and then transferred toAircraft Production
Department.Annexes and contractors set up for the purposes ofA.F.V. production to be transferred to the administrationof the Ordnance Production Directorate but ur. F.T.Merrettto be consulted as to the utilisation of any of
them inSmall Craft Construction. In the latter event theSmall Craft Construction Directorate to be responsiblefor their administration.Holmesglen property to be transferred to Stores andTransport Branch. Annexe Extension
of Bradford KendallAnnexe to be transferred to Stores and Transport Branch.Ordnance Production Directorate to consult withAssistant Controller of Castings and Forgings regardingfuture uses of steel Casting
Annexes.Work of a constructional nature being undertaken byA.F.V. Directorate to be transferrd as quickly aspossible to N.S.W. and Victorian Railways workshops.Consideration to be given as early as possible byDirector
of Ordnance Production to termination ofarrangeent whereby Victorian Railways acts asCo-ordinating Contractor for Carriers. The suggestionbeing that Western Australian Government should dealdirect with Ordnance
Production Directorate throughW.A. Board of Area Management. vController of Liquidations to arrange for check andtransfer of all movable property in charge of A.F.V.Directorate.Chief Officer and Ir. F. T. Herrett to arrange
forAdministrative Staffs of A.F.V. Directorate in Sydneyand Melbourne to be available for transfer of so manyas may be required to the Small Craft ConstructionDirectorate. The staff not required by latter to betransferred to
the Iunitions Bloc for allocationelsewhere ‘Direct eneral of Iunitions.Qt
1' an ---/.- |3§":‘i 7 77.32925:Bfrhbet , 194$ -The See:-e ery,Deperhent etsbetinee ,AGHWI I0. 319/1943 - OOISOLIDATID PROORLIII OF IARMHRIAIB (LRIOURID PIGITIIO VEHICLES)Ilia reterenee to your eiunieetien of
1881Septier, 1945, Io. M 7919,} deelre to intern you canthe delay in reply u-lee: rm conelderetien of the miterby the Director-Gene:-e1 or lunitlene, who bee eddreeeed eoe—m1eet1nn to the Iinieter. I understand met
theDirector-Geuerel prepoeee to rm-nleh no with such interletienea I111 enable preparation or e In Oebinet Agendas inconformity with the Prime linieter letter of 29th Octoberto the Iinieher. ‘min, u will r-abet, bee releea
toIer Cabinet Agenda: 450/{$43.0?1' Y’ retery.54,-" st?/J‘. Jensen)
/,;1 / /\ \ Ii 1;. 1\/-I ¥ '-1’ ~m:;7-7|Q , 13:5; .. 4!.‘ bu5 .51.‘-"a. ;, ‘-,1\;_!i*-J-Q1 -<: :<»~;'.-_.-IL “" La-i$:”:'m="MUNFUONSSECRET/~/W ¢__?_\\r ~4 _ _\C)TELEPHONE: Y,c=~rm1\=?7 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA“'3-
‘U’ 3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE GQ~ORD~lNA'Fl6N.No _. _ 4 ' MELBOURNE, s.c.1. 7 MMORAMDUM for:15 OCT1943The Secretary,DEPARTMENT OF MUNITIONS.‘ A<:-anwm 1\1o.’s19[194s - CONSOLIDATED
PROGRAMNE OFL _ IIt is desired to refer to my memorandum N0.SS79l9of the 18th September, 1945, and previous correspondencerelative to War Cabinet Minute No. (2978) dated 13th July, 1945in accordance with
which your Department is to submit a reportas to the effects of the implementation of Defence Committeerecommendations regarding production of Armoured FightingVehicles in certain factories.In view of%he long period
which has elapsed sincethis report was asked for by Nar Cabinet, early advice wouldbe appreciated as to the present position of the matter.%@Qfor (F. G. Shedden)S,e c r e t a r y.I115+
4MUNFTION5A C- .§ G‘ *7 rmTELEPHONE. V’ 'CENTRAL 7185 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE COIQRB|‘N‘|§GN E C R MELBOURNE. s.c.1. ‘>MEMORANDUM for 1 -The
Secretary,Department of Munitions. ]\AGENDUM NO. 319/1943 - CONSOLIDATED PROGRAME OF WARMATERIALS (ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES)It is desired to refer to my memorandum N0. S.S.67l9_.,,_~' of
the 12th August, 1943, and previous correspondence relatingto the abovementioned Agendum.It will be recalled that in Minute No. (2978) it wasdirected that your Department was to submit,as soon as practicable,a report
as to the effects of the implementation of DefenceCommittee recommendations regarding the production of ArmouredFighting Vehicles, other than tanks, on the particularfactories concerned.Early advice would be
appreciated as to the presentposition of this matter.0@(L)4/O»/v~\.//,for S e 6 r e t a r y.A .
v K /- ' MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS. .7»¢6f MINUTE PAPER \H" 4"-'2? I/'“""9 °“' w= 15th September, 1945.-ro um. A. R. conm, B/A=/ArNrnm-|°N °p1I‘6CtOI' Of AOFIVI voun REF‘ Qg °UR RIF “com To Production.
SUBJECTRE-ORGANISATION OF DIRECTORATE OF AFV PRODUCTIONThank you for your memorandum of 15th Septemberadvising steps that you have taken to terminate the activitiesof A.F.V. production which are
not likely to be required whenthe decision of War Cabinet to cease production of AustralianCruiser Tanks becomes effective.Regarding sub-paragraph 1, Mr. Breen has beenadvised there are 184 members of your staff
surplus to immediaterequirements, and he is advising the Director-General of Manpowerto this effect.The action you have taken as set out in sub-paragraphs2 to 5 inclusive, is agreed to, but in regard to the projectsse arate
and distinct from the tank production programme numbered(ag to (k) in-your memorandum, it is desired that they befinalised as promptly as possible otherwise it will be necessaryto pass them on to another Department for
finalisation.I suggest that you let me have a report in one month'stime as to the progress made.[CH1/up "~Ȣ,v\/w/14}:Directorlgegeral of MunitionsCc. Messrs. Jensen andBrodribb(Continue on back starting at this edge)
.§L/“'3 fI Jmm Scptalbtr, 194:».asuommun roa -‘ma Saoratary,Doparhant 01' tho Arly,llilllm, 8.0.1.I daaira to intern you that in ocnaaquaaaa of lu-cabinat Ilinuta No. 2979, the Dix-actor-General of llunitiona iataking atapa to
tanainata than activitiaa of tha AraouradFighting Vahiolaa Diraotoraba which ax-a not likaly to beraqnix-ad vhan ma aaciaion of Iar Cabinat baconaa attaotiva.‘mun tha dataila to ha ratainod will ba mono only naoaaaaa-1to
maintain the cur:-ant 1-aquiraaanta of tha Amy. In ganaralthin will aaan that any reconditioning or altaraticn workcan ba undartakan at tha Chullora ‘tank Annaxa of tha lavBaux Ialaa Railaaya, or at tho Victorian Railway:
Iorkanopa.A matter which will raquira dirautiop will ba madiapoaal of products and aoaponanta mun havabaah aaquirador -ara in prooaaa of lamataatura, and your advica an thaaaaattara ia raquaatad. A auggaation of
ganaral applieatinnwhich aight ba aonaidarad ia -Tanka £31; cglatadProlzably ahould be can-iad through to ocnplatioa.3"" .a'a'¥i°.l .“1!‘L{“+-P-?-9“R1*?'9- - ~ - 1 -Problly it‘Iou1d“ba utu:-' to ea:-rykbou an-ougu socoqplatim
alao rathar_than aaata all which haa baaa dona- nag;;ga¢e!1aavzna_1::a1(z¢ya;_;ta;s 01' 1_§__aa ’-man ‘Qua i2\l“||u-adjicta mun dame: us uaadallaahara‘, 01?-"tor ‘rapiaeainant pa:-‘ta, to to m-qpoa andgippoaa,q_'a! be
baataivlntiga. V ' ‘ ~' '\ .::\.9...P1'e¢“= _ N \=§1%1'2¢,~1a»-M.n10 “fie 'aii!iaad"ar _0.'s.A: aa my ba in tna" laa\.advn1tagaiat"'iha"01anaaalt\\; ". ., _ ‘., n» = ,as 4.. amumimma ha 1-aguma in ;a»1.vi_g'ht‘6t ruxuzqruu--* V "
V ~,lark I . hlz‘Mlt tin‘ workaag _I|d aachiaa hqgra _aaaaaaary triaapl 100"lark"i!'l paan __aupaananw ialapprunuhly -100$“ aoapliset, atipt’ l_an nqaa=ar~ "‘_ ' ‘cm9ihzan' '0: {bx-*ahidt”il__aii¢!i 1; not ‘yd:1'il1!"¢pp1'CU-» ~
~ "~ ' ~ igai-mt t1\!‘a'sit¢‘"ara" 'aa§wri‘oQ mun1181» hpm hay -~15 triala,and liia having baan dona, tha aarvioaa at walva dz-artaaau
Q20 -.\ ‘um; wqa mvqzr peer: guns‘ ape amwqmra 0; anoint <3:-I§,:\mnuIllllllninqlilllallfll5- §1*" AV‘ f 3;1 *¥'T"nrnuuqpulanra-:unn.|IinI::::§:LIr]iiFEiiE?qi|‘lp:lEHI§-three, in Q1: Pilot Indus for £1114 trhll nth
MuscatIaIIlui§iIIIjh1n_*;% at; €hnt»w"€"*a _a_v, ‘_ _ . ' 5 lg “ * ~" _'*;-'-V ‘ kl-~urn: ‘I’ _‘" ~ " q 3 ax‘ :t&11 \:i;c_rv€&g’II;11_Mwn In" fa tut any magnu-:m'mm@ m"'1a '“*i‘?§*v~ - ~ &oq:!'£8 1'1-11 #1? 11' “ --1 "9 **‘
'»ii§T§5iigi:::s!2sE§§§ig!Illaib gggna; r§j§1;,, -;h I111Illlllilh _ igigééiii 'u~f: = '~g. ‘om I ’T ’ ‘kJ"\e}‘.' ‘ ua‘?"*"**¢***Y uun91ia||u'l:¢ln1i*~- " ~'$*»» . I f*'w.°g:x2>h;0°¢§u::Q]'l'ag’}.:‘:g§¢§l'.¢;xm2 us pa 01]" igpytvp _u'-'sw pom}
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 /#150?-' 7. ;g pr L;%0Gill lipibtn 1,48.RQJQIQ IlII‘Qg ‘lilo; ‘Quinn,IJJ. loam 0!‘ Ann lungnnont,6.7.0. Io: 78%min. 5-1-1-Dar Ir. hnio,MIX DIAHIIBI XI $11!!!! I0! BB! OI IE1!- __Katha name atmnchria Ilunopened your iota: to
tunic: and £1" oouuitolIr. Janna and In God lb your auntie: thatthntnakdnttnuunp iniydaqdauidbounpioyolouurgent shipbuilding and othnr duip lurk.At tho pruont tin utter: ofdotign aoiitiatiul viii rt III tankan not suit Mviudam¢
K§:E:$25:5s=-6;’;§&;E.,:3i§1'aésggiggiII point. I‘ innon than iihly, haunt, no ducal forpndtctiua 0! Int III tank 0 that thanahonidlnitlilibcaou upyriaolefumodification Quint.lr. MAJ. hiker, Chin! of Dani , AJJ. Difhioatawill molt
notably be proceeding in oy tomorrow night an‘hubauintmotoliylx-.0o4atoc enyeuinoomaticawith lbs olpioylcnt at luttacu at pruoat Qlllil on inknib. he main question at drattlaa within tho.AJJ.Dinnntq bu been under cu-om}.
