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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

Part II. navy

page 308

Part II. navy

‘(5) The Joint Working Committee is recommending to the United States Joint Staff that anchorages at Suva and Nandi are deficient in coastal, anti-aircraft and underwater defences.

‘The authorised requisition of more urgent material for the above and Auckland is quoted and is the same as BAD's [British Admiralty Delegation] 1539 of 31 March.1

‘(6) Projected operations in the South Pacific are to be under the Supreme Naval Commander in New Zealand, with a Deputy Commander to command all troop and air garrisons and all amphibious troops in the area. An advance command post is to be in Tongatabu.

‘(7) The Committee's recommendations for Fiji include:

(a)

Two 6-inch naval guns and ammunition by the United States for Malolo Island.

(b)

The construction of the necessary houses, magazines and store-houses in Viti Levu by local resources.

(c)

Cold-storage facilities for approximately an 800-bed hospital from the United States.

(d)

One harbour tug, United States supplying.

(e)

One net tender for laying nets and loops, and one gate vessel for Nandi and one for Suva from the Pacific Fleet.

(f)

Two minesweepers from the Pacific Fleet.

(g)

Four units AMTB2 guns.

(h)

Four 37-millimetre anti-aircraft guns.

‘(8) Notes by New Zealand Naval Attaché:

(a)

The Committee's attention was drawn to the request for four anti-submarine minesweeping vessels and three double L sweepers in your telegram [No. 273]. The recommendation is that these should accompany Fleet units when using Nandi harbour.

(b)

Ocean-going tugs cannot be spared from America and smaller tugs cannot be shipped.

The provision of flat-bottomed barges with two-ton derrick is being considered for gate vessels. Can New Zealand or Fiji assist with the latter?

(c)

Any Fleet requirements of ammunition in Fiji would be met by ammunition ship.

‘(9) The Committee's recommendations for New Zealand include:

(a)

Warehouses and storehouses to be provided locally.

(b)

Three 6-inch Navy guns from the United States for harbour defence in New Zealand.

1 Not published. Contained details of naval requirements to be supplied for Nandi, Suva and Auckland by the United States Navy Department.

2 Auxiliary Motor Torpedo Boat.