ETO, Logistical Build-Up in the British Isles

BESTBICPED
SCl’ION 8
SPplCIdL SUPPLIBS &I9 EQUIPHEITI! mREn
FOR TIC& OPERATIOZT (PROCO)
27. Background. During 1942 and early 1$3, all Items required
to Wet mjor operational needs rwere rpecified first by COSSAC knd
later by G-b of Eeadquartors, ETO, Their eqerlenco 13 atteqtinp to
compile a complete list of items, and Lhe defioi- br-t to
light by the mounting of a portion of the African nyeration iron the
Sritish Isles led to the conclusion that only the Special Staff Sections
Of 505 ~oaaesssd adequate technical an2 detailed hnovledge to calculate ,
coaj-jlete requirements.
28. Baais of CRLculaEions. Theiefore in June 1943, -hen the “ar
Department direcked the European Theater to 6Ubmit requirements far
major Class IV items end for Class I1 Items above T/U mG T/E for the
remainder of 1943 and 19N1, it was decided to &e evaila3le to the
50s Supply Serrices &e.eouate taotical and logistical infomation to pcrnit
them to calculate their own requlremsnts. Separate reaidrements
for U~OOJIUIIOII items were to he submitted ’by thk &tr Force.
The tactical and logidtical basis for nalculating thse reoulrsments,
based partly on asmmtions and partly on information availabls
from EWOPRIU Theater Headqusrters. and COSSAC, was published 02
24. June 1gL’ by Hadquarters 505, in a concise seven-pege doauPciht vhlch
CW~Eto be one of the more important factors in placing logisticel planning
Rnz preparetions on e. firm b8sls2. htndmental facts contained in
the document vcre suhjitted to end aqproved by tlie Ynr Department ths
providing a con!” basis for submitting and sdlting requlrementsf.
It i s worthy to aota that this document included wimt prqved
to be, with one or two exceptions, the minim acceptable information
upon vhl& intelligenot, long-range planning could be basad. It included:
a. Troop basis by mjor 1;Wes of units, e&., divisions,
classified as Infantry, Aruored and Airborne.
b. Rate of t.roop build-up on the Contlnont e.nd rato of troop
iaflou: to the United xiqdom.
c. b?urabcr and characteriatica of Lines of Comuicotions, inalading
an eStimft6 of tho notor transport requireaents.
8. .Jumber of major and minor poth to be rehabilitated.
e. Estimate of nirfield oonstruction recuirod and munber of
plazles t0 be supported on the Continent for the first three months.
f. hthoriaed levels of Supply on ths DohtInent.
g. EstimatB of enemy dfDOlitiOn of porta, bridges, rail equip-
ment, and signal communications, expresaad In percentages.