ruin naatly, and thepouihiiitiu an that only can druttnnu viii be n ind torcnia in Brian? on AJ-Y. Ink and that tho AJJ. grocoratnvii]. be able ta roiuu for shipbuilding uni uur ortnntmenu, may autumn at prount ungagod in
nut?“Igz§253Ir. to lolbounu at my and 5"-¢ ruck.Ian-s linen:-017,- (J. L. Joanna)00. loan. Juan nu: cu;iottor cal n aopy or this 17 baton
1*?-‘F \=R ‘J _ I —— _ \ _ ,__._.., ,'2' '_ar~- -x .' >- -' ~"J x£4-.-V ' 1'I|.s|-€p0|l| _‘< ‘I mc ADDFE5!x AREAMAN svnuzv .,"Q - _.. < 5! -__ .4 . . oxgao. 1: cc svnnzv . #14‘\ ‘IAM23disit A, .‘ COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA.MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS.Aunzss ALL cowmumcnnons to N_5_w4 BOARD OF MANAGEMEN1-_THE SECRETARY B. M. iiwunsw, svnmzv. l11a-131 1~,\,='r1.+:um\cu ~"1‘M-ETm In-
|.v\i§§U§'¥Y4o.%hSmmwmw,1%3.Essington Lewis, dsq.,Direotor—General of Munitions,Ministrv of Munitions,85, Villiem Street,MELBOURNE.Deer Mr. Lewis,TMWIMmFwmIUwSM'miBEONSHIPBUILDING AND SIMILAR
VOHKMr. Munro, Sunervisine Engineer, A.F.V. Division,informs we thet the Pilot Jodel Mark III Tank is to be sent toMelbourne t the end of this week incorporating designs asthey now stand. AThere are manv matters of
desien modificationwhich the Directorate and the Board's eteff feel mav have tobe ettended to before the tank goes into nroduotion. ixemnlesare the wdter—proofing of the cunola doors, turret look,emergency door end
hinwe to overcome rossible bullet srlash, etc.I am most enxious to use the tank dreftsmen atrresent in Svdney on urgent shinbuildinn and other design work.It seems to me thet any further modification of designs of theMark
III Tank will have to be done in Melbourne in future asthe tank will be at Jonageete, end the nature of eny furtherchanees to be mede will denend unon reouests mrde bv the nrmvAuthorities as e result of these triels.I
understand that there are a number of Dreftsmenat Fishermen'e Bend employed on Jerk IV Tent design end if thesedraftsmen oould be used for any further emendment of Mark IIIdesiens, then the men in Sydney would be
available for ureentShipbuilding desiqn end other important work.Mr. Munro has discussed the matter with hr. Perrierwho indicated thet, in his opinion, it would be desirable todo future Work in Melbourne, end thet the Mark
IV dreftsmen couldbe used for this work.I would be glad of your eesistance in this matter.Yours sincerely, -I%W»-~. . u . / .o.c. Director, A.W.V. rroduction. (Chairman)S‘;
1~"f~¢ 4L.M om '5,”? umnonej 1" ‘ieumlc moans; "AREAMAN." svnusv -|7,.-7| ....(Km. cox No. noc_ snmsv. I (4,-\'-av,J), cfCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.NHTRY OF MUNHIONXALL comaunncmons snouw n , \
,.\5oARD OF AREA MANAGEMENT-I’Q_/ 1;an-5%"IBM" '0 ='¥ L iE SSCIEYARY ‘ I yM’ * - K5, 3,H . . ‘ii; ‘Q UA ~...~_-,_ Q. . —['/1 ‘ >1"; U4 5".IN nmv ouori n-. \» ,_ P/J ~ H3-l3| CASTILEREAGH STREEI, 5Y|)N§Y__ /f2l
‘K!‘"/\?@.;“ cw CV!l.'[EMOR.A1\I]JUM FOR: ‘ V {Q 151; september, 1945.‘ ‘, vi \ ,The Director—General of Muni \ons,Ministry of Munitions, , _85, William Street, .MELBOURNE. S E C R E TI thank you for your memorandum
of 26.8.1945, enclosingcopy of your communication to the Director of A.F.V} Productionof the same date. V .Broadly speaking, I think it would be correct to statethat your desires have been anticipated by the Board of
AreaManagement as a result of preliminary discussions betweenyourself and Mr. Jensen on the one hand, and myself and membersof the Board on the other.Workshop staffs employed by tank contractors have
beenentirely transferred to other major munitions work of highpriority, with the exception of Uoote & Jorgensen Ltd. In thecase of this firm, the cruiser tank annexe has already commencedproduction on the machining of
components for Howard AutoCultivators engines, winches and-windlasses for the ShipbuildingBoard, Pilot Model logaing winch for Allied works Council,Machine Gun carrier spares, etc., but these new works have not
yetabsorbed the full manpower available at the annexe. As a temporaryexpedient arrangements are being made for automotive spare partsand other jobs which are behindhand in Uoote & J0rgensen's ownworkshops; to be
suuplemented by production in the annexe. Withinthe next month, however, it is hoped that the annexe manpowerwill be-fully employed on direct orders from the Board of AreaManagement '0’J/J The cruiser tank annexe at
Sonnerdale Pty. Ltd. is wellN¢}3§ into production on 00mnOnentS for the D.H. 98 project, and alsoWj F spa es for the Department of Aircraft Production, together withwk ,f%"e§‘§%as ous miscellaneous mobs for the
Locomotive Rolling Stock,dio & Signals and other Divisions of the Board's activities,nd this work has almost completely absorbed the manpoweravailable at the annexe. As-new work is forthcoming steps willbe taken to
arrange for additional manpower to utilise thecruiser tank annexe machine tool capacity to the utmost., .Discussions have been held with Mr. F.T. Merrett of the FactoryEquipment Section with regard to the assistance these
annexescan give in connection with the manufacture of earth movingequipment for the Allied Works Council, and it is confidentlyhoped that.considerable assistance can be given in this '.direction by the Board of Area
Management.Arrangements have been made for close liaison betweenthe Board of Ares Management and the Shipbuilding Board, so thatcruiser tank capacity will be available for the supply of pumps,compressors, valves,
anchors and many miscellaneous fittingsrequired for the Shipbuilding Board for the equipping of smallships. Similarly, the cruiser tank contractors have.alreadycommenced production for the supply of winches, clutches
andother equipment required by the American Army Authorities. ‘7 _\ _]
“"2 ._..I‘iv ~-,_. Q in handling new projects ,p1:-iority, such as sma1_1 shipsfor the shipbuilding Bo9@i§;,;,r;moving equipment, &HTl0ultUT&1w"' ucc' uwsr " ‘ *‘~* I “V' .fe";ea<w»~|:c vnnsczr .nam*--4 an:-:~.-. 1'” ‘.=‘rs:-
mouzwjan j ‘two‘ :0!" '»'"*'"'— 5 »4nI‘rw.-e Y-+ - r_~» ~ ---is,_. 3 _we -17- ~—l—~---I'WI$i_" - — -_<D!- \--l 7-{is-.' You will observe from the above cQmpps_that theBoard of Area Management is following the polidy oi}
lacingnew work of high priority with Armoured Fighting veg;§ie$,,-contractors who have tradesmen and administrativQ;s;afg,alr§ajyjavailable, rather than to break up these organisationsYnd~¥*‘dissipate the machine tools
and manpower, and I am-pleased&§@@*,state that the change-over is being effected smoothly, =5 4 L*.;The making available of tank production capacity for*other projects has enabled the Board of Area Management to
hwiden its scope in assisting the American Army Authorities, theAllied Works Council, the Contracts Board of the Supply .Department, etc. in expediting production, and has also enabledthe Board of Area Management to
augment production in the caseof'such projects as internal combustion-engines, agriculturalmachinery, etc. ’ The Supervising Engineer of the A.F.V.Division has made the necessary adjustments to his staff totake care of
these activities.In regard to the third paragraph of your memorandum -to the Director of A.F.V. Production, you will appreciate thata definite decision in regard to partially completed tankswould have a material effect upon
the Board's plans. = I attachstatement prepared by the Supervising Engineer, A.F.V. Division,which attempts to assess the degree of progress made in regardto completion of Mark III tanks. You will see from thisstatement
that approximately half of the workman and machinehours necessary to complete l0O Mark III tanks have already beencompleted; Tooling is approximately 100% completed, exceptfor those components for which the
design is not yet froqen.As against this, however, there are many matters of design whichwould have to be finalised and which wuld have to-be approvedby Army users‘ trials before tank production and assembly couldbe
reecommenced. A list of outstanding design and experimentalwork to be completed is attached.The Supervising Engineer of the A.F.V. Division of theBoard has consulted the desien staff employed in Sydney and‘considers
that it would require the services of twelve (12) first-class design draftsmen for a period of from two to three monthsto complete the drawings. Even this estimate is based uponthe assumption that quick-decisions can be
obtained from the ArmyAuthorities as to their requirements and that these requirementswill not be varied while the designs are being prepared. It isunderstood that the Army Authorities would not be prepared tofreeze the
design until from three to six Pilot Eodel tankshave been designed, assembled and submitted to the Army forusers' trials with armoured divisions in the field. On theseassumptions therefore, it would not be possible.to
completeany Mark III tanks other than Pilot Models_until, at least,six months from the present date. It might be noted thatthe users' trials of the mark I tank were carried out approxi-mately in February, l945, but the Board of
Area Management hasnot yet received definite instructions to proceed with themodifications of Mark I tanks to satisfy Army requirements.If the period between’users' trials of Mark III tanks and thereceipt of final instructions
is to be comparable with theperiod of time evnerienced on Mark I tanks, then the estimateof sin months‘would have to be extended to, at least, nine monthuyiw Although it may seem wasteful to_refrein,fromy,
_,§,,completing a certain number of Mark ILI?tankeviH?vic$d®fr‘:;,””thsnamount of work already completed, the amount oiidgslwprkjen the part of draftsmen, senior officerswuahmmnnuuadand the Directorate, managements
§f,the various ccntracgors endkey tradesmen employed by the,v r q s c "rec 5,, s_Q.such magnitude sen?” 1%; m'e‘Ht1o?%\€eg€id§:‘the' §:2’En%h%"d~r'f t Kdivrting ‘GIZBUQQPQIB ME is! £9 §°2§..L9i' 9 1°11 °
anproduction when the Board has urgent need cg their assistance”h{l.€eL7*_-,.,. £1-'4I*.".*'.AS -I1
-5_ (-machinery, Aircraft Production, etc. In particular, I wouldstress that the Shipbuilding Board work is hamstrung by thelack of capable draftsmen and it ismost imperative that thesedraftsmen should be employed, firstly,
upon finalisation ofShipbuilding Board designs rather than upon finalisation orMark III tank designs.I appreciate that the policy to be followed-in regardto completion of Mark III tanks is dependent upon decisionof the Army
Authorities, but I wish to emphasise thatthere is a considerable amount of design and experimentalwork necessary before any Mark III tanks can be completedto the Army Authorities satisfaction. It must be rememberedthat
now that the Army Authorities have apparently an amplesupply of American tanks, the tendency is to demand perfectionin any Australian production, leading to continual delay inthe freezing of the design of the Australian
tank.I presume that the modification of Mark I tanks tolatest Anmy requirements’is still to proceed. This workshould not make much cell upon”hapacity_or personnel employedwith A.F;V. contractors, other than the
rinq.assemb1y shop _and the Board's engineering stair. The Board feels thatthis work could be carried out without hampering undulynew preject Such as Shipbuilding, Aircraft, earth movingequipment, etc. i 'In regard to
liquidation of A.F.V; assets, I amnleased1to report that the organisation and records of theA.F.V. Division of the Board are in such condition that Mr.J.C. Westhoven's requirements can be readily and smoothly met.3
(Chairman) ‘c.o. Mr. J.K. Jensen.\
' I 7 ‘D ‘~ -= TI-IE FOLLOWING ARE m,1mrmrm~Irs WHICH MUST BE couetrrma 'X" . Ta‘EFo1Tg 4. I cm co n-0 rnowcwh. ~ . 1' __ _ V‘ , 7 .Emer eno Door_to be redesigned with observation port deleted.MIIG Eteel E t 1 h
ll t knser n u o ta e emergency door to be drawn.Hinge for emergency door to be redesigned.Method of hinging entry door as suggested by Railways to be 'investigated, and adopted if possible.Joplin pump and plunger for
lifting entry door to be drawn. _Some method or staying entry door to be designed.‘ Accessories drive and Compressor to be mounted on one plate-to give better adjustment to driving chain.Fan mountin in radiator to be
investigated. ‘ With presentmounting tEe contractors cannot guarantee the fan spindles to‘ be parallel.Engine water cooling s¥stem, to be completely redesigned tod spense w th rubber e bows.Five way cock to be deleted,
which means a redesign of the fuelP P H8- 'Graviner system, or substitute, to be drawn. _ Umounting on power unit to be redesigned.TachometerCover plate on Cadillac Oil pump to be stiffened.Petrol gauge and dip stick
to go on to fuel tank.Battery Boxes to be repositioned to clear power unit and fuel tankDrain plug to be provided in oil tank. 'Drain plug to be provided in floor plate sump.Air cleaner box to be amended to clear air cleaner.Air
cleaner pipes to be redrawn according to Railways sketch.Rear cover doors to be redesigned to make water proof._ Cunola door to be made waterproof. ‘Gupola brake to be redesigned.to be redesignedTurret lock .Solinoid
brake to be_designed. ~Contact brush, turret controller to be redesigned. ’hleotric firing mechanism to be designed.6 and 12 Volt Switches to be‘designed.The electric wiring connected with the above.items to be
revised.Servo operating mechanism for "Lipe" clutch to be tinalised.Tapping pad drawings to be revised. k i 'All assembl dr wi s to be revised particularly in respect to~generaI stowage. ' ' -In addition‘to the above items, it
would take a good man about_ tK§35'W5§EF to-clean up-all the small amendments which are out-. standing. ’Ks an example, we must arrange suitable clips on allflexible piping. - .__-‘ 1u | . . .
T _Ia;the position1020hproductiononly and that no accoThe. [email protected]¢1¥'*m-' MEMORANDUM TO: Ql ,:__._-nThe following is a report setting out approximatelywith regard to manufacture of the tank.This report has been
based on --The number of items completed as atthe 6th August.The recent stocktaking showing thenumber of partly finished componenés.Estimated manpower required by each X3contractor in order to produce at*theIt is
important to note that the figures deal with' 4_rate of 5 tank sets per week. ,4yun 'Lt has been taken of tooling up.1A____5_-O Z-0.Assembly mp.G‘5 W‘OD10OU__q___-_ercentage of work Weightcom leted forT :55 55 1
[U5 Manpowe|tHk5q tnksJuU<s%.basisWeighted percentageof work com leted-I51 25 1 58 I55cnksi. tanks‘,tnksi tnksIP'Nl4 F'F*Gl M EH4 54 I4F*O\C)N) h'U1U\@ P'GCO GNU ¢)NGear BoxFront AxleClutchEngine
Assy.Fuel & OilTank AssyRadiator AssySuspensionTrack Tensioning GearTrackTl'%Tuiret DriveTurret Basket8tC0HullAccess.DriveFinal Assy.HHH www ‘OOO000HH H w Tmm memoom ommoMHPH uwm mwmmu0 O0
800O OO ooo omool ?.._ F ___100 so vs; 400; as99 80 70! 792] "rssolso;II-J,100 as 100 Q '795 '75 svo 485 80vo, 2090 so so;85:I201918O0 95 30O0O0OO60OO0095 101010181O90.25! 10CGU1508040
1570:20%I50%O0 8080851020§Hr---.-_-_.-H© 0om 0,__-~_____Fmwww000 oP’C)C)C10000J'¢)CUICW 5 N 7-mg10 802': ,.--._--___.-.-_...-.-----_-_-__._-___-_.-Lmomoo526445U1C)C161628SeemO
C)C>UHwmmmwmoc-_-n5005605056014012025590257060501408010Weighted Percentagework completed.PF’-1;-UP‘ WN_-ii-uNbiCH[__l_s--$9"JU3U1_-€§_T_C)\iO*§§_ WC)--..-.-_-_U~lLNO3(0. H. mmmo) -sure
FI'TGIN_E_Eg,A F‘ v.SUPERVL__;A J‘ _, ,lst September,l945.,r-I
W /2) 'f 7“/C’ 5%Cop? 4(F (Z ~ 4th Septmber, 1943- QBAI'§g._)Q" § ZQERThe Chairman,N.S.W. Board of Area Management,r;’YDH EY. N . S. W. SECRETThank you for your secret memorandum of lst
September,outlining the arrangements made by your Board in copnectionwith the decisiou to cease production of tanks in Australia.I note you have sent a copy of your memorandum to Mr.Jensenwith whom I have
discussed tne matter and he will be writingto the Deuartment of Defence shortly confirming the arrange-ments you have made in regard to this matter.Your presumption that the modification of Mark I Tanksto latest Army
requirements is still to proceed is quitecorrect.* Director-General of Munitions-c.c. Hr.Jenson.
. IINIBTRY OP HUNITIONS¢COPY Board of Area Management,113-51 Castlereagh 3t.SYDNEY.lat September, 1945.!£!QB£!2H!_EDEThe Director—Genera1 of Munitions,Ministry of Munitions,85 William
Street,MELBOUEQE. §§C§ETI thank you for your memorandum of 26.8.1943, enclosingcopy of your communication to the Director of A.F.V. Productionof the same date.Broadly speaking, I think it would be correct to
statethat your desires have been anticipated by the Board of AreaManagement as a result of preliminary discussions betweenyourself and Mr. Jensen on the one hand, and myself and membersof the Board on the
other.Workshop staffs employed by tank contractors have beenentirely transferred to other major munitions work of high prioritywith the exception of Coote & Jorgensen Ltd. In the case of thisfirm, the cruiser tank annexe
has already commenced production onthe machining of components for Howard Auto Cultivators engines,winches and windlasses for the bhipbuilding Board, Pilot Modellogging winch for Allied Works Council, Machine Gun
carrier spares,etc. but these new works have not yet absorbed the full manpoweravailable for the annexe. As a temporary expedient arrangementsare being made for automotive spare parts and other jobs which
arebehindhand in.Coote & Jorgensen's own workshops, to be supplenntedby production in the annexe. Within the next month however, itis hoped that the annexe manpower will be fully employed on directorders from the
Board of Area Management.The cruiser tank annexe at Sonnerdale Pty. Ltd. is wellinto production on components for the D.H. 98 project, and alsospares for the Department of Aircraft Production, together withvarious
miscellaneous Jobs for the Locomotive Rolling Stock,Radio & Signals and other Divisions of the Board's activities,and this work has almost completely absorbed the manpoweravailable at the annexe. As new work is
forthcoming steps willbe taken to arrange for additional manpower to utilise thecruiser tank annexe machine tool capacity to the utmost.Discussions have been held with Mr. F.T. Merrett of the FactoryEquipment Section with
regard to the assistance these annexescan give in connection with the manufacture of earth movingequipment for the Allied Works Council, and it is confidentlyhoped that thnsiderable assistance can be given in this
directionby the Board of Area Management.Arrangements have been made for close liaison between theBoard of Area Management and the Shipbuilding Board, so thatcruiser tank capacity will be available for the supply of
pumps,compressors, valves anchors and many miscellaneous fittingsrequired for the Shipbuilding Board for the equipping of smallships. 5imilarly, the cruiser tank contractors have alreadycommenced production for the
supply of winches, clutches and ,other equipment required by the American Army Authorities.machinery
-2- 6* You will observe n-om the above comments that the Boardof Area Management is following the policy of placing new work ofhigh priority with Armoured Fighting Iehicles contractors who havetradesmen and
administrative staff already available, rather thanto break up these organisations and dissipate the machine tools andmanpower, and I am pleased to state that the change-over is beingeffected smoothly.The making
available of tank production capacity for otherprojects has enabled the Board of Area Management to widen its scopein assisting the American Army Authorities, the Allied Works Council,the Contracts Board of the Supply
Department, etc. in expeditingproduction, and has also enabled the Board of Area Management toaugment production in the case of such projects as internal combustionengines, agricultural machinery, etc. Ihe Supervising
Engineer ofthe A.F.V. Division has made the necessary adjustments to his staffto take care of these activities.In regard to the third paragraph of your memorandum to theDirector of A.F.V. Production, you will appreciate that
a definitedecision in regard to partially completed tanks would have a materialeffect upon the Board's plans. I attach statement prepared by theSupervising Engineer, A.F.V. Division which attempts to assess thedegree of
progress made in regard to completion of Mark III tanks.You will see from this statement that approximately half of theworkmen and machine hours necessary to complete 100 Mark III tankshave already been completed.
Tooling is approximately 100% completed,except for those components for which the design is not yet frozen.As against this, however, there are many matters of design whichwould have to be finalised and which would
have to be approved byArmy users‘ trials before tank production and assembly could bere-commenced. A list of outstanding design and experimental workto be completed is attached.The Supervising Engineer of the A.F.V.
