ETO, Logistical Build-Up in the British Isles

R-E S- T-R- I-C-T -E-D
ted from ship-side to the proper dcpote, Consldcrations cf efficiacy
dictated that sorting sheds be used only when rehandling in the port
aea would eliminate the necessity of rehandling and rerouting by the
depot to which the su-lies would othertrise be sent.
Therefore, sprting sheds cam to be used principally by those
supply Services having a substantial number of depots md recei~nga
large number of Bifferent item of relatively mal1 bulk, such as
parts and sized items. The principal uBem of sonting sheds, in order
of inportance, were brtennaster, Air Force, Service Conriande, Or&lence
& dedical$
In neny respect6 8Orti1~g ehede performed tho functions +the.$
would have been perfomed by Sase Depots had it been fecsible to establish
and operete them as such.
72. The Prom-ement of Sortlw Sheds from the 3ritish was eccmp-
lished to the extent bf approximately & ~,ooOaquR1.e feet by early 1943.
mame sorting sheda, axistine in the imniedinte vicinity of every nqjor
port, had been used by the 9ritish only In sxceptioncl circunstesces
when necessary to clear the porti. Tuey hRd beski held mppty for use
in emergencies, such a8 e. breakdown $n the transportation system or
disruption of the supply system by bombing, T b British were d o u s to
continue antaining the sorting ahids for either dnericen or British
ues on thin basis. ?hey were inclined to ooneider as unwