File 5257/1919 'Persia: the Military Commission' [‎102v] (211/534)

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Small Arm Ammunition,
i Arm Ammunition. ^ u , .
245. Similarly stocks of small arm ammunition should be obtained from Britisii
sources. The Commission consider the scale on which small arm ammunition
be maintained should be as follows :
should
(a.) Available in the same locality as the troops 700 rounds per rifle.
(b.) Additional available in ordnance depots m the country, u not necessarily if
the same locality, 500 rounds per lifle.
Of (a) there should normally be 300 rounds per rifle with the troops, and
400 rounds per rifle in the local area ordnance depot, -the total ot (a) and ( 6 ) amounts
to 1,200 rounds per rifle in the ,country.
Ordnajice
246. The nature of the country, especially in tribal regions, where the hulk of the
fin-hting of the Persian army is likely to take place in the near future, renders it
essential that the guns of the Persian artillery should be capable of being carried by
pack transport. The Commission therefore recommend the new British 3d mountain
howitzer as the standard gun for the Persian artillery. The equipment for tins gun
can be so arranged that the gun can either be drawn by a team m t e usual manner if
the ground allows or the teams can be made into pack animals for carrying the gun
and equipment over mountainous or bad roads. .
In order to utilise, however, the /5-cm. French Schneider guns, which the Persian
Government already possesses and the majority of which are new oi m good Older, the
Commission recommend that one artillery regiment in the northern area and stationed
at Tehran be armed with these guns. The regiment would be part of the northern
area troops regarded as a reserve, available to be sent elsewhere if needed.
The 3’7 howitzer referred to above fire a heavier shell than the Schneider, and is
capable of being used as a gun or a howitzer according to the size of the charge used
Gun Ammunition.
247. The Commission recommend that 1,000 rounds per gun be always maintained
in the country^, of which 500 of which should be either with the unit or in ordnance
charge at the same locality, and the other 500 at an ordnance depot where climatic
conditions are favourable for keeping such ammunition without deterioration.
hi the case of 3*7 howitzer, the Commission recommend that the whole of the
shell should be high explosive, and that 75 per cent, of the fuzes be of the instantaneous
on impact type, and the other 25 per cent, ordinary percussion type. The high
explosive with instantaneous impact fuze has equal, if not better, man-killing power
than the shrapnel, and does not require so high a standard of gunnery skill to use it.
Equipment.
248. On the same grounds which have induced the Commission to recommend
obtaining small arms, ordnance and ammunition of British pattern from British sources,
the Commission recommend that the initial supply of equipment should he obtained
from the same sources, though in khis case it should be possible to commence local
manufacture and supply at an earlier date than in the case of arms and ammunition.
The latest patterns of British equipment are the outcome of experience during a great
war, and the Commission are of opinion that the Persian army cannot do better than
adopt the same patterns.
n ^ 1 ? e l th ®.£ rst °f th® reorganised War Office will be to draw up equipment
tables for the different units and services of the army, with regulations for the main
tenance of ledgers and system of drawing and accounting for equipment, matters which
Wlil J 6 ? Uire care f ul attention to ensure that the interests of Government are safe
guarded.
T ! e Commission recommend in general terms that the equipment of the different
arms should be as follows :—
Infantry.
Officers.—Sword and scabbard, Webley revolver, Sam Browne belt, binoculars,
compass, clasp knife and lanyard, water-bottle and haversack, whistle.
atterT 1105 ' ' S ' ^ au ‘ bashis). As for officers, except the sword of n.c.os-
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