Division of theBoard has consulted the design staff employed in Sydney and considersthat it would require the services of twelve (18) first-class designdraftsmen for a period of from two to three months to complete
thedrawings. Ivan this estimate is based upon the assumption thatquick decisions can be obtained from the Army Authorities as to theirrequirements and that these requirements will not be varied while thedesigns are being
prepared. It is understood that the Army Authoritiewould not be prepared to freeze the design until from three to sixPilot Model tanks have been designed, assembled and submitted to theArmy for users' trials with armoured
divisions in the field. Onthese assumptions therefore, it would not be possible to complete anyMark III tanks other than Pilot Models until, at least, six monthsfrom the present date. It might be noted that the users‘ trials ofthe
Mark I tank were carried out approximately in February, 1943, butthe Board of Area Management has not yet received definite instructionto proceed with the modifications of Mark I tanks to satisfy Armyrequirements. If the
period between users' trials of Mark III tanksand the receipt of final instructions is to be comparable with theperiod of time experienced on Mark I tanks, then the estimate of sixmonths would have to be extended to, at least,
nine months.Although it may seem wasteful to refrain from completing acertain number of Mark III tanks in view of the amount of work alreadycompleted, the amount of additional work on the part of draftsmen,senior officers
of the Board and the Directorate, managements of thevarious contractors and key tradesmen employed by the variouscontractors, is of such magnitude as to lead me to question the wisdomof diverting the energies of such
officers to completion of tankproduction when the Board has urgent need of their assistance inhandling new £roJects of high priority, such as small ships for theShipbuilding oard, earth moving equipment agricultural
machinery,Aircraft production, etc. In particular l would stress that the$hipbuilding Board work is hamstrung by the lack of capable draftsmenand it is most imperative that these draftsmen should be employed,firstly, upon
finalisation of Shipbuilding Board designs rather thanupon finalisation of Mark III tank designs.
M_ 3,-I appreciate that the policy to be follned in regard tocompletion of lark III tanks is dependent upon decisionof the Army Authorities but I wish to emphasise that there isa considerable amount of design and
experimental work necessarybefore any Hark III tanks can be completed to the Army authoritiessatisfaction. It must be remembered that now that the Armyauthorities have apparently an ample supply of Americantanks, the
tendency is to demand perfection in any Australianproduction, leading to continual delay in the freezing of thedesign of the Australian tank-I presume that the modification of Hark I tanks to latestArmy requirements is still to
proceed. This work should not makemuch call upon capacity or personnel employed with A.F.V.contractors, other than the final assembly shop and the Board'sengineering staff. The Board feels that this work could
becarried out without hampering unduly new projects such asShipbuilding, Aircraft, earth moving equipment, etc.In regard to liquidation of A.F.V. assets, I am pleasedto report that the organisation and records of the
A.F.V.Division of the Board are in such condition that Mr. J.C.Westhoven!requirements can be readily and smoothly met.Sgdo Roi OAQMASSIEICHAIRMAN.E.C.Mr.Jensen.
ms FOLLOWING ARE mnznusurs wmca mus; BE coupnmnn < g%e;ggncy Dgof to be redesigned with observation port deleted. Mildee nsert n hull to take emergency door to be drawn. Hinge foremergency door to be
redesigned.Method of hinging entry door as suggested by Railways to beinvestigated, and adopted if possible.Joplin pump and plunger for lifting entry door to be drawn.Some method of staying entry door to be
designed.Accessories drive and Cggpresggr to be mounted on one plate to giveto give better adiustment to driving chain.Fan mounting in radiator to be investigated. With present mounting thecontractors cannot guarantee
the fan spindles to be parallel.§%ging_g3§§; cooling sggtgg, to be completely redesigned to dispensew th rubber elbows.Elle wgy cggg to pg Qgletgg, which means a redesign of the fuel pipingGgggineg gzsteg, or
substitute, to be drawn.Igghgmeter mounting on power unit to be redesigned.Cove; plate on Cadillac Oil pump to be stiffened.Pgtrgl gauge and dip stick to go on to fuel tank.Battery Boxes to be repoxitioned to clear power
unit and fuel tank.Qraig plug to be provided in oil tank.Drain plug to be provided in floor plate sump.Air cleaner box to be amend to clear air cleaner.51; clegger pipes to be redrawn according to Railways sketch.Rggg govgr
goorg to be redesigned to make water proof.Qupolg dogr to be made waterproofQgpg1§_b§§§g to be redesigned.Igrret lock to be redesigned.§9liggi§ brake to be designed.Contact brush, turret controller to be
redesigned.Electric firing mgggggism to be designed.6 and l2 Volt Switches to be designed.1Qg_glgg§;ig_1;;iQg connected with the above items to be revised.servg gperating geghgnigm for "Lipe" clutch to be
finalised.Zapping pad Qggwiggs to be revised. dAll agggmbiy Qggwiggs to be revised particularly in respect to generalI dd to the above items, it would take a good man eboutstgggge.Q 1 ignwee s o c can up all the small
amendments which are outstanding. As ane;ample, we must arrange suitable clips on all flexible piping.
7 ,/* QEIQRANQQ! IQ:The Chairman-The following is a report setting out approximatelythe position with regard to manufacture of the tank.1~2i3.with production only and that no account has been taken of tooling up.This
report has been based on -~The number of items completed as at 6th August.The recent stocktaking showing the number ofpartly finished components.Estimated manpower required by each contractorin order to produce
at the rate of 5 tank setsper week.It is important to note that the figures dealNo. Percentage of work Weight Weighted percentage ofAssembly. comp m e on ;_ o k co‘ T6 2% 50 I00 1 M' ' T 2 50 £00anp O 0e e 1
‘1w**I_!§g§¢ _§nE§< toast taker baaia] Enkle tnkl ~§n£§§Q§Gear BosFront axleClutchEngine Assy-Fuel & OilTank Assy 12Radiator Assy. 15Suspension ‘2lTrack Tension-ing GearTrackTurretIurret DriveTurret BasketB
6HullAccess.Dr1veFinal lazy. t129126100991009510010010035 10016 10015 1001 6012 10020 10016 101 2090957580959010010010085509010095l08080657580B085380809595508040on--0:»400792100570vsvososo
V200I 200500UH-‘l\')l-' OH-'i—'l-‘ DIM!!!7060asso 10025 100\ 70 10020
180100200101005070802seoveovs45019018030010010085150902009550520640654501601602859550‘801208161550056050360140120255902570605014080l0Weighted Percentage ofwork completed.41 5,4525,215
2,7652,2908480 67_ J56(C.H.MUNEO)S§P§gV;§IgG §§G;NE§§, 5,§;V.lst September, 1945.
l.u VJQ * ’ _ Iv Inmmwnl!- _" Exit‘TELIORAPHIC Aonaxsm AIIIAMAN," nvnnzv. _‘ -L ¢".~;_:.'-2 .-.}-f 1/rune. pox nu. ncc. svmazv. "‘<‘.l_,".4f,-;_,~,1_',;’ .""'4’ * 94!:COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.MINISTRY OF
MUNITIONS,, BOARD OF AREA MANAGEMENTALL CQMM\lN\GATlONl IHQUUI ll LD|N°_ADDRLIIIDTO 7~n-as SECRETARY. \ 5 1- FIFLI Quin! 1.». ’ '_llM1I twrmggmu null.‘ svnuzy.iigwt 100 v?' >1?-V rand October,
ls»/m. >'£,\~-. ~95Directw"-aneral, ‘:1 ’ _¥iT-9 “>5 ' ,_{i,ni,°~*.r\r W" iiunitionlz, _ F35, 'H71*“r" '3-*,"°°*3,1.1 ELT~3OUR1"-I » ‘ ~Q'“."~:=/inszton L=zr:is , ?sq.'.IQ!‘n~~»~ ‘Iv. Lr=;~-'i§t,I hwe f‘m"» ~r“<'nr.w\.-"IP91! ent vow"
latte?‘ Ofthc Rth °,ra*\1*/er"-hP"r,: \-with which 11] enclosed r'|em0rHnd\1mof your Mmclusicns rémarriins future of‘ .;rmo1.\x*ed.Fihtinw Ve1;iclr=,s ?vr\¢*v-cti "rm? disnosl of j*Pnpertvand St'~iI"f'. 'These fa re, of courlw
irwelyO.’Y-¢=,1~+,~ to the *m'~oint‘.ent n1" ;.ir. &.Y=.-rrett '1<3 Director>-,5of ‘Small (Jrqft Gnst Fttinn, nd I "'51" rwmmunicte Withéyou furtlwr whwn I hgwve had "n !‘~_'f\nYZ't11~’\*T_*.’,V of discllssrlgrI- ‘LT. "'it‘n “F”.
‘f@,“1"'>.tt.§‘ Y0u1".'_‘ .=»1>n'<3@1"=\1y, \' , A (Chf:i:'"1"~n)
31,--._————-_--4 - —~.-.' (~ p‘-/1'3/350th 8eptnber,’l943-ReJeAe mill‘ ‘$Qe)Chairman,I.B.W. Board of Area Ianegenent,' ' N.SeII¢Dear Ir. Iassic,After very full consideration of allthe possibilities, I an forwarding herewith
amemorandum of my conclusions regarding the future ofArmoured Fighting Vehicle Production and tho disposalof the property and staff. It should be read inconjunction with a nenorandun I an sending £ou
separatelyregarding the new Gnall Craft Construction irectorate.I would like you to knot that in arrivingat these decisions I have bedn very much influenced bythe financial position as disclosed in the Budget
Speechyesterday, Actually the total amount request bythe Departnents was very much greater than the totalstated by the Treasurer. You will be hearing more aboutthat from Ir. Jensen but you will know from this thatthe
pruning knife is to be applied heavily if the expenditureis to be kept within the Budget total-Ious sincerely,the.
/Dee: Mr. Masie, 74 ' g \! Artur very mu Oonaiderayion or all the poei lities, I am rorwarxlingherewith a memnrandum of my oonclueiona regardi he future or Armomred FightingVehicle 1"rod.uotion and the disposal of the pr
arty and staff. It 1:8should be read in conjunction mt sending you separately regardingthe new small Graft Construction Di:-eo-to ate.I would like you to lmow thatfn arriving at these decisions I have been verym4uh
influence! by the financial )‘sition as disclosed in the Budget Speech yesterday. tAotu.a1Jy the Elli total amoum:/requested by the oepartmerrts was very much greater/,than the total stated by the Treasurer. You will be
hearing more about thatfrom 1"'cr. Jensen, but 11:11:: you will know f1-on this that the pruning lmife is toY on: 1.be = pplied heavily it the expendituire is to be kept within the Budget 11 BYours s inoereligecmgenr5,-.-<qE
~\_4..
. '7 '__._..._._~T— 1 ' ' M’ "if "" ' ~.,.~ - . .,,;_.-_:, ,Y ‘ ‘ ' '" .1 \ ‘ 1., H_P I.l‘- 2 I »1 ‘ \ $*$" éIf/.‘?'.i' ~ _ ~ ~ ' V >,7 _ \ V‘ _»‘ . aTX.1.n. ‘ -M; - . v-w rw 1w=1§i? mm an um non via ma nu nub hunt-V Po mwnz an mwnmo ;n '60
pa pm ntsvri 4:5; T _, 1""( ‘~“ " _ aw wfwvt P1 rim mu Mn: M lnw-1'11! mu“ -A we nvhulomlmu. ll I - __ ¢,. ubmny i$¢'1~oIan 'q:n]'9|q 1-;r gnu }}§__~-. _ ' I ~ 5 4° plum" cm» , "J-I-B7113 is mil qoétlhwi\ W "*“‘€i‘;‘ I » n ‘
¢wuI6=m‘= ' L Q‘ AW" L," #1" wvwwr ii no .1> mm we nmm R 5;‘Q .-pluaqzgy I ~ E _| oz ml oonoraion zobzqq pa pzgqa-.0, 9;i ",1 V‘ Vt-Flt oonuqczulzovpg Iii gpa bow; nu‘ f1L V. ,, Q . _I . l M’ g lg: ‘ ~ ‘A " " - e\¥- ‘Q. » ‘ -
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 --.~_b.(— Y‘. _W - ~ ~»_-.—__.=_ qr-,— —_‘i~.-= — _ _. ,. _% .4 /H/f *J,I.E1'III\J71x’ \/'59% Ilbll, I-Ml;&B#mum: or on-v. vmwma » 2%5%?HgrqnrdlnglioI£;t\t:qIol1c10‘p::;cunn,- Anlnululma, :1-Qa) M-Iilibltitllltjliiiliilcantata‘
vltluhboihnslurunlhizhlnan;I0ea‘$00In\iC.8(b),!auunannlnuu|uanunuu;¢|lnnaaum1nhnilnnrahhbollnlqllhtntihn3.» If haiku(0) anmmuanoenlnclnanl ana'=:=s:.@.:r.~.....*"-.1... -
*~toioguhlbnlgltnIlnllallactnctianlllronidarlhatrnlntahtratiam=5-§:*=§;‘giizéiéfiaiaAwash Prohna lupulncnhMaui»:tillJuan“(6) !'rs|u¢0r\InnQ.
hnnalntnnnzaaotluunltlcilanlA:ncatohotnnutn:cdhItnaaniI2as:>Irthuna»Qtdnnahodulamllacloatotoounltdlt 08 hams and Illagl regarding:;t'U£ 0 maa Ida@1331. lo nqm. an ' Amm='».onnldln who“ca
ntnualgrxguanumgm‘i\¢lf'10\%:::lll-I-Q:.Illhu|tnnt_IIatcu~nblIII»a11cnlIul—natnho=:‘dua1dlnnnzlhannultownutlallrnntuthoaehan, iuhhnddbaluqcuut.¢-¢~‘°*1’°~ Guutallut qua:.'”. Manual»J‘ U823ad hauuxdbuchnifanhnltun-
hnntnttnntrardhlntlcrinhunlthqalhqninnlan avullnnaianW(0)(8)(I)gi38=2-J ii1 iii gl1;§?i8>> ¢A;*YA"¥. %L ?#@~*~4-#*#¢IP*h-~v'W;_‘ :;_.~._.~4_»- W». g. ,-»_ ‘_ ' 1" _ _ ___ l__ , > _, ' , .__ ~., iI\1» and and pot: m‘-3».-, h .”
