'Arabia Intelligence Report' [‎10v] (20/52)

16
SECTION V
BASE FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FLEET
(1) Not Issued
(2) Principal Commercial Dockyards and Repair Bases
There are no dockyards, aircraft factories, commercial shipbuilding or repair works in
ARABIA.
ARABIA has no mercantile marine in the accepted sense of the word. Local motor
and sailing dhows play an important part in the coasting trade. Hence the country is
dependent on foreign carrying power for its trade both in peace and war time. This is
especially the case regarding the import trade.
ARABIA possesses no facilities for building ocean-going merchant steam vessels Local
sailing and motor dhows- are built at BAHRAIN, KUWAIT and other ports.
In considering foreign ports in the area at which repairs can be undertaken, facilities
exist at KARACHI and BOMBAY.
In the area of the Ked Sea there are two docks at Suez, a floating dock and seven gliding
slips at Port Said and three docks and a patent slip at ADEN (for details see Dock Book).
(3) Fuel Storage
Oil fuel and coal are obtainable at ADEN, and oil at BAHRAIN. No fuel is maintained
by any of the local Governments in ARABIA. Naval oil barges, holding 500 tons each are
based, one on BAHRAIN and another on KHOR KAWI.
(4) Supplies and Storage ot Ammunition and other Naval Material, including Arsenals and
Armament Factories
Although detailed statistics are not available, IBN SAUD has been able to obtain all the
war material he requires as far as the financial resources of the country will allow This is
particulariy so since the lifting of the arms embargo by GREAT BRITAIN and other countries
m 192^. An embargo by GREAl BRITAIN still exists with regard to the YEMEN. The
Ji+Wh 11 positlon held 111 the p ersian Gulf by H.M. Ships, combined with the treaty relations
xuth the various Arab potentates on the Arabian coast, is a decisive factor in controlling the
traffic in arms m this area. * 6 Lllt
In past years IBN SAUD"has received arms and ammunition from POLAND GERMANY
from the tTs s'R 6 ^'RFAT^pttf 01 " GKEAT BRITA IN ; petrol'and benzine
^ (Britlht GRtAT BRITAIN and ITALY ; W / T Marconi
ar m s T p :^Tnd 0 Lt e m Y e™™tl ^U r rS 1 R ed ^ W/T ^ a ta " k ^ ITALY '
for f C0 ™P lete llst ' but 50 far as ca w be estimated all the war material destined
for ARABIA enters the country by sea, particularly via the ports of JEDDA and HODEIDA
which is the natural result of a long coast line and the fact that no countries engaged in the
manufacture of war material on a large scale are situated on the northern borders
Arsenals and Armament Factories
and RIYADH) 1 ' de TAILS ' a RE REQUIRE D oHhe^ancTany rttoars^^" MECCA
Probably such weapons as swords and daggers are made in the country.
(5) Defended Areas
So far as is known there are no modern fixed coast defences in ARARTA ti f + •
existence are either unarmed or anned with old and useless guns AKABIA - Lhe forts in
(6) Air
The Saudi-Arabian Government possesses the following aircraft
Three Wapitis purchased in 1930.
One Mu™r I ? enaU ' t i' PeliCan presented b y thc Fren ch Government in 1936..
in 1937 Ur " Seater mono P lane presented by the Arabian Mining Syndicate
Three Capronis presented by the Italian Government in Itw ^
of a promised gift of six aircraft" m 1937 ' the first instalment