‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎80r] (164/246)

Two Divisions have 18 field guns, 18 prs, each,
while each of these 1 divisions has 4 fine inch howitzers.
(3) following is the Corps Artillery
8 sixty-pounder guns,
12 four point five inch howitzers,
8 five inch howitzers,
2 four inch guns.
1 (six inch howitzer) ?
2 naval twelve pounders on extemporised mountings for anti-aircraft
work.
(4) Pollowing is Cavalry Brigade Artillery :—
4 Thirteen pounder guns.
(5) No very large preponderance over the artillery of the enemy force
with which we have been in contact on the Tigris is given by the abo’v e. A
maximum of 80 guns, including 15 twelve and twelve point five centimetre
guns, is the estimated strength in guns of this enemy force.
(6) Our assumption that more heavy artillery for enemy is on its way to
Mesopotamia is based on fairly reliable grounds, >-
(7) Bellowing are what I consider my artillery should be reinforced by
to enable me adequately to deal with either alternatives postulated in paragraph
one:—
(а) To allow of each division having 2 Brigades of 18-prs. each, Divi
sional Artillery total should be increased by 2 Brigades of same.
(б) One battery of 8 inch howitzers and one Brigade of 6 inch howitzers
should be added to the existing Corps Artillery.
(o) For the half battery of 4 inch guns either one additional battery of
60 pounder guns or one section ol 6 inch Mar.v &
should be substituted.
(d) As 5 inch howitzers are short range and inaccurate weapons and are
unshielded and further because the recent operations have proved
the futility of trying to destroy the enemy s trenches without
accurate and adequate howitzer fire I recommend that all my
5 inch be replaced by 4 point 5 inch howitzers.
(e) To compensate for the 2 thirteen pounders destroyed and captured
in Kut 2 others should be supplied. . , „ ,
(/) 36 jointed 30 feet ladders, 1 per battery, are also required tor obsci-
vation purposes.
(g) As regards anti-aircraft guns, I have already stated my requirements
in my No. 1037-21-0. (Dy. tfo. 55356) of May 22nd.
(8) To enable my artillery to he in a state of readiness to meet any future
situation I strongly urge that steps to augment my gun power m aspects
enumerated above, may he taken at an early date. Shou is su 03 .t.
postponed until the actual necessity for the same becomes acute i w -
ously, owing to the long transit by sea to this country and thence by nvei up
tiic Tigris, be too late to attempt to make good the defect.
(9) Guns of the 15th Division on the Tigris Line and those on the Lines
of Communication, which together amount to 12 eighteen pounders and — ten
pounder mountain guns, have been omitted from the abo^ e detai o my
mobile artillery.
Addressed India, repeated London.
Working copy to D. G. (_)., G. S. (M. 0.1, M. 0. 2).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., G. S. (M. 0. 3, S. D. 3).
247
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