File 5257/1919 'Persia: the Military Commission' [‎63v] (131/534)

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difficult and costly. On account of the cost it is therefore considered that the prepay
tion of an aerodrome and the maintenance of a reserve of stores must suffice at Tabriz
and that the u 0 nit for operations on the North-west frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. must be located at a point
whence supply of material would be less costly. . • r , .
whence suppy chief aeria i du t y m connection with this area is
observation and patrol work at sea and on the httoral and offensive operations against
an attemnted landing by a foreign Power. As regards internal work, Chilan is ^
most probable source of double. From Enzeli (the port of Tehran) the whole of u,
Persian Capsian coast and the waters of the Caspian south of Baku and Krasnovodsk
can be covered. Supply of material can be economically carried out m pace-time
from Europe via the Caucasus and Baku, while m case of war, involving a belligerent
Caucasus suddIv could be maintained via Hamadan and Kazvm from Mesopotamia.
It is therefore 3 considered that there should be a flight of machines capable of being
speedily changed from wheel to float type stationed at Enzeli. xhe construction of
an aerodrome for both float and wheel machines is also required in the neighbourhood
of Astrabad Bay. ^ ^ - ,, ,
137 North-eastern Frontier .—The important points in tins area are Meshed
and Seistan. The communications to the latter are fair and the distance from the
railway comparatively short, but Meshed is a distance of 600 miles by i08.d from
Duzdab (the railhead of the Indian railway) or a distance of 560 miles from Tehran,
the latter* over a bad road. The cost of supply of material .to Meshed would be
prohibitive, while maintenance of a flight at Nasratabad would be uneconomical from
the point of view of internal security. The construction of an aerodrome and the
maintenance of a reserve of stores at Meshed is recommended. Meshed could in case
of emergency be supplied from Dizdab.
138. 'Kurdistan .—advance base for operations in Kurdistan would be
Hamadan, where an aerodrome already exists which should be taken over from the
British Government, by whom it was constructed.
North Persia Organisation.
139. In view of the considerations set forth in the preceding paragraph, the
Commission consider that the most economical location for a unit for operations
both on the North-east and North-west frontiers is Tehran, as it is centrally situated
and machines could reach either Tabriz or Meshed in one flight, finding there an
aerodrome, could carry out operations from either of these places, returning to
Tehran on completion. A unit located at Tehran could also underatke all internal
security operations required in the region of the Yezd-Kerman and the Ispahan-
Shiraz roads
140. Three flights are considered the minimum necessary to carry out the atwe
roles. In addition to the provision of the actual flights, certain facilities intk
shape of aerodromes, &c., are considered necessary. A complete summary of
requirements for Northern Persia is as follows:—
Locality.
Tehran,.
Enzeli ..
Astrabad
Tabriz..
Air Force Units needed.
Other Requirements.
Three mobile flights of four
machines each. Each flight
to be a separate mobile
unit
One flight of four machines,
self contained in every way
for work on the Caspian
littoral or South Caspian.
Machines to be convertible
wheel or float machines
Meshed
Ispahan
Hamadan
Aerodrome and workshop buildings,
&c., properly self-contained
every particular.
m
Self-contained aerodrome for wheel
or float machines.
A similar aerodrome to Enzeli, but
not self-contained, having, how
ever, dumps of stores, petrol,
bombs, &c.
Aerodrome to be selected, marked
and improved as such as much as
possible, and designed in all re
spects to accommodate a flight
stationed there for active opera
tions.
As for Tabriz.
Ditto.
Ditto.
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,feared'
r
require to •
barista 11 aI1
143.
confined to^
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which are or
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able river in
proposition
r 144. Ft
from Bushii
transport;
Saidabad.
aerial open
aerial route
145.1
to Saidabai
Bunder Kb
difficulties,
already an:
an aerial p(
Persian Gr
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Charbar or
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