lulnnlglnnwopwwhbntlnaturnliultnrconal /‘./I
\/Q21/s"‘ K Ulit! loptolbor, 1068.IR. A. I» Nil,Director of ‘O'Q'O"emotion. 2MEE‘unk you tor your Insomnia ot 18th Captain:advising atop! that you Inn tnkol to inate the notlvltlooor AJ. . proatlol which no not 19:01 to be
roqurod nantho decision or In Gnblaot to can prozaotlon of Auatrollncm»: tutu buonu otrootivo.Ragn-ting nub-pang:-mph 1 Ir Iran In boonadviood an». m 104 mum or ' ism: nrplu to uuaau2-oqurpontl, at he 1: advising go
Dinner-General ot Iowanto th-18 022008.ho notion you have toknn no at out 1: no-ponguphlto 8 taluln 1| agrool to, but in regard to tho proiooto0 q-aizkgnd dilhmt tron the tut pfbliitil grog:-o aonborol(J to in your nnonnhn it to
antral that 7 be210111106 an prawn! as poo bio othunioo it will Io Mannyto you tbs on to another Doparhont for limitation.I mggoot that you lot no have o report in om month‘:time no to tho progrou ado.I NDlrutor-Gonn-:1 of
luutiouCo. loan. Joann andBrod:-lob
- "4 Mud TRY OF MUNITIONS A 9' /[5, , , //$1 ; V,/~ , J ‘uurs PAPER \ “__ V, ‘ V l _H //O,/V/. (EX DATE September 13th 1943/ _'r DIREC'I0R-(El*1ERAI.1 Q“ ./I’). A-n;u~r|on or ’/~,§_V_ \ _ ' vous as! oun REF. _,, Q ‘Y Y,
_go-W33 __ )_: p_ _ _ ___p __»gm=g13c;<e s_;)~'ii)USUBJECT;\- *2(M A33 axREi-0RGVAN;[SVA7TVI0N O1" DIRECTORATE OF AFV PROIHCTIONIn accordance with the direction contained in your memorandum
or26th August, it is desired to advise that I have taken such steps as are .necessary and practicable at the moment to terminate those activities ofthe Directorate of A.F.V. Production which are not likely to be requiredwhen
the decision oi‘ War Cabinet to cease production of Australian CruiserTanks becomes effective.1. The staff of the Directorate has been carefully analysed, and~ the Staff Superintendent has been advised of the names oi’
184_ ‘ members of the staff, who, are surplus to our immediate require-)‘ ; )3. at ments. During the next two months, it is anticipated that a/W " L, ~‘ farther considerable reduction of staff can be made., . .i‘ Ii 1,’ M/2.‘ , - All
overseas procurement activities have ceased, and action has" '->1 been taken to recall representatives of this Directorate in theAll manufacture and assembly of components of Australian CruiserI / "(M)/[J1 I United
Kingdom and the U.S.A.I\I ‘:1 3-th W,1; Tanks has ceased, with the exception of such parts as are required' ' to complete the two pilot models of the AC Mark III Tank and themodifications to AC Mark I. Some action in this
regard had beentaken by the Board of Area Management, Sydney, prior to the receiptof your letter of 26th August.4. A complete inventory oi’ buildings, plant and equipment, stocks ofraw materials, partially processed
materials, finished components,partially finished components and trade items provided for theAustralian Tank Production. Programme is now being carried out bythis Directorate and the various Boards of Area
Management, inaccordance with principles established at a recent conference withMr. J'.C. Westhoven (Controller of Liquidation), Colonel F.G. Thorpe(Director of Machine Tools and Gauges), Mr. H.C. Green (Controllerof
Materials) and representatives of the Department oi’ the Army.When this inventory is complete, recommendations will be made for thedisposal of materials and components by transfer to other projectsor return to the
U.S.A.Close contact is being maintained with the Directorate of MachineTools and Gauges and the Directorate of Materials Supply in regardto the items over which they exercise control.5. On September 6th, we received
from the Department of Army the consoli-dated list of amendments and modifications required to be made to the 'AC Mark I Tanks. These lists are now being studied by ourP duction Division with a view to expediting the
completion of these, ifications at the Chullora Annexe. Until this analysis is com-pleted, it will not be possible to advise you of the number of staffrequired at Chullora to complete this work.W .are in various stages of comp; io
. e projects are quite separate andJ, /E 0/7}) The Directorate has a number 0 projects of a varied character, whichdist ct fnm e Tank P duo op?/gro ; some of the major projects are aset o ex ins r or Machine Gun Carriers
and spare parts;f ati / out s n accordance with the requirements of the' e t o ¢he ;(Ccnhnne on back atoning at this edge)as
L\(<=)(<1)(Q)(1')(s)(h)(1)(J)(k)1-'l._1Completion of Recovery Tanks; -Oompletion of conversion of British Mortar Carriers to Machine Gun' Carriers;Completion of 50 sets of special tools for Matilda Tanks;Completion of pilot
model Tank Transporter and manufacture ofproduction vehicles;Completion of modifications to M3 Tanks (General Lee and GeneralGrant);Production of 150 modification kits for M3 Light Tanks;Modification of 200
Canadian Hark III Scout- Cars;Modication of '65 AC Mark I Tanks; -Packing and treatment of carriers and spare parts for overseas shipmentThese projects, - will necessitate work being done by the variousDivisions of the
Directorate, and it is anticipated that these Divisions willbe occupied in this way for the following periodsx-Design Division - 3 monthsResearch and Development Division - 2 to 3 monthsTechnical Service Division - 3 to 6
monthsProduction Division - 6 monthsSpare ‘Parts Division - 6 to 12 months, dependingupon the rate at which vehicles and parts are requiredfor shipment by the Department ‘of 'th'e Army.This is exclusive of any work that
might he required in connectionwith the completion oi‘ a limited number of AC Hark III Tanks. In particular,it is desired to emphasize the magnitude oi’ the commitments of the Spare PartsDivision of the Directorate. This
Division has been advised that, in additionto the 400 Carriers M.G{ (-Auet-)¢ already treated and packed for export,additional 1,032 vehicles will require to be treated and packed for exportshipment, as well as 141 kits of
spare parts and one kit of vehicle outfitlist for each vehicle. This work is being done in accordance with methodsdeveloped by the Directorate and accepted by theluetralian Amy and theU.S. Army. This work is in addition to
the normal work of the Spare PartsDivision, which must be carried on to completion.A.R. Gods,Director, 'iirmoured Fighting Vehicles Production.4. , ,81!. ‘
REM:MGH(A. F.v.)IANK QNQ QAQRIEQ BRQDHCTIQN EXPENDITURE.J'UL'1f _1_9_L;j__t0 mmglsw 1933. TANKS CARRIER TOTAL.£1,515,875 £1,977,216 0-25,523,091.J“/..u. 4..<.;_, ..,~.~4w@O44//‘drL4€) 0¢v
4¢LALq»¢‘ *"*‘4’~ -' ¢”‘(i‘“"v »M~¢4e /Qr€-¢9- ¢ri~1/€ ¢-~»¢~4AZ14 0?/§oo_0-ua—~ &j"a'a-0-0, /
 u/5"$280th Auguet, l943¢IIIllIWHI_lilPIr. A. R. Code,Director,Armoured Fighting Vehiclee Production.C000In the absence of Ir. Levi: I acknowledge receiptof iour lelorandul to hil of the éth August enclosing twocop es of the
joint report by youraelf and Colonel Parker,Ice. 12 and 16.I have forwarded a cop of youruletter and regortIo. 16 to Ir. Jenaen and ahail place yor original etterand report Io. 12 before Ir. Levia on hie return tron leaouth Wales
later on thin week.(J. L. Jenkinl)
MINISTRY OF MU NITIONSQ, MINUTE PAPER‘e DATE August 3Oth1943 ”TO Mr. rssmcwon LEWISATTENTION or YOUR REF cu}: REF‘.°°"'E5 T° MAFV:.ARC:($ 19207SUBJECTREPQRT on INVESTIGA'1‘ION or
AMERIGAI1 mm mazsmq AND DEVELOPMENT.I am enclosing two copies of a joint report by Lt.-Col. Parkerand myself on the results of our investigation of tank design anddevelopment in the U.S.A. This Report was
completed in America beforeI was aware of the situation that had arisen in Australia in regard to0 tank production. Some of the conclusions and recommendations will,therefore, be omewhat out of date, but I have
considered it unnecessaryto alter them.Copies or this Report are being forwarded to Lt.-Col. Parker,so that he may arrange for their submission to the Master General of theOrdnance and other Army officers concerned.I am
sending you the second copy, so that you may forward itto Mr. Jensen should you desire to do so. A limited number of copiesof the Report is available for further distribution.4_,£;_________,$-'9:A.R. Code,Director,‘
Armoured Fighting Vehicles Production./.4../‘° ’° ,'/_r; )g—s‘\L!’_‘QQ‘o , (Continue on back starting at this edge)
4' o~ Q % 4/' / ovxmsmg rnocu1mn;I_Lgg5uc§,_ =Dear Mr. Robortnon,ThisI. 8. Robertson, Eoq.,United states Lon! LeaseIigsion to Australia,52 Iilliom Street, 1srnnxg, n.s.w.‘ Kr. J. K. Jensen,27th August, 191+}-#20/7to
TAL: K PRODUCTION:is to confirm qv telephone massage to you thismorning than I road you cable which ie to be doupntohd tothe Dirootor Geno:-A1, Australian war Supplie Procurement,to-day. Ior your information copy
of thia cable is attached.Yourn sincerely,OrdHSecretary’ F‘-ecretary ~of‘ Liunitiolm.(For y0\1r721fOrln.'§;10n,' (r. nroaribb)Ovorsona Prom remcnt Officer.»\I '. 5%r.1
I5‘1!M/5'-QK§B§§A§VEEQ2UFEEEE1 §R§NC§;{P“n. ..$:1 27Lh August, 1945.e‘W507 432022 !‘y~_~_ )1’~2O/7\ * LDear .#Ro ‘teen,» *"~>~*‘‘ 2,‘ £2_EA;i.2EQ2E9$lQN;This is to confirm my telephone message to you
thismorning when I read you cable which is to be des"atc} d tp e othe Director General, Australian War supplies Procurement,to-day. For our ' f" ' - ' 'y in urmation copy of this cable 1S attached.Yours sincerely,For: S e c r e
t a r yW. S. Robertson, Esq.,United States Lend LeaseMission to Australia,52 William Street,§X2Z!§X.= -5- +-Mr. Essington Lewis,Director General of Munitions.For yourinformation,(?- Brodribb)Overreas Proq1rement
Officer.xl .4'
F4' 0 .0_IIOLII-I .0 ( 7. //DIIIBTOR QllllllAUIQALIII I'll IUPPSIIIIIUQUIIIIIIK1ID PROII ISBIIGTON I-IIIS FOR IAOOIIGOR.IIITRUGIIOIB ARI BRING ISSUID THAT IAN! IHODUOIIOI IIAUSTRALIA I8 1'0 OILS]? IZGIPI THAT
OONBIDIRLTIOI IS DIIIOGIVEN l8 T0 IBITHBR IARKB ‘ILL ON THE IA! III-I Bl OOIPLIIIB,THIS IIYOLVI8 GIBBATIOI OF ALL PROOURIIT II IIIITID I'll!!!FOR HIE BKIIG UNTIL II ADVISE IHITHER ANYTHING I8 FIIDIDT0
OOIILBTE ILNK8 LLRILDY IN PRODUCIIQI AND NR IAINTINIRGIQII ARI LBRLNING CONIBRENCI WITH LIED LILBI IISIIOI IILUBIRILIL ll TO IUTURI RIQUIRBIENI8 II LNI I-ND IRISH APPROYASIWILL Bl OBIAIIID
WHBRRVIR IBCIBS-ARI. THIS HIGH! TEL‘! LII:BRIPIIIEB WILL BI SIOPPID UNTIL II ADVISE IOU P0111100:-tgiaatal By _ » Ovouou h-emu-snout Brunt. _27Qa.#’. "‘Approval 3,70J. K. Jonson, manta-,7.
0.23595./'- k k Sent 2ilth August, 1943.Jr’m~1cn=m:n 1'0 e , J’ 7 /nmmcmn GENERAL, a»..w.s.1>. WASHINGTON. , A-SECRET. ‘83l+7.URGENT. From Munitions , M.C.7l12.For _From Essington Lewis £115!
l£aoGregor.Instructions are being issued that tank production in Australiais to cease except that consideration is being given as to whether tanks wellon the way, will be completed. This involves cessation of all procurement
inUnited States for time being, until we advise whether anything is needed tocomplete tanks already in production and for maintenance.We are arrmging conference with Lead Lease Mission in Australiaas to future
requirements if’ any and fresh appoovals will be obtained wherevernecessary. This means that all shipments will be stopped until we advise youfurther. 'Copy to um. & Dept- Munitions. (Re u.1.133) / n n F $15’?!T3
GJQnee. gvfaf“C: "G.
 MN/\/(1A § “’ \>»\ | :‘< > /1,DEPARTMENT OF MUNlTlQNS—lNWARD CABLEGRA OR TBLEPRINTBR//\-’ ((1 {~ G. , M _' \ 7_ I "ATTENTION" RECIPIENT as nzerousnan FOR ACTION AND REPLY. on-lln RICIFIENTI >
FOR PARALLEL ACTION IF NEEDED._ ‘I'll GIGIIYAIV AIIIJIIQ, ‘.I':'-‘Q AII7 -IIC. CHIII GLIII Cull? Gull! PIODUCTIQN chill JR. A.L.P.°- .lPCI\‘, “I, GILLIN MI GIIIIO ME BUIIII AIM"! Flabvcllqu Ohnwu (I-I-I 'IEYI§Il\ * Q -‘\ J ‘ ‘
XQll Ill?» Dll. °||lI QIBIIAPIGI MQCNPNI EIILOIIVCI QFIAI A.F.V. IIGIIIAII ITQIII AIIB IYAIFG IRA OINIIAL AIIIIUIIITIOII -IOIIIGVIQI YQOLI .|Il\I~I 'AI17OIw .I| YIANIPQIV IUPIIIIIWIY.‘lmncn c-an Accounvnuv ClNIlA\ “mo
T*"5 “ATTENT|°N" CO>v cuAuqou~1'An'r - n -4 Iinnvnv "",_'u .,.° “A, -‘U, “N, 7°: zz e.r.v. nboIROMDIRBUIOR GIIIRAL, sum. 35.8.45 ascmvnm 24.8.45 ,~'J0,0 ‘-'>5 ' ’,.*_‘ _- _ ___ . ... ,...\».§ L;-_. » - " 5.8 E C R1 T- 5
I.l_!_!_.E_LAl.s!;7.10411. It hnitionc. Attention Oode tron Alh.United ltetee Anthoritiee here hevc eeeningly ‘been ecwieed‘by lteti’ of United ltetee in Anetrelie thet tank Prop-e_c llnlcetinitely teen ehnndcned.In the eheence
or tinel Ier Gehinet decieionc we ere ctpreeent hedly enherreenec in -(A) Oontiming with proearent of nneenpletec eqonent ccntreotench no - Gelilleo Inginec which ere thin week ectnelly onthe eily line: 011 Precenre
Qeogee, Ycltinetorn nedioGeleretore, iaich ere cleo in tine]. etegee ct productionsloot treetnent gear end inetrnnnnte tor ennezee tor which wehed to ebtein en MA Priority on eccccnt or urgency.continuing to nee chipping
epece perticnlerly Iect Oenet torehipldt C tinichod eelpcnonte, prineipelly trencnieeicneenl eyeree, colpreceore, etc.Inleewenring to chtein teoh. late rolcting to production.Desire therefore your inetmetione on following - ere
we topleee e tenporery etcp on ell production end chipping F or —to let eontreete en! chipping continue. ‘wt Ul,/ ‘ WU ‘4‘/L", ‘\ ‘k 1' 0/ ‘(I)(c)... 4 J v J ~ ,J‘; I~ it/.V-‘3”'wM 1“ (Iunitione metone) ,0 {kl I ¢~ M4 , I’-l 7 I¢ _ ; y - to _
1- , v -(U ,§ A ‘J fa) Vii./6 ’|_L_.¢~ __, I~ _ H (.V:\*“{, 0' sfl 4*’ __(,"“/ 1.‘: ~' n‘ K‘ yr» I I . ..\ DJ _ v_,- ‘V F (a , I, -Q '\ A)/.,V ‘L¢¥V{‘_- Ila‘; _v ‘ll. ; V‘ ‘J“ ‘X/7 l\\\,y‘;~--(O4; ' JT¢GY U,‘ ‘Y °-W = Tv
g/{L/Eu/920%:/zzw /Ci L/// E E H E I Llklum: Paonucuom. 5 Z /K. Brodribb Esq.,Oversees Procurement Officer.I confirm heving sent to you a memorandumof even date addressed to Mr. A. R. Code, Director orA.F.V.
Production, in connection with the cessation ofthe Tank Production Programme in Australia._ So that the Lend Lease Mission can have advicesimultaneously with our own people concerned, I shall beglad if you will
immediately advise them in the term:of the memorandum referred to above.In addition would you also please see that acable is despatchea to our representatives in Washingtonimmediately informing them of the decision in
this mutter.Director-General of Munitions.26th August, 1945.
I3'\F»- i‘1': L: | 0 (,’ ":ru::¢-:::»:=~:»::n- -lwumm-:P." Mllmouni M'N'5TRY OF MuN|T'°N5‘0@@@6@r"'- " &&%» ~-<~ ~- COMMONVVEALTH or AUSTRALIA."W4d:n| House,”B WM%mSmm§§-C353 Melbourne, c126th.
