'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎44r] (92/294)

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Expenditure of ammunition was very small, and for supply purposes
it was treated in the same way as Ordnance stores. Approximate average
monthly expenditure in action amounted to
.303 S.A.A 70,000 rounds.
Pistol 150 "
Grenades & Bombs j_Q 0
2-pr pom-pom gQO rounds (about 100
3" mortar.
200
3.7” howitzer. 150
r.p.g. )
(about 25
r.P.g.)
(about 75
r.p.g. )
These figures are averages over the period of four months preceding the
arrival of the Emergency Force, when the total strength of the forces
was between 4,000 (in May) and 11,000 (in September). Mortar bomb
expenditure rose rapidly later as more weapons, ammunition, and trained
detachments became available.
vVhen the Haifa Base was established in September a certain amount
of material, especially mortar bombs, M.T. vehicles and parts, etc.,
came direct from England to the Base Depots; but the L. of C. from
Egypt by rail to the C.S.D. Sarafand was still utilized to a large
extent.
There were no animals in the force, except for a few pack donkeys
and the horses of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Farce, and one consequence
of this was that there were never any difficulties regarding water
supplies - a strange contrast to the part v/ater played in Palestine in
the Great War. During operations in the hills water for personnel was
carried by M.T. as far as tracks permitted either in 4-gallon tins,
6-gallon mule tanks, 12-gallon camel tanks (’’fantasses") or improvised
water-tank lorries, and thence by donkey pack in 4-gallon tins - four
or six tins per animal.
Transport is discussed in further detail in Chapter 9.
QUABTEBS
The operations took place almost entirely during the dry summer
season, and tented camps with structures provided by the B.A. F. Works
and Buildings Dept, under contract formed the normal accommodation.
The double ridge tent was the type mostly in use and was found to be
preferable to the bell tent. At first the supply of tentage in Palestine
was sufficient only for one battalion, and it was necessary for reinforce
ments to bring their own tents with them from Egypt. This had various
disadvantages. The local reserve of tentage had first to be used to
get a camp ready for a unit on its arrival. Immediately afterwards the
original camp was struck in order to release tents for the next comers,
and a new camp erected with the unit tentage which had been brought up
from Egypt. It resulted in a considerable waste of labour and trans
port as well as excessive wear on the few available tents. It also
caused delays to train moves, since trucks loaded with tents had to be
ferried, two or three at a time, across the Suez Canal at Kantara.
Eventually a reasonable reserve of tentage was accumulated at Sarafand,
and a small Ordnance Camp Depot was formed there.
In some places - notably Jerusalem, Haifa and Nablus — suitable
billeting accommodation was available. District Commissioners had
powers to requisition for this purpose, and things were facilitated by
the numbers of buildings lying empty as a direct consequence of the
rebellion. Work had ceased at most schools and colleges owing to