ETO, Logistical Build-Up in the British Isles

That General Depots were more efficient than Service Depots
ivas not neceasarilY proven by tho experience in the Britiah Isles.
General Depot was necessary when the size of a compact installation WBE
such that It could not be efficiently utilized by only one service. The
&nsral 3epot etivcture had the advantage of performing housekeqiw as
well as certain administrative functlone more economically than sepparate
Sorvice Depot8 located togetlier. On tha other hand, Service Secticne
of General Depots found it desirable to maintain staffe that to a sub
stantid extent duplicated the staffs of the General Depot Overhead.
!%e Service Sections could have operated as separate depots with only
aoainal increases in their staffs plus an equitable division of person-
nel being used in General Depot Overhead. But the principle objection
to General Depots was 1;ha.t the SOS Chiefs of Services, responsible for
their own supplies in the final analysis, had an eahelon of controi or
c0-d between them and tlmlr mpplles which in a fast-moving situation
frequently slowed and corqlicateb supply action.
With referenoe further to the desirability of General Dopots,
it is worthy to not that, had the exiatenae of facilities permitted the
establishement of a few large General Depots in the British Isles, the
resulting concentration of nail traffic could not in all probability
have baen handled by the British railway eystem.
66. Control of Depot Operations was a controversial matter never
quite Crystallized to the ~ptisfaction of hither the Base Section Comnandcrs,
the 50s chief6 of Services, or the Dppot Cormanders.
Problems of control brought about by the eslstonce of Gen -
cral Depots Were discuased in the previous paragrqih.
They were relatively insignificant as compared tc bhe problems
inherent in the joint control of depOt8 by the Base Section Commandere
and the SOS Chiefs of Supply Services. Evcn after the Experience of
depob operations in the Britiah Isles there remains a wide difference
Of opinion ae to the extent that Baeo Section Commders should control
depots.
Bese Section Commanders ueually feel that being responsible
for the supply of trocps in their area, they must control the means Of
Supplying these troops. They further point out that, being near aad in
oons'iant contact with the depots, they are in a more faVC"s1e position
to exercise praotioal oontrol. Aleo, by centralizing Control Of 811
labar, utilities, and othcr resourcee in their area Base Section Comman-
&ere are ablo Co Nfill d.1 requirononts more oconoaically and in tho
proper priority.
3.
Status of Depots on 1 JUG 1944 in the British Isler:
Guard Depots 18
Service Dqots k4
Chemical '!arfare 4
Engincer 1
Signal 3
Transportation
Medl cal t
Ordnsnco 17
brtcrmastcr 13
Other similar Installationa 27
Yehicls Parks 11
Aaununition Qumps 9
POL Dumpe 7