August, 1945. '" "P" ¢"°'= ""-MEMORANDUM E03:A. R. Code Esq.,DIRECTOR OF A.F,Y.,PR9DUCTIQH-Having regard to the prevailing circumstances,War Cabinet recently decided that the production of tanksin Australia
should cease but before putting this decisioninto effect, the subject was to be referred to Advisory WarCouncil. As it will be some time before the Advisory WarCouncil will meet, the Minister, in anticipatinn of confirmationof
War Cabinet decision, has agreed that it would be unwise toincur further expenditure on the tank project and has approvedof 0 0 1 th t ll tmy Pr P Sa a Q_1fL5HEL2222§5aI¥_and_2IacticaEha1hihemoment should be taken
0 terminate those agtiyities of the'ITF.V. Directorate which are not likely to be zgqniréd whenthe decision of War Cabinet becomes effective. Consequently,the only details to be retained will be those necessary_tomaintain
the current requirements of the Army and, in general,this will mean any reconditioning or alteration work can beundertaken at the Chullora Tank Annexe of the N.S.W. Railwaysor the Victorian Railways.The implementation
of the foregoing will makeavailable for employment elsewhere the large staff at presentretained on the Tank project and, in addition, will necessitatethe cessation or diversion to other purposes of buildingoperations and
plant installations. Furthermore, certainmachines and other tank equipment being manufactured in theUTE} or awaitingaihipment on the Pacific Coast will be cancelledor released for version to other Durooses; similarly, the
le'ui ent obtained under Lend Lease and at present in Australia§%II2%ecome available for use elsewhere.I am arranging to check up with the Army thequestion of what is to be done in respect of tanks nearlycompleted, well
on the way to completion or at the half—waystage or less, and components and products which can be utilisedelsewhere. The general feeling in respect of tanks nearlycompleted or well on the way to completion is that it
wouldbe better to carry them through to completion, whilst inre ard to tanks which have reached the half way stage or less,tH%se components and projects which cannot_be used elsewhere;orfor rgplacement arts should be
scrapped and disoged of to bestadvan a e and gse compgnents and products Ihlt an be usedelsewhere shouIH'be so u lised or returned to U.S.A. as may beto the best advantage of'€He Commonwealth.I will advise you as
to the conclusions reached inthese matters as early as possible, but in the meantime, perhapsyou can advise me as to the staff and plant necessary to becontinued for the time being to give effect to them.The arrangements
for disposal and liquidation willbe in the hands of Mr. J. C. Westhoven, Controller of Liquidations,and I shall be obliged if you will confer with him as todetails. '6‘,/,,,,_vg¢.¢._,‘,[I},/<,¢/'-1/vDirector-Gene l of Munitions.
jlw I5‘DRAFT. éj (MEMORANDUM FOR : 26/8/45Mr. A.R.Code.Having regard to the prevailing circumstances, WarCabinet recently decided that the production of tanks in Australiashould cease but before putting this
decision into effect, thesubject was to be referred to Advisory War Council. As it willbe some time before the Advisory War Council will meet, the»~ ¢¢44¢¢,,1“,¢,{ ,\/1 b¢/u(,,L¢¢..e,/a¢<¢4.¢_ OHMinistzr has agre g it
wouldtge unwise to incur furtherAexpenditure on pro ect and has approved of my proposallm/14m‘ p 944a1l“to_take all steps necessary and practicable at the momenttoterminate those activities of the A.F.¥§ Directorate
which arenot likely to be required when the decision of War Cabinet becomes.' /'effective. Consequently, the onlyfdetails to be retainedwill be those necessary to maintain the current requirementsof the Army and, in
general, t s will mean any reconditioningor alteration work can be undfziaken at the Chullora Tank Annexeof the N.S.W.Railways or the/Victorian Railways.The implementation of the foregoing will make availablefor
employment elsewhere fhe large staff at present retained on thTank project and, in ad tion, will necessitate the cessation,ordiversion to other pur ses_of eitnn£ue'buildingbperations andplant installations. urthermore, certain
machines and other tankequipment being manuf ctured in . or awaiting shipment onthe Pacific Cc wi l g? diversion to other purposesand-similarlyde uipment obtained under Lend Lease and at present0C.’.U!in Australia will
become available for use elsewhere. to check up with the Armythe question of what is to be done in respect of tanks nearlycompleted, well on the way to completion or at the half waystage or less and components and
products which can be utilisedelsewhere. The general feeling in respect of tanks nearlycompleted or well on the way to completion is that it wouldbe better to carry them through to completio; whilst in regard totanks which
have reached the half way stage or less, those8
/,~TD ‘ 2.1components and projects which cannot be used elsewhere orfor replacement parts should be scrapped and disposed of tobest advantage, and those components and products whichcan be used elsewhere
should be so utilised or return toU.S.A. as may be to the best advantage of th Commonwealth.§J>;E4;_;éé%/cl-6U-¢4L @L¢’ 4£'§§2? ¢q*’1*-¢’{:~12¢¢&1~,L;¢¢ 1/ ” /1k.g4~lQi%; ‘la! »<L4Lm/€§i Q57/ . .W / %/4 ' 4;;B~//14-/(
/em 4 t ~ wez
44 4 4444 44“'4/Q1!/g’/ r cor! 28th August, 194:. ~Q4 J.lJlJLJLlISEQBIEEEIJEEBla Re cOdI BIQe;§I§l§IQB_QE_laIa!a_£BQ§QIIQHHaving regard to the prevailing circumstances IarCabinet recently decided that the
production oi‘ tanks inAustralia should cease but before putting this decisioninto effect, the subject was to be referred to Advisory ‘liarCouncil. As it will be some time before the Advisory Iar Coundilwill meet the Iinister, in
anticipation or confirmationof Iar Cabinet decision, has agreed that it sould be unwise toincur further expenditure on the tank project and has av provedof my proposal that all steps necessary and practicable at themoment
should be taken to terminate those activities oi’ theA.F.V. Directorate which are not likely to be required when thedecision oi’ War Cabinet becomes effective. Consequently, theonly details to be retained will be those
necessary to maintainthe current requirements of the Army and, in general, this willnean analreconditioning or alteration work can be undertakenat the ullors Tank Annexe or the 3.5.1». Railways or theVictorian
Railways.The implementation of the toreing will makeavailable for m¥loynent elseshere the ge start at presentretained on the ank proiect and in addition, will necessitatethe cessation or diversion to other purposes or
buildingoperations and plant installations. Furthermore, certain machinesand other tank equipment being manuiactured in the 0.8. or awaitingshipnent on the Pacific ¢oaat sill be cancelled or released fordiversion to other
purposes; similarly the equipment obtainedunder I-end Lease and at present in Australia will becone availablefor use eleeshere.I an arranging to check up with the Any the question ofmat is to be done in respect of tanks
nearly completed, sell on theway to completion or at the halt-say stage or less, and componentsand products Ihich can be utilised elseshere. The general reelingin respect oi‘ tanks nearly completed or sell on the say
tocompletion is that it would be better to carry than through tocompletion, whilst in regard to tanks which have reached thehalt way stage or less, those components and projects whichcannot be used elsewhere or for
replacement parts should bescrapped and disposed of to best advantage and those conponentsand products which can be used elseshere should be so utilised orreturned to U.S-A- as nay he to the best advantage of
theCommonwealth.I will advise you as to the conclusions reached in thesematters as early as possible but in the meantime, perhaps youcan advise me as to the stat} and plant necessary to be continuedfor the time being
to give etfect to then. /The arrangenents tor disposal and liquidation will be inthe hands or llr. J. C. Iestheven, Controller or Liquidaticns; andI shall be obliged it you will in with him as to details.agd. BBSIRGIOI I.-
EH3.Director-Qeneral oi’ lunitions;I
V-Q._ 52/nun Magma c, 104a. 'ma Boaratary,Dopatant o Bataan, - Iith rataranao to your onununication at 85th Auguat194:», Io. aanoao, 1 daaira ~o inform you that prior u in1-acaipt tho Diraetor-Ganaral of llunitiona had
alraady vakanaction aa pl!‘ copy attaohom You will obaarva n andoraa-lant of tho lliniatar datad 85%: Auguat, 1943. ‘maDiraawr-Ganaral. ma iaauod inatruatiana to all canon-andin thin Department, and ma Land Loan
Iiaaicn has beenadviaad. I hava bun raqualtad also to adviaa thaDirntor-Oaaarai or luau-alian In Suppliaa P:-oouraaant atIaahiagtou.Iith rataranoo to tho final paragraph or ma Diamant-0anara1'a naucrandu, I an intoruad at
tho Director oi‘iraourad Fighting Vanioiaa Produetion baa boon lnatnntadto modify tha produntion prograna to tha axtant tharaindiaatad, and thin ia baing done. It would appaar, hanavar,that confirmation at mil plan ia
daairabla, and I ahall baglad in xvaaiva your advice vhaxar I ahould approach theDapartlant of tho Any in that oonnaction.(J.K.Janaan)Sacratary.
~:<A1 psi ;V§ ‘s _§‘;3—C‘ t /fa "“c‘§:$,j‘ff‘,,,,, 26A“G‘9&>M NWEALTH or-' AUSTRALIA.MXY 440.7\ - NS* . uN*T‘9“ ,__*! MELBOURNE. s.c.1.SECRETMEM forDEPARTMENT OF DEFENCEORANDUM -The Secretary,
25qUb194JDepartment of Munitions,85 William Street,MELBOURNE, C.l.2,AUSTRALIAN TANK PRODUCTION POLICYReference is made to my memorandum dated 15thAugust on the subject of Australian tank
production policy.In accordance with War Cabinet's decision theWe er-,;_|Minister for Defence has sought the views of the Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, who has expressed concurrencewith War Cabinet's
agreement in principle to the cessation oftank production in Australia, and has advised that he will beglad to approve the Australian Army requisitions for tanksmentioned in paragraph 2 of War Cabinet Minute No. 2979,
andto assign appropriate priorities thereto.including the placing of orders for tanks from overseas.u,\. -f\‘LL L" 55. As you will be aware from War Cabinet MinuteNo. 2979, the question of Australian tank production policy isto
be submitted to the Advisory War Council and consequentlythat body's consideration of the matter must precede any actionto implement the policy agreed to in principle by War Cabinet,4/(4m»_._j_(F. Shedden)S e c e t a r
~ 1 w-iv ‘Y ~=;-~'- e VCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.TILIII '1 IOO '- ‘“Y:|..:<:nA c Annnzsn 'MUN|DEF." MILIGUINI MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS‘ l‘ “Western Hour,”33 W'H1|J:m Slmel,_ Mzlboume, CII rep! uoe .24th
August, 1945. “ H ' N”MEMORANDUM FO§:THE MINISTER.when Mr. W. S. Robertson, Leader of the Lend LeaseMission to Australia, called upon me last Friday, I informedhim that there had not been any decision
regarding continuanceof the Tank Programme as far as I have been advised. Thismorning I received a message from Mr. Robertson that GeneralMacArthur had signified his concurrence with War Cabinetdecision on 14th
August. Mr. Jensen has ascertained sincethat the matter is yet to be confirmed by the War AdvisoryCouncil.It is now six weeks since the decision of War Cabinetwas recorded, and I understand that it will be some little
timebefore the Advisory War Council can meet. In the meantime theextensive organisation which had been built up for Tankproduction is "standing—by". It is costing £2,600 weekly,for which little effective return is being
obtained, and alarge staff is being retained which could be employed betterelsewhere. In addition, extensive building operations andplant installations are in train which should be stopped ordiverted to other purposes. If the
latter were adoptedimmediately, it would obviate in some cases substantialcapital expenditure upon other projects.In regard to Lend Lease requisitions, there is asomewhat embarrassing position arising out of what
appearsto be our indecision. The Lend Lease Mission to Australia ispressing us to declare our policy so that certain machinesand Tank equipment being manufactured in the United Statesor awaiting shipment on the Pacific
Coast may be diverted toother purposes, and that similar equipment in Australia may bemade available for other purposes.Having regard to all the foregoing considerations, Ipropose forthwith, unless you advise me
otherwise, to take allthe steps necessary and practicable at the moment to terminatethose activities of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Directoratewhich are not likely to be required when the decision of WarCabinet
becomes effective. Consequently,only the details tobe retained will be those necessary to maintain the currentrequirements of the Army. In general this will mean that anyreconditioning or_a1teration work required can be
undertakenat the Chullora Tank Annexe of the New South Wales Railways,or the Victorian Railways.A matter which will require some directz§§*will be thedisposal of products and components which have4acquired orare in
process of manufacture, points regarding whichare as follows: -J1H.14in/
_. 7' _ t ‘ c"‘_ . . ,k The Minister. -2- 25th August, 1945.Tanks nearly completed.Probably should be carried through to completion.Tanks well on the way to be completed.Probably it would be better to carry thesethrough to
completion also rather than waste all whichhas been done.Tanks which have reached the half-way stage or less.Those components and products which cannot be usedelsewhere, or for replacement parts, to be scrapped
anddisposed of to best advantage.Components and products which can be utilised elsewhere.To be so utilised or returned to U.S.A. as may beto the best advantage of the Commonwealth.9'5' I -
4/V‘/1;!Directoiizehgialnogihnitions.>\ c ,' }j:\“\“$<§S $R Q, ox‘} ._ "“’w;.h /<02; ats:i»
k /4\/3 Y1} Y24:11 August, 1243.QQMEHI-@*THE HIIQISTER.men Hr. W. S. Robertson, Leader oi’ the I-end Leasellisaion to Australia, called upon me last Friday, I informedhim that there had not been any decision
regarding continuanceof the Tani: Programme as fer sa I have boon advised. Thismorning I received a message tron Ir. Robertson that Generallacirthur had signified his concurrence with Ia: ¢abinetdecision on ldth August.
Hr. Jensen has ascertained sinceggat go matter is yet to be confirmed by the War Advisoryunc .It is now six weeks since the decision or For Cabinetwas recorded, and I understand that it will be some little timebefore the
Advisory War Qouucil can meet. In the neantisxo theextensive organisation which had been built up for Tankproduction is "standing-by". It is costing 82,600 weekly,tor which little effective rewrn is being obtained, and alarge
staff is being retained which could be employed betterelsewhere. In addition, extensive building operations andplant installations are in train which should be stopped ordiverted to other purposes. It the latter were
adoptedimmediately, it would obviate in some eases substantialcapital expenditure upon other projects.In regard to Lend Lease requisitions, there is asomewhat embarrassing position arising out ct what appearsto be our
indecision. !he Lend Lease lisaion to Australia ispressing us to declare our policy so that certain machinesand Iank equipnmt being msnutactured in the United Statesor awaiting shipment on the Pacific Qoast may be
diverted toother .;urposes, and that similar equipment in Australia may bemade available for other ‘urposomHaving regard to all the foregoing considerations, I{1I‘Of.;~O3G forthwith, unless you advise me otherwise, to take
allthe steps necessary and practicable at the moment to terminatethose activities of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Directoratewhich are not likely to be required when the decision of Iar¢abinet becomes effective.
Oonsoquently,only the details tobe retained will be those necessary to maintain the currentraquirmnents of the Army. In general this will mean that anyreconditioning or alteration work required can be undertakenat the
Qmllora Tank Mnexe or the ew South Isles Railways,or the Victorian Railways.~ A matter mioh will require some direction will be thedisposal of products and conponents which have acquired orare in process 0!’
manufacture, points regarding whichare as rolliwa: - *' . .1 ' 1;. I; _ 3>ll\\1‘§‘
A _~ . 1mnnaam. -2- " ' -Probably should be carried through to completion. -Probably it wnnld be better to carry thesethrough to completion alsc rather than waste all whichhas been dono-
IEIKl_IE33HLIiII.IE3£DIi_iES.!£lI:l&!_l§il!-!£_l£ll-Those components and products which °aJot be usedelsauhlrn, or for replacement parts, to be BCr&ppQd anddiaposad of to best advantagn..vv2e=s ~ ,. ‘- IL, =11 g 2.; 1‘. H,
=.y-:19 @-To be an utilised or returned to U.S.A. as may beto the boat advantage of the Commnwealth.Director-General of munitions.
\ .aw ,____- _.. . .. _.\' ‘1The Minister, /Q).//5' '2, 1- ‘14 When Mr. W.S. Robertson, Leader of the Lend Lease Mission to Australia, calledpon me last Friday, he enquired whether there had been in any decision r
‘continuanceof the Tank Programme. I informed him that I had not been ad "a( This morning‘I received a message Robertson that General MacArthur hadsignified hisi concurrence with War Cabinet decision on 14th August.
