Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎174v] (348/807)

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(iii) A number of crated “ Tiger Moth ” aircraft, stated to be fifteen—twenty,
have arrived in Tehran by rail from Bandar Shahpur. These are to be assembled
at the Iranian Aircraft Factory An East India Company trading post. . They are presumably for use at the Mehrabad
Flying School.
(iv) The number of employees, less officers and n.c.o.’s, at the aircraft factory An East India Company trading post. ,
Doshantappeh, are stated to be :—
Conscripts ... ... ... ... ... ... • • • 50 '
Mechanics, riggers, apprentices, &c 450
(v) Iranians domiciled in India, who have been recalled to Iran for military
service, after completing four months with the colours are sent to the aircraft
factory An East India Company trading post. , Doshantappeh, to act as clerks or interpreters for the remainder of their
service.
5. The Iranian Army.
(i) Recently the Iranian Ministry of War, through the Berne Purchasing
Committee, called for tenders for the supply of fifty batteries of four guns each,
75-mm. mountain artillery, in order to complete each division with one regiment of
field artillery and one regiment of mountain artillery. The following firms
submitted tenders :—
Messrs. Bofors of Sweden.
Messrs. Cockerill of Belgium.
Rheinmetall of Germany.
It is learned that the Rheinmetall (Germany) quotation was 25 per cent,
lower than either of the two other firms, but Messrs. Bofors’ tender was provision
ally accepted.
The Shah, in the meantime, had given instructions that he wished a factory An East India Company trading post.
for the manufacture of artillery to be constructed in Iran, but Messrs. Bofors
declined to take part in this new enterprise. Rheinmetall willingly agreed to
construct the factory An East India Company trading post. and furnish experts. Payment to be spread over a term of
years. No final decision has yet been made.
Should Rheinmetall obtain this contract there will be a still further increase
in the number of German nationals in Iran.
(ii) An unconfirmed report states that Zabul, now under the General Officer
Commanding 7th Division, will shortly become an independent brigade.
The garrison at Chahbar will come under the orders of the 8th Division.
(iii) It is reported from a reliable source that the following are the present
rates of pay of officers and other ranks in the Imperial Iranian army : —
Officers— Rials -
Sipahbud (general) 6,000
Sarlashgar (major-general) 4.000
Sartip (brigadier) 3,000
Sarhang (colonel) 1,800
Sarhang do (lieutenant-colonel) ... ... ... 1,500
Sargurd (major) ... ... ... ... ... 1,200
Sarwan (captain) ... ... ... ... ... 900
Sutwan yekum (lieutenant) 650
Sutwan dovum (second lieutenant) 500
Sutwan seyum ... ... ... ... ... 450
Other ranks—
(^Ustuvan yekum (warrant officer I) ... ... 280
( 1 )G T stuvan dovum (warrant officer II) 250
(^Guruhban yekum (quartermaster-sergeant) ... 170
QGuruhban dovum (sergeant) 120
(^Guruhban seyum (lance-sergeant) 90
Sarjukheh (corporal) 15
Sarbaz (private) ... ... ... ... ... 7-50
(iv) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 3 (current), paragraph 17 (ii). The
fifty motor-cycle combinations ordered from Fabnque nationale beige are expected
to be delivered in July.
(!) Plus 45 rials per mensem for rations.