"النقل الآلي الطرق في بلاد فارس. المجلد ١ - الطرق الرئيسية. ١٩٤٢" [و‎‎١‎٣‎٦] (٤٩٨/٢٧٦)

M. T. ROUTE No. VII-E.
BAM to KERMAN via MAHUN.
Distance. —130 miles.
Number of stages. — 7.
Date of compilation. —December, 1937. Amended January 1942.
Reference sheets. —24-K, G and F.
Authorities. —M. A. Tehran, October 1936.
Intelligence Report 1941 (“ Plumrec ”).
GENERAL REPORT.
1. Classificatio7i. —B. 1 throughout.
2. Surface and grading. —An unsoled, lightly metalled and
lightly shingled track of 8' to 10' in width over ground which is
hard and rocky except in the river beds where soft gravel or sand
predominate. There are no gradients of note.
3. Character of adjacent country, —Infantry and cavalry
and A. F. Ws can operate off the road on both sides throughout
its length, except where occasional rocky and precipitous spurs
and a short defile at mile 39 render movement difficult. Conceal
ment from the air is totally lacking.
4. Climatic effects .—The rainfall is small but thunder
storms (chiefly in May and June) may cause spates and block the
road at the numerous nullah crossings. The road is seldom
blocked by snow in its last 30 miles and never in its first 60 miles
as the altitude is lower and the winter climate much milder. The
heat in BAM in summer would make troop movements by day a
trying ordeal for infantry.
5. Exceptional features. —Nil.
6. Repair facilities. —Road metal is available throughout—
though in the first 15 miles the soil is mostly gravel. Timber is
very scarce throughout, labour is plentiful at BAM and
KERMAN, fairly plentiful at MAHUN and very scarce elsewhere.
Two steam rollers are believed to be in KERMAN.
7. Supply facilities. —(i) Camping grounds. —Sites are plenti
ful in the first 20 miles, scarce thence to mile 60 and plentiful
thereafter.
(i) Water. —Scarce except at the places mentioned.
(ii) Supplies. —Plentiful at BAM and KERMAN, fairly
plentiful at MAHUN, very scarce elsewhere the country traversed
being arid desert or mountains.