Mr. Jensenhas ascertained since that the matter is yet to be confirmed by the Liar AdvisoryCouncil.1 It is new six weeks since the decision of War cabinet was recorded, and I understand that it will be some little time before
the Advisory WarGouncil can meet. In the'meantime the extensive organisation ich had beenbuilt up for Tank production is standing-by. It is costing weekly,for which little effective return is being obtained, and a large s is
eidgretained which could be employed better elsewhere. In addition extensivebuilding operations III: and plant installations are in train which should be stoppedor diverted to I¢n@ other purposes. If the latter wereadopted
irmnediately,it Itl would pbviate in some cases substantial capital expenditureupon other projects. \I In regard to 1 Lend Lease requisitions, there is a somewhat embarrassing pnttkposition arising out of nu: what appears to
be our indecision. The ltttllz yend Lease Mission to Australia is pressing us to declare st our policy so thatcertain machines g and Tank equipment beingmanufactured in the United States or awaiting shipment thin on the
Pacific Coast may bediverted to other purposes, and that similar equipment in Australia may be imh made available for other purposes._ Having regard to all the foregoing considerations, I propose forthwith, unless
youadvise. me otherwise, to take all the steps necessary and practicable at the moment toterminate thos activities of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Directorate which are notlikely to be required spun-is when the decision
of war cabinet becomes effective.Consequently only l the details to be retained will be those necessary to maintain thecurrent requirememzs of the Army. In general this will mean that any ::lp&nzre-conditioning or alteration
work required can be undertaken at the Ghullora Tank Annexe‘of the New South Wales Railways, or the Victirian Railways.products and componentsAmatter which will require some direction will be the disposal of
hlbnpilnxwhich have i acquired or are in process or mamifacture, points regarding which are as follows:i T near com leted.Pro a s uld be carried through to completion.Tanks! well on the way to he completed.‘ Probably it
would be better to carry these through to completion alsorather than waste all which has been done.‘ Tanki which have Q reached the halfway stage or less.Those components and products which cannot be used
elsewhere, or for nun. . replacement parts, to be scrapped and disposed of to best advantage.Gomponentx and products which can be utilised elsewhere.. r To be so utilised or returned to U.S.A. as may be to the best
advantageof the Commonwealth.DG's'~I
30th. June l9n2Chapter No. 7Appendix N0. 1Page hQUANTITY NAME OF MANUFACTURERORDERED ,810"Z8, andereO68etheKfY,22301016010106La221702O2818102010253501050010no750Warren & Brown,
Melbourne.Waldown Pty.Ltd., Melbourne.Lithgow Small rms Factory and Broken Hill ProprietaryCo. Limited, Newcastle.Warren & Brown, Frank Vial, Melbourne.Factory Equipment Section, SydneyJohns & Waygood,
Melbourne.Factory Equipment Section, Sydney.Factory Equipment Section, Sydney.Lober Service Pty.Ltd., Sydney.McPherson's Pty.Ltd., Melbourne, Ledger & Co. Perth,W.AFairfax & 00., Sydney.Fred Price, Melbourne;
Demco Machinery 00., Melbourne;Water Board, Sydney.W. G. Goetz & Sons, Ltd. Melbourne.Factory Equipment Section, Adelaide.MOPhers0n's Pry.Ltd., Melbourne.George Foster & 00., Sydney.Q3k¢\/ 5' ,1;/Q ~ .Q‘? 71/
"'“”"*°,§’74/ /c ¢ Q e @~\@%;/» 5A. E. Goodwin, SydneyVarious manufocburers, all States except Tasmania.Various manufacturers, Melbourne & Sydney.Various manufacturers, Melbourne & Sydney.Clyde Engineering
Co., Sydney.Robison Br0s., Melbourne; Australian Iron & Steel Ltd.Port Kembla; Hoskins & C0,, Perth.John Heine & Sons Sydney; Welded Products. Sydner1
DEPARTMENT OF MUNITlONS—INWARD CABLEGRAM OR TBLEPRINTER /»"/ TH! "ATTENTION" RICIPIINT II RISFONSIILI FOR ACTION AND REPLY. OTHER IICIPIINTI-FQI PARALLEL ACTION IF NEEDED.M‘ Yll
.IGII'AII AIII-'11:. Alli.-llc Alli -IIG. chill CLIIK CHIC! CLIIH Flonucrlb Clll M.A. A.L,I.O- GllwlifMI. OILLAII Mn Gllll Ml. Inlln ABIIII Pncoucnan Olmlne (I I) IIQYIQIIJ: xx x xOmicron A I Gun OFIIIAIIGI MACNIKI inrullvll 5m» A
F.V4 IIGIIIIAIV Ivonil Ann IYAIIDlllllhx GI Am Auuululch Fllhlqh 7091.! IMILIIIIII Faevenv I9. \'nAv4IIIl\‘ IUFIIIII I41T xxx xv...... C-nu ..=.......' =....... ,,,.,,,, 0 P 0 - THE "ATTENTION" ConAnew-u~-vr n u u Ixolun 'w,'uu 0 o 0 X
mu -tn, -‘"7 Yo:xx Director GeneralFROM: DIR]§'1QR GENERAL, 8ENT| 20/8/l+3- RBCB‘lVID|?)+/8/14.’,A.W.S.P. WASHINGTON.-_~ .1SECRET. “‘:»'- ' V >1:16:39. (16231) ¢ "*i We are informed by Office of Lend Lease
Administration, Washington,that advicehas been received from Lend Lease Missim in Australia to the effectthat War Cabinet is discussing possibility of abandoning tank manufacturepoz-gramme.On basis of this information
Office of Lend Lease Administration,Washington is holding up 12 machines now lying at seaboard and will take similaraction with 18 additional machines schedule for delivery from suppliers plantduring August and early
September. ’All machines will be held up until final decision is reached byCabinet.In the event manufacturing programme is abandoned we particularlydraw your attention to Fellows 100 inch gear shaper, item 288, our
machine toolreport-This machine is now held up at seaboard and on /agsééggf informationgiven in your telegrams 6752 MT 6523 of 10th July and 7669 " August, 11; isrequired for cutting turret rings for American lib tanks in
addition to productionof turret rings for Australian cruiser tanks-It, therefore my be necessary for you to arrange with Lend leaseMission to allow this machine to go forward but we are not requisitioning thespecial cutters
referred to in your telegams 6752 of 10th July and i669 of9th August, until we receive confirmation from you that the 100 inch gear shaperwill be required.Copy War Cabinet-Munitions -ArlmfuDefence .T: GJ.C: GI.
VIFl(I)I1I11.-1=*~45/502/161M l._":‘-~.\I'€.D V‘ .:,~'=vs=;1,- ~ 7. * ‘ _V. 13 AIJGBQ3. y 4 - ‘Q H;>\‘i“TELEPHONE: _ _‘ L101"?¢=~*-“L11-=~ ~» Wu, .'I~ ~ WEALTH or AUSTRALIA. gas“' . ‘lA ‘7 ‘ $_¥( %s‘I’IV
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE GO-ORDINAIION. 3947Ab.imA&mWM“5 ‘{-‘ 2.S.W.P.A., is not yet to hand.I ,1/\/v\/\ \@\3\*’” d(-s(§'c ~ zhzdsesz.Q;/ \ ‘L I ,1W “K1 “ MELBOURNE. s.c.1. -)1 ‘V1.7/_.MMOHANDUM for - .The
Secretary, '3 4UC1943Department of Munitions,85 William Street,MELBOURNE, 0.1.REVIEW OF AUSTRALIAN TANK PRODUCTION POLICYIt is desired to referto my memorandumNo. S.S.5997 dated 21st July on the
above subject and toappend for your information copy of a communication dated7th August from the Secretary, Department of the Army, inwhich advice is furnished of the action taken in conformitywith War Cabinetfs
direction to obtain assurances in regardto the supply of~tanks from overseas:-“ "With-reference to your S.S. 5996 of21-July, 1945, the London Munitions AssignmentBoard have advised‘the Australian Army Representativein
London that there will be no difficulty in theallocation of 310 Sherman Tanks for Australia providedthe type ordered is available."The M4 Al Type is considered to be themost suitable for Australian conditions and the
ArmyRepresentatives in both London and Washington advisethat this type is the most readily available."Advice of the views of e Commander-in—Chief, \l§. \1\ ,'1. .~. .
iT£2§13§“943L 7185.£7 _/ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE GGGRDLNAGIQNMELBOURNE. S.C.I.MEKORQE! tors-=57aw1 . c-I‘v J\‘ .-\__—* /mar-1| ,_ 3R(ffn"”7. l " /@%_ _wE%;“r"' ' "" 2.-'£-zngt-,~.
="0.COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.12 AUG1943The Secretary,Department of Munitions,MELBOURNE-AGENDUM ND. 5l9£1943 - CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMME OFIt is desired to refer to my memorandumN0.
5.3.588’? of the 19th July, 1945, forwarding copyof Minute No. (2978), which recorded the decision ofWar Cabinet relative to the abovementioned Agendum.Advice would be appreciated as to thepresent position regarding
the report to be Submittedto War Cabinet in accordance with that Minute.fO1‘ SOTO ary.hf 4> .(\ J ‘
MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS'_ .— MINUTE PAPER “ST SumTo Mr S K S one August 25th T94}ATTENTION or voun nlr OUR III. 1 9 1 2 7conic T0f M.AFV:ARO: GBSUBJECTNAB CABINET AGENUUH }12[194§In
accordance with the request contained in yourMemorandum No. 1943/94, Hth August, I am returning Copy No. 17of the War Cabinet Agendum. We have noted the contents of thisdocument and are making plans to take
such action as may benecessary.QM?/Q?/9<_.;-_-————vLR. Code,Director, _Armoured Fighting Yehiclee Production.(Continue on back starting at thin edge)WV
".IUN|1 ‘-‘W,\ 5 LCM 1 C V /7~/ahe Director, 11th M 'Anmunm nopnm venous rmmcuog a / 71/J /W _JA ,7IQ OABIIIT £91192.8 I O Q I 2:---. I atteoh hereto Gopy No. 1'! of Ier Oebinet Agendun Io. 319/1948together with the
relavent Ier Oebinet Iinute of epprovel.I111 you pleeee note the deoieione contained therein in regardto Armoured ghting Vehiolee, end take my eotion to inpleaenttheee deoieione throng: the approved ohennele.he return
or tlmne doounehte at en early date to the Controller,Production Ordore and statietice, 1| roqueated.PA/‘ /”7";»'</=PMIIIOTIOI OED!!! & 3TlTIBTIC§_¢Q3C1_‘__an$_4‘_.~H"1~w&d»d/ _ - Q‘Q V M./ ks V’ V1®\\:74.“ .
HR. J'.K.JENSF.N§\iiMemorandum.Subject: \ D ON NAt 11.40 a.m- on Monday, 9th August, Ir. WalterS. Robertson of the U.S. Lend Lease Mission in Australiatelephoned Ir. Lewis regarding the present status of the
tankmanufacturing programme in Australia. Mr. Lewis informedMr. Robertson that we had heard nothing further since thedecision of War Cabinet on 13th July, when it was decided:(a) To agree in principle to the cessation
of the IankProgramme,(b) To order some Sherman Tanks from U.S., and(c) That the foregoing is subject to submission to theC-in-C. S.W.P.A. by the Prime Minister, and(d) That the matter is then to be submitted to
theAdvisory War Council.Mr. Lewis informed Mr. Robertson that, followingon the above decision, we have stopped nearly all new work onthe Tank Programme, but are working on modifications to theA.C.1 Tank; that we are
proving the A.C.3 Tank for gun firing;and finally, we are awaiting the return from U.S.A. ofMr. Code, ho, it is thought, is somewhere handy now.Mr. Robertson proposes informing his Washington peopleof the current position
and in passing, he mentioned toMr. Lewis that the C-in-C, S.W.P.A. had not received anyword as to the War Cabinet decision. It is probable however,that Mr. Robertson will advise U.S.A. that the matter has beenunder
review by the Australian authorities andthat no definite advices are yet available and thereforein the meantime, they should "go steady"-OccurC.c. Jensen 1N.K.S.Brodr bbMenzies. 9/8/1943'i 1'15 =In view of the advices
which Mr. Robertson proposes sending:0 his geople in America, you may think fit to send a cableo our ashington Office so that they also will be a quaintedwith the present position.e J WWQL I“, .W
win_. 7 7_ ?. /in/v’ 1Memorandum.Subject: TANK PRODUCTION IN AQSEBALIA.At 11.40 a.m. on Monday, 9th August, Mr. WalterS. Robertson of the U.S. Lend Lease Mission in Australiatelephoned Mr. Lewis regarding
the present status of the tankmanufacturing programme in Australia. Mr. Lewis informedMr. Robertson that we had heard nothing further since thedecision of War Cabinet on 13th July, when it was decided:(a) To agree in
principle to the cessation of the TankProgramme,(b) To order some Sherman Tanks from U.S., and(c) That the foregoing is subject to submission to theC-in-C. S.W.P.A. by the Prime Minister, and(d) That the matter is then
to be submitted to theAdvisory War Council.Mr. Lewis informed Mr. Robertson that, followingon the above decision, we have stopped nearly all new work onthe Tank Programme, but are working on modifications to
theA.C.1 Tank; that we are proving the A.C.3 Tank for gun firing;and finally, we are awaiting the return from U.S.A. ofMr. Code, who, it is thought, is somewhere handy now.Mr. Robertson proposes informing his Washington
peopleof the current position and in passing, he mentioned toMr. Lewis that the C-in-C, S.W.P.A. had not received anyword as to the War Cabinet decision. It is probable however,that Mr. Robertson will advise U.S.A. that
the matter has beenunder review by the Australian authorities andthat no definite advices are yet available and thereforein the meantime, they should "go steady".C.c. Mr. JensenN.K.S.B d ibbn MenZies‘_"° r
9/a/1943.Memo. Hr. Jensen.In view of the advices which Mr. Robertson proposessending to his people in Americak IM you may think fit to senda cable to our Washington Office so that they also will beacquainted with the
present position.' E.L.
DEPARTMENT or MUN1TlONS—lNWARD CABLEGRAM on TELEPRINTER3'TH! "ATTENTION" RECIPIENT us nzswousnou FOR ACTION AND nn|=|.v. OTHER nlcurllufo L 1'- won PARALLEL ACTION w
M22050.MmovnDmocvono--umIYlllllFROM|IIGIITAIV AIIY--Inc. Alni--ll: AIIY 'Il¢. Call! CLIII Cmlr CL!!! Fllilloucnavd Cnlli ILA. .‘|::.|O- Ma. Bunion Mn HIIIN Mn. Illln Anlom Fnonucnon Olivia! . .MA 5 s -- A.F.V. II:alIaaI noon
nun on» .. 3 XCmlr A==ou-.v...v cm"... "ml, THE "ATTENTION" FOIv 9"Ascournon-r II A II Iaqnovnv .u"u“ MAI IICN DIN? TO.DIIIQOR GIRLS. 'amazon mun, 8'1"“ z/a/42 “‘°'""‘”' 4/g/43A.I.S.P,, usnuomv. N 1.. ’_ NI-
!_LL1..L --!l!>:=&..-in _ " ;1/15195, |gm1“.u_ gttoatioo looiogton Looio tron (boo. ' 'I-ooving Ioohington today on 1-onto for tho Ioot Oooot onrotor: Jooroq. lovo ooaplotod roport on on-voy of ulovolopoatohomo all oopioo
Doing oloopotdnol. Anforo will prohobly arrivo inAuotralia boforo no. Ior your adnnoo iaformtion, Qononloonolnoiono and rooo-onnotiono oro oo £o11oro:-l. Prooat It Boo-ioo hnko will oontinb on prodootion forot looot 12
oontho, ‘Int tho; will ho inprovorl in oirti¢tin¢ arootoriotioo ‘I7 iotail noiitioationo ovor that pIl‘10<L2. low DI dowolqponto aro now in tho prooooo of hoingprovoil hy iltonoivo tooting, loco of thooo dovoloponto will hoditfialt to
follow in loool pxohotion in Australia, and it itio Lotor oonoilotoul looirohlo to inoorporoto thooo footuroo inAnotralinn tnko, it will ‘ho aoooooory to porohaoo ooupononto tron 0.8.1.3. lrooblo hao boon ozporinood with tho
abhor tyrod hogiowhoolo of tho prooont L4 nopcoioa in U.8.A. omi othor arooo aoooll oo in Australia. hio rooulto tron ovorlooding of tho ‘oogioIhoolo no tho only roal oolution io to ro-dooip tho noponoionqotoa and fit lo:-pr
ohoolo. Lo a tqorow oolution tho U.8.A.hoororortonitonoootrobhor trototiohdoailo thohouoohoollito. hootrolio imam follow onit.4. loo ooopnoioa oooipo aro not ‘Doing tootod and thoprohohlo fora tint will olovolop into
pndnotioa for Iodion hnkowithin tho noxt 13-18 lontho io tho inoopoldout toroion Dar typo.hio typo roproooato oono proahzotion diffiooltioo tron thoAustralian otnni-point ‘tot thooo oro not inouporohlo.I5. 0.8.1. io |\i\Zp§11l‘ to
otandardioo "upon tho lord V-Ihnk lhgino oo tho otandard unit promotion rato at proont iolooo than halt of int io roqoirod to noot ozioting productionoohoonloo forlonkoonlonftortooro boiagoodo to am. oagnoprohotion vory
quickly. In tho noontino Oontinontal Iridat -allproportion of tank proonotioa io hoing tittod with Qxyolor -alti ‘hank onginoo.8. lopplioo of ma _dlQl for Anotrolin hnk prooootioa oto notliholy to ho ovoiloblo for at loaot 12 nontho.
I7.
,,___._haw’(I) 7, loo trooonioolono no ‘bola; hnlopoi out Moran 'l'&o 2puohooeloorhlo £1044 I111 pzoioblyh ttol.wiih oono {on of automatically vortablo Magoo oolvortor.Australia not nit tho oonploilon of hvolopnt Ink oil
hophinnol 0! oar:-no pa-ogooo iallot oontlnlng with probation ofO1uh§)oloorlox.nol1!1od.1n0ortoLapo:rliIo1nro\o!.IpIvoportornnoo.halo! mu ind’ 1nU.l.L. mm n qéguo1ou\ho\oo!unootoo1pro¢oatlono£AOIarkI1h|to1nLuotnlh to
oonoonorl, u obho 1100 Nina ho po11oho:- 2(1) Prooooo. run prooono Quip oonontnllng uponntoinont of ontotuiory nhaottn operating ototoooy at 400hon-o rolioblw M}, mo not oaltoblo ohoop and incorporationof oortou
Quip footoroo of which loot hportut um-(A; nun; of Ioothghaun gm otilla: on par hr:-at tron:-no:(I sun nonunion, oopolo out olon ‘nook: on root of turret:(0) Ioro ofolcli air oloonnnQB) hvort to l,4 typo lotto: Irooko:ll) Uoo of
pron» Anotralla moyonoiono of L4 1'71-on and IAlogic 1'7:-oo ad rho or Inutrolha iaoolo or oolploto 8.4 Iopqslols(1') PrIvlotou\oboIo¢lofor!1\iln¢lbr4Io¢noBo7IIpootoono1otorhit.ico of ihooo #1 has no ‘iota; lavootlgotod not 1:
Awuh-nth.Maputo of alo 901101 would mono Lutnlio to groin: o£otq\lg iolkhcvhgopoolunourorlnnntnl onhouotto oqulvdtto Morton 1044 Iodolo, us Iluld not allow innorpontton of oonofooloroo of hot’ ihot will about lnovltaily
oppoor In bonoon intollhlyooloprohooltnniborooalntu-hnltofli.(2) loouilluk Uta Lnoorporooo Quip tantrao&onoo¢ohoooo.ooo11ooo1!n1aot1oo o!Onrrot'ioohot,roho1.po!1oootl.oao!oiIInQo,\ooo!Io0ou-
oooonlxnaltioaoontahnroulotlorohngooiotolltngiaotinohonnborlnvolwonojorrolootpot&lnc\o1foohll'ooottolk.Iinncprooooliol.out hvolvol In at: pollqhoonoinottonoiopilotloblvlthtkoproooatlodpooooloounaouoniotooggootunovloll.It
to Q vlowpotnt that from o ytodooon ohnlpotlt pollq(1) 1; an oily pa-manna pill-Q so llpi r Lontrolta hut Prohotioo.lmmn a nqm. Ioaiitolo, lay, Botnoo,$1! Ilnilohi.‘n6-U5%, ,525%?§§;2§§" rl-s§§:%§Etibolntg
~ H-0423V 1'rn.:r|-|om=,: ll“ ‘rmn 4! ,_-I .111;‘ ‘APHIC Anonnm "Ann\mm.“ noun. __ -4 -;‘.;:,>';‘v-7-i‘a.r.o. “ox no. ncd. 0*/nun. ‘< 1),}. *4‘ ' "~n. .|-2,;COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA' ‘Imnunsrnv or MUNITIONS, QBOARD
OF AREA MANAGEMENT.ALL COMMUNIGA‘I10NI nuoum nu ‘Q6Aunnnno To ' ‘"ms SECRETARY. -in-I'll |'AI'H.l'llU£AUlllI|1LvQvI'I'lN0- =\.‘,,\-.-_35Y51st July, 1945The Secretary,Ministry of Munitions,83, William
Street,MELBOURNE.Dear Mr. Jensen, .U355faMany thanks for your teleprinter, MSY 1559,of 30th July, 1943, regarding the policy to be followed inconnection with the Tank Programme.The solution suggested is in line
with ourown thoughts on the matter, and now we know your mind youcan rely on the Board to imblement it.with kind regards, ' - ’1 (C airman)Yours séncerely, _
l ‘ -----", fwk W/' iL“i‘§%IR. H.J.BROILEY. 28th July, 1945.Further to my memorandum of today's dateregarding the cessation of production of parts fortanks, should also be glad if you would kindlyarrang o continue the
production of parts for themodification of Hark I Tanks and also proceed withthe manufacture of parts to enable the completionof two pilot model Mark III Tanks.Director General of Munitions;/.‘ \<>*!5' , x
18488 Q2‘/§25%BIY81l@ July Ill‘ U4)II. LL P1-yka,Rayraanaatlva,Dlraatanta at Anaaraé IlxhtlngVahlalaa Prohat-tn,0/0 81¢: Gilaaianarh Otaa,Ant:-alta laaaa,Q!‘ hlll.'I@PUW'l'I,UlPN@A$I-QETILIJABaa: Ir.
Pryka,.1?‘xii;::_§r‘ $22525iiaa - to ha ytaataa, Q|l1aa1aa'a Oftlaa tatn tutnaau {rm Ir. 8.3. ltatttatuaAhnlatratiea La Iaauutaa, ta aahaaaaaaaary ta arch: that aw-uyaada batman luau-alla and Ola thanthe ‘tomar country attar
July U4}.at 13:11Iaahlagtaa an:ht-,0: aha Unaanal: tlvaattpuaaat-1a!'aata11 altqnaaltataa raga:-dug tank p$2grlualauaagnqtaaauldaovarthamnlit-aAuat:a1&aofany]./at-ad ar uaamplatad, ataatard at aaqtaaaard mita, pana or
aaaubllaa;naahtaa taola ad athar aapnal output.Oalaaal. 0:-an annhad tha praant pzahationnuuta lat-all, dating tha Aaaqbly aanama, aha tank taatbhaaajaraaaaaaaaadanttaatatv In:-ta. Iaaadalnaandraandlarknl vaualaa an
aaataatatthphwlonndluvaltnbqaatlatlalaa ta Manna raxavaat pa:-ta at tha mania. Attarnkhgth-intlnuaad uvaaupuaa, ha pzoaaaaa a xapart Illal, la attaat, raaanmdad ms\&kp1'ahat1Q lllaatraitaaaauaqtratadnthalazttypa,
hatanutaatura ha at a Laaar zata tin an aauatpatad at tha tlla at youQaparhra.=§§fit?Drlatly, la raaxcdadauparlnaa aaaaut 1: viaa at thoaaahantaal dattainalaa.E;Z55.?5%§E?Ba :a¢r6ad tlalaxk I11 tank aa an tnattaatlva
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4,14’,/ 7/-1-lIlv1l1C1Il€I'I\I¢1l¢en,bcI1o utwrntilthlruns: nu nrntntly strung to anon the 1-outta tron tn H-pt: Q,Qlt:\vu'ubyln11g0uo@.|.pc\. Roworklubouinvtukucntbtuna but nlpquim prior to rocatpt at uni G001’ hails {rmhula,
nun it 1: glunlly onntdcrod 6001:1510 that an ty squat:an puoibli be nan interchangeable button the Australian ad Juananoun: unis. In additicu, tho tting or 1 |;ro~lf-0111": an 1 awe!to: oeaddoratiw. and a;~):-we]. by the
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1&1.-a June, 194:5.corn 'MR. WALKER.Mr. Perrier, Mr. Bromley, Major Flight, D.A.F.V.Report on Hark III Australian Tank Trials held at Holdsworthy,N.S.W., 14th to 16th June, 1943. pThe following is a brief summary of the
remarks of twocomplete Tank crews from A.F.V. School, Puckapunyal, Victoria.Loader Remarks.The general system of loading and ramming is quite satis-factory, provided that sufficient rounds and cartrid es are withinthe
Leader's reach, and it is suggested that twenty %20) minimumcomplete rounds would suffice.Fixed amunition is not recommended nor semi-automaticgear on the gun. There is ample room for him to carry out hisduties, but
it will have to be accepted that his Job will always behard work.It is recommended that rubber back and head pads be fitted.Opinion differs on the fumes from M.G. therefore thisshould be the subject of a gas test.M.G.
feeding method is considered quite satisfactoryalthough a slight cross feed can occur. This can be obviated by theloader hand feeding a section of belt to form a loop.Periscope is in a satisfactory position, but at present
viewpartly obscured by V.M.G. outlet steam pipe.Gunners R r s.ema kPosition very comfortable - periscope in good position,seat considered excellent but would recommend adjustment fore andaft n move to rear basket
support on left as this causes slight elbowknocks - move elevating mechanism to the right about 2" to allowmore leg room - easing of elevating mechanism caused by stifftrunnione.Foot firing mechanism very stiff and too
large a time lagbefore firing caused by bowden cable.The sights were mechanically a very bad set although theset-up is quite workable providing all back lash is obviated andbracket is more firm so that movement cannot
occur. A brow pad asper the M.3 Medium is recommended with lateral adjustment.Commander' R ks emar sPosition satisfactory - but restricted action with thepresent seat, and recommends a change to a flat type with 4"
verticalmovement with two positions for close down and open cupola.Periscope line recommended in preference to external vanefor line on gun. .V.M.G. Spares box provides excellent platform when standingat Cupola
open position.Driver's R ksemarSteering very poor recommends change to "Hycon" type oflinkage Vision good except for left side and periscope cannot beused when flap is open to cover this view.
-" I--h.v0 . _ 2-1Clutch pedal requires stop as it swings too far towardsdriver.About 50 cartridges are readily available and the handlingis quite satisfactory.There is difficulty for the driver to attempt passing upof rounds as
they are too heavy.Crash type gear box excellent.In general the Tank is a fighting job but would be veryfatiguing to the crew. If the above recommendations, together withan attached list of modifications were carried out it
isconsidered it would be a good fighting tank with excellentarmament.V.E. Hawtin, Lieutenant,Armoured Fighting Vehilces Production.' Enc . n
7T. Modifications.9 to l2 charges in place of Respirator Box.Crew Commanders SeatBox of Turret Tools under Commander's seat.Binoculars moved forward to Gunner's upper incline group.Commanders' switch board
moved forward and upper.Carry cartridges and Commander's spare prisms in place whereswitch was.Modify Water tank guard for extraction of cartridges.4 Cartridges in place of V.M.G Anunition under Loader's seat.Delete
two forward bins or Cocktail cabinet and replace bottombin with respirators and anti-gas equipment.Top box to contain (4) four boxes of V.M.G. Ammunition and sparetelescope.Bren and Austen guns mounted under roof in
Driver's compartmentand over cocktail cabinet together with Bren holdall.Austen Ammunition on door of lower bin (now anti-gas bin.)Modification to ration boxes proper so that all can fit in con-tainers.Loaders I/C control box
moved to left of and above loaders shouldernear shot rack.Hove Leader's prism box to give more freedom of action of periscope.Map case needs to be moved to provide head pad for loader, repos-ition above wireless
set.Spare striker cases to be carried for gun, position below W/Tspares.Fitting of fuse key to deflector guard.Modification to recoil guard to allow actuating shaft, breechmechanism to be extracted without dismantling
guard.Box spares and tools 25 pdr. below spare striker. This wouldcontain only the tools for imediate use in an emergency.Protector guard and step for Commander over limit relay in turret.Press studs for V.M.G. spent
case bage instead of clips and enlargecase opening on guard.Round all the edges on clips of ammunition containers.Remove all clips from Amunition stowed vertically.Side hull clips quite good, no alteration
necessary.Lines on Commanders‘ periscopes.Raise flange around basket by additional 5" to prevent particlesfalling out of basket and causing a jam.Raise rear Ammunition boxes in front of fans to the limit.Cover over
Cardan Shaft at Fans.Redesign Cupola brake and have handle nearer top causing less
‘E.0"‘ ‘.Q, _ 2 __.I‘vfatigue.52. Redesign loaders seat and ammunition rack under.in I 51. Provide eccentric pinsfbr rollers on Cupola for closer adjustment.
, ' )Q'u/5' 7v\._:I I’ * .- Ll. ;/ . MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS-..-I ~, MINUTE PAPER./ ‘)v"v°<'f»‘;as _ 4 ‘\?(Z? 12‘ DATE 12th July, 1910.TO up; I5!" or MUNITIONS.lATTINTI ,3‘. 9 vrcun nsr. oun REF."‘-.Ali‘V: :comm TO Y’; 3; n
7& Barton T HJB MWvi‘SUBJECT As the result of the general depression of the Cruiser TankProgramme, pending finalisation of Design’appr-oval of the vehicles, certain capacitywithin Annexes provided for the Project has
become available, for other purposes.The writer has discussed this matter with Mr. Massey, Chairmeilof the Board of Area Management N.S.W. and Messrs. Kneeshaw and Weymouth of the ShippingBoard, with a view to
rendering such assistance to the Shipping Programme as is possibleduring the next three to four months.An examination of the relevant drawings indicates that theN.S.W. Tank '\nnexea could materially contribute, by the
manufacture of such items asIindlasses, Power Driven Winches, Tow Line Winding Gear etc. This work appearsadmirably suitai for the Annexes now controlled by Messrs. Coote & Jorgensm and Somer-dales. ,The
question of procedure to be adopted in the placing oforders for this work was discussed with Mr. Yneeshaw who desires to forward all renuests. for orders direct to the Board of Area Management N.S.W. ' ‘It is anticipated
that practically the whole of the capacityof‘ these two Annexes could be devoted to Shipping work during the next three monthsand that on recommencement of the Tank Production Programme, capacity in excess of six(6)
Tank Sets per week could continue to be applied in the same direction.However, it is suggested that before accepting large ordersfor work to be carried out in Annexes provided for the manufacture of Tank Parts, theBoard
of Area. Management N.S.W. should consult with this Directorate and obtain ourconcurrence on acceptance of such orders. This procedure will ensure that mchinecapacity would be made available for recommencement of‘
the Tank Rrograxmne as and whenDesign and Army Field Trials have reached a stage where recommencement is possible.Should you concur with this suggestion, we would appreciateyour advice to this effect to be
forwarded to the Board of lrea Management, N.S.W.X’ (. JAM it’/\/:'v‘!:J W5 Armoured Production.W:*"@d*Mj'*@r;» T1/13,1‘~57’(Continue on lad: sterling at this edge)
innrs|.smons= 1- 1 ~TELEGIAPHIC ADDRESS: "AlEAMAN." svnusv mm,- ..| .e.r.o. nox No. nee. svsnsv. _ ,.,,,- ~e {JQ¥f‘§i.; * l =.'*~’ 114% - .54 _Z -’ "HAD '{::~/> COMMONWEALTH or AUSTRALIA. Y" MINISTRY or
MUNITIONS,Au. eoMM::;: L» -= H BOARD OF AREA VMaI~.l.AGEMENT.ms SECRETARY, , I‘ 1 I-'I!FH!F!I!!!'\" 110131 cas'1‘1.1-;n|-zmu s1'nm':Tm nsnv cums No. SYUNFY $YDNEYv ‘p ‘9th July, 1343.- __‘_y MNJ 83
William Street, ' <\“ ,yf( l .u5.mznsounms. 0.1 . -"~ » \!~\A A The Direotor—General, " h &}), Ministry of,Munitions, e v*\y w\, \\ ' yd L ‘4‘ _ 0,v;" _ ,.‘ H »Proposal for A.F.V. Division of the Board of Area- "Y; . . v . Management,
N*S.H‘ to undertake certain workVJw¢ . - - . It on behalf of‘the hipbuilding Board.. . -' ‘.'. .. ~~ . Following recent discussions with you, I would liketo amplify the proposal for the utilisation of existing A.F.V.facilities to
undertake certain work on behalf of the Australian.Shiphtilding Boards. wOffioers of thenhipbuilding Board have*1ndieated to_the Supervising Engineer of the Armoured.FightingVehicles Section in this State that there is a
very large pro-gramme ahead for the manufacture of winches, windlasses, engineroom fittings, cooling water strainers, fuel pumps, reduction gears_ and other units necessary for the fitting out of small ships.The policy of
standardisation has been followed in the design ofthese units an therefore it is suggested that they should bemanufactured on a production basis, utilising-wherever possiblespare capacity from A.F.V. annexes.2. A large
number of cast steel anchors will also berequired which should enable A.F.V. steel foundry annexes to beutilised.3. Up to the present the Shipbuilding Board has notarranged for_the production of these fittings in large
quantitieson a production basis, having relied on semi-Jobbing methods forthe first few deliveries of small ships. Officers of the Ship-building Board felt that as the A.R.V. Division of the Board ofArea Management has
already in existence an organisation withprocedures and routines fully developed.and with smooth relation-ship amongst various contractors for the location of capacityand for the'planning, co-ordination and fo1lbw=up‘of
production,it would be preferable to utilise this existing organisationfor certain production rather than to train new staff on the work.4. The Supervising Engineer, A.F.V. Section, reportsthat the work in question is well suited
to A.F.V. annexes andother contractors and that spare capacity is available to givethe Shipbuilding Board considerable assistance. Mr. Bromleyof the A.F.V. Directorate concurs in this view.5. At its Meeting on Wednesday
last, the Board approvedthd/
“e1 1 10.0- tododoI, .r‘ . W?‘ '~-1:1.v ii ;r‘:2.2 '= ~ .11. ~ k'.‘ -the principle of its officers undertaking this work on behalfof the Shipbuilding Board. Appropriate procedureiis providedin the memorandum from the Secretary,
Ministry of Munitions,dated 13th November, 1942 (ref. Munitions 285/ll/210) whichsets out that the Australian Shi building Board hay‘ laceorders direct on Boards of Area anagement. The relevantportion of this instruction is
contained in clause-4 (a) andreads as fol1ows:- . ."The Australian Shipbuilding Board will issue:-. ¢(a)-Memorandum to-Boards of Area Management;for all requirements from inland shops. The, Board of Area Management
will then arrange foranQ'S Q V‘ order, S C N‘ order, etc. to beW""p1aeaa on the contractor, in accordance withthe normal procedure. (The last letter in the, ;. series will denote the State ordering)".6. The Board therefore
proposes to operate along theselines, and arrangements have been made tor the Shipbuilding Boardto-supply advance prints or certain_winches and windlasses toenable production planning to commence. ~ v7. The Board
will furnish copies of orders to theController of Production and Statistics, and also to theDirectorate or A.F.V. in order to ensure that the interests ofA.F.V. production are adequately safeguarded. _¢ / V 1 */éz/%r-'4*"‘“
J‘/(Chairman).4» -J. K. Jensen, Esq., V 'the Director or Armoured_Fightin§ Vehicles.the Controller of Production a » tatistice.\<
/ »- * v/‘I1-spar:-gpnpuoen _ I,-I_.—’j]...T¢EGIAP"|C ADDRIII: “AIIAMAN IYDNIV a.r.o.\Iox No 11cc. evnulv. ‘ - J‘ ‘Q I ‘ ()(%§$§5‘i “WY]§1\LZPII ()1? A\[IE§qqR1\]4I£\“ ' E‘ .'-1‘1"{S.!l - g,Q_ ""7 "=<,';r" » A 7"! 91 0" J-Iv.
;3\__,:“,;A='am/mm. \_!§m,;_ \,. as ».n~irhdn$_ U J Q =)Y@113 ;éJ6M:a'I.<;c ‘alga ;;,Jg3§.-‘f;1'_§"{;'\,,,z, 9,3 ,"§PQ§§|,_]Q§¢;3-Al_i§,Q MANAGEMEN'[_;-@@<>>'-aft-'1» -'2‘,j,,,"},“,,,-,,,§‘41,,, mister: -1; msieleeh
rzmxarelmlsmsmtensseu-.siRssT.ms s|:cR|=:1'A. s iL;. ‘l‘ <- .::i‘Yro1,-iLo~;q bur, ~,n_'_.’ooJ -ac? iiJO\’iSYDNEY. M L1’),e".'§§"'h‘b9f"‘L .J1l'Vs c»: ~;"2s_\c»-J.-1 so 'mvs~~ro.; I[iw9§P July’ 194310su '.i-~ied n‘ 5'1-mcv oa
171' .c%i 3:‘: »;i'o’:>.r:e Lliw ..:w"£.' \;I;':<~.:;-.»—m 1»;-.._=» e";~:i";‘ .=.;l>1:1I1',’..'.:‘,'_»-~-.14, :1; we mu 1 '..;vl' " .2 AC '1': *':9.'1"c, -4'11"’. Ho; '~-- W. .a:7:1‘wm _' "§3l""¢1-mm%F¥§5P5';$. $§99§atzs.T\'.-1» ;:A
.::o’:!e;'b:-:11 ;'2.~'s'I-T212. TI:‘IOU";Y"’*6Z5!!§!'¥Q%1Hay 51$ 223.1’ V111 L-1:101: ‘>'1¢,;»-‘I $1.3 no 'a°Ie,:':--‘K0 ‘J.5‘JC "ems uni’ _ w_I),_\s":.[:~> 1;“ est .‘c'_s:;:s;._-=:.1.5:;: ed: am ,\;:1,3t.t_.eZ ‘"‘~’*3"-'~='*,-*» '1-9"
PBJIPI» ,Dse'x£i; ~1.:n| _:5:ZcT mi - oP.;';-i tit-3 =a""§1:. "Juo‘ " ~ I1 1 \. fa OJPu »-J‘ \-'~‘I9%'IO S'I.wEr”.' J -Y ,7/<5 ;~-' N" J3 ,» .. 3 at " ~ r J‘ ~ es ¢' a game asW x/~ or 8 M1398 ;goJeo: Yhosquigb .y '7’»"'"' ' "1
>_._i'zi_?\. ><u'-__‘"- '1 '£=.~J3;:.m o>.J no v' ‘V p ' ;»<~ 1 ,;s be’ "em ec'*_’£:~: .1 3"» ~11 - " Q" , "itsZmJD‘~+ UF) L,¢. C,0) “* ‘ ']qa~~ _;_";_ i ..-1, _>_. an {J Joe LF.\_"1;s'J ed .11»: {*z¢\q,- \‘£_:;',_§ mi ,ii£'.l .~.""‘*w
=;x3‘_[_(_;_;__= _,=_;,=- ¢- D , H _' .. '3, ___ C}, ft), n ertggg gdegssi; ‘§'fbe‘t\_g fthd Super-vising ngingeg éléhg °g~'$gt1a “ i ti g“*v§iisf&s~§§2e1eH of theBoard of Area Management, and Mr. Merrett of the Factory
EquipmentSection, I have discussed with Major Murray Jones ways and meanswhereby the Board of Area Management could assist the DH-98 Projlect.I ' .0 " 3.“, _ xhseistance is definitely required by this Company intool
m'§~.‘H,Q‘de p , and the Board can assist by making availablethe services 3 . _ and Jig designers of the A.F.V. Section ofthe Board, stations ~at Sonnerdale Pty. Ltd., Coote and JorgensenPty. Ltd., and at head office. In
addition, certain employeesof Gootem§gd_;g_qg;ensen Pty. Ltd. can also be made available to assist3. It appears‘, 9. _ tiigmreware‘ no f iculties of pro-oedure in the matter ;€,;_|'%§.§$§%,€§:§l'g1e;§?1€;_be,a%-5s;$‘r°tool
andJig designe;3~_e;;a;._J.,,,§:i|a' , Ly," Q 3b ,4?! m t“fcr the DeHavilland Company to reiigurzyge ames‘ d“‘€8 te‘ "4-Iibrgensensrespectively for the services of the men employed on the aircraftwork. This is desirable in
order that the respective Pro_1ectsbear their proper proportions of cost.4. It is possible that assistance may be required in themanufacture of some of the tools and, to a small extent, in theproduction of components.
Temporarily, tool room capacity andcertain mnufacturing capacity can be made available from A.F.V.annexe s/
K-.v-ii;6*'..: a{.lJI.?l"i'5‘1 31. "51? H'§\h'_1‘i 11'/I‘"“°*°° at °°°t° §x‘9r?S:‘F?F§¥1°§¥*, 2;qTEIl'E‘§'zV’.-\’7’,,'- PM" = >4 x 1-; =nuA :>>~.L~.»\n--1.,-'2:_,.~.-én I .. ~~_i;~?»$§§i~$-. - Q ,wgETgiQ1' »ssbor-1 ‘EH01--1% 41Me
?§¥"\.".}§'$8'i.-T'**""‘3"‘3"“"""" ni*:"~e:~em§a§~~a»r the A.§‘.V;_.'Birectorete concurs in theTI‘3‘?26a&‘Q|*5°\i&§#*’1a!€1@erta1n aeeietanoe can S -i1%:‘§;i)ii¢i[gj,g';£yr“m*mexes,\?w=;\‘reboth for tooling and production or
its .»":;,{s1;.'-9.-1%:-3:: Qw-¢--.v -1 ,. >'\\.*_=,»+._*i \‘;_.~.uc ’~ » ~;'7'_6. It‘-‘will however be necessary to a§}§~oVe5a procenrewhich will enable the Board to carryolut erde on_fce1;al_1f of Deavillagdei a . There would
ordimr1ly'ipm B£¥%$1onstto the oard accepting orders from a p ivat firm u 115 thiscase De Havillande already act as orde¢‘i%€l'FV0’9IbEQ Bliaartmexuof Aircraft Production. An extenféhi 1'" lgq) agencyto cover orders on
the Board would involve mi‘ Vt "r_Q_i§1nerat1onto the Company, as the management fee 'i=e~alreadyq You areno doubt aware that Major Murray Jones -has’ already asked fOI'B9.pprOV--, ;-'_, o w ia 0 y t_ ace orders on.
the card \' F‘ ' s ' @P£°§5§u will consider e g%*'%*e-=» ~ *1-t ;_0 :0 _ hi N " M _1f _ ‘_ I H 179. >'(§"--1 _O V > »Min:;tr?' ‘ ' 9% 10‘ ~\ »_~ ’- V,‘ ""’7. I am ni y on the matZer~of‘3hip‘ou1*1d1ngwor to be carried out by
cm Board. It will e appreciated that._<f'>)_ .-_v Q; , e d‘ Shi buil 1;: work will, in general,@432; he@¢§§3§a“‘§%§§$§5§g§§,%§%§§B%=?‘f~=‘gi§§¥Rrt w@1;r,- 1 _Jq_‘r_ xi "~ _ F" —w ¢*»~ '- u ~ min on c qnsJ;wui :J;21:L
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»ulWH4'P~ia.\"t\’ /~’.r %»v*’M A I J07' 28th June, 1943. P!§!ORANDQ! FOQ !. LEEISQQQUGHTSMEN EEQI g,E.V. FOR AIRCRAFTMr. Merrett telephoned from Sydney this morning tosay that he had discussed with Mr.
Bromley of A.F.V. thequestion of the latter releasing from six to eight draughtsmenfor service with the Beaufort Division at Fisherman's Bend.Mr. Bromley informed him that the question of the release ofdraughtsmen from
A.F.V. for aircraft purposes was awaitingyour decision, and it is since noted that you decided nodraughtsmen should be released for this purpose.Mr. Merrett pointed out that due to the possibilityof a fundamental change in
design of the Mk. IV turret, itwould be impossible for A.F.V. draughtsmen to proceed withdetail work until the design had been finalised. This beingso, he feels that there must be a number of draughtsmen atFishermen's
Bend who normally would be doing detail work butwho perhaps could be released for approximately one monthor until the major design has been fixed. He has discussedvthis question with Mr. Walker, the Designing
Engineer of'§A.F.V., who was sympathetic towards the proposal, and‘Mr. Bromley himself felt that it might be possible to release(some men for a couple of weeks although he considered one-month might be too long.Of the
five B.H.P. men it was intended to divert from1.F.V. to aircraft work, one has transferred to BeaufortDivision, one is at De Havillands in Sydney, a third is stillin Melbourne and it may be possible to divert him to aircraft,whilst
the remaining two have returned to Newcastle, andMr. Merrett is not disposed to ask that they be sent backto Melbourne. Therefore, of the l5 draughtsmen required byBeaufort Division, they have so far only received one
withthe possibility of the second B.H.P. man still in Melbourne,and an additional man from the Sydney County Council who hasalso been on loan in Melbourne.The foregoing is brought to your notice in caseyou should wish
to mention it to Mr. Merrett tomorrow evening.c4 M ‘iv s» ati“; §%;(; X A \ it/__ Kg--. \~ . _ _ _ _ _- _kl A» /\-* as,\Ya_ u0“
pa ~\SECRET.' " ___.._._M.lld1ST Y OF MUNITIONSY?t~\\‘3“*'%> M V UTE PAPER I’ T V ~.>r JUN\943 25th June, 191.5.TO ma mmscron ctsw. ow MUNITIONSA'|1':n~r|ou or -»-~|--~--- voun nsr. our: n:r.lIU-Fvi-
TF§=MWCOIIII TO Mr. Walker 1 7 7 3sumac?Information has been received by the writer from the Department ofthe Army to the effect that a cable, dealing with Mark IV‘. Cruiser Tank Design has been lreceived. from
Colonel G. Parker who is now in the U.S.A. with Mr. Code.In substance this cable states that the latest trend in U.S. Tankdesign is towards elimination of the Turret Basket and the incorporation of an Oil GearType Turret
Cont:-cl and Westinghouse Gun Stabiliser worked frrm a 22.. volt system.Colonel Parker requests that General Staff approve of these itemsbeing introduced in the Australian Cruiser Tank Mark IV. and the matter is now
receiv-ing consideration.The cable also states that in Mr. Code's opinion, the Mark IV. Pro-gramme will be put back three months if this design change is incorporated.To some extent this cable explains our recent
coznmunication fromMr. Ash (No.V.12122) which stated that certain new components have been approved forpurchase in the United States by Mr. Code. In the writer‘ opinion, the set back tothe Mark IV. Irograxmne may
quite easily exceed three months, as Colonel Parker's sug-gestion involves the scrapping of the existing Mark IV. Turret Support by central pivotand the incorporation of a new design presumably U.S. type MA.So far as we
have been able to ascertain, very little informationin the form of working drawings of the General Sherman U.S. MJ+. 'T‘snk exists inAustralia and further development of design will depend upon this information
becomingavailable. 'A cable to Mr. Code is being drafted requesting that blue prints ofthe proposed new American ccmponents be forwarded imediately by Air—mai1 and an M.h..Tank is being examined by the Design
Section in order to determine the extent to whichexisting design may be affected.Relative to the question of Mark IV. design, the Directorate has hadthe use of nine draftsmen from the Broken Hill Pty. Co. for the past three
months.These men were seconded for a period of three months, which time has now elapsed andurgent requests are being made for their immediate return. Mr. MOCorm-ad: of theFactory Equipment Section who has been
making the request for the return of the Drafts-mm has diverted five who were located at Fisherman's Bend to Aircraft production, andhas arranged for two others, who were working for our Section in Sydney to be
divertedto De Hevillend Aircraft Pty. Ltd.Mr. Mccormack is also requesting that we supply further draftsmenfrcm our own staff, and we would appreciate your direction in this matter.__,____.----_.for A. R. DOE,
'Director,Armoured Figxting Vehicles Broduction.- 1/"(Continue an hula om-ting at this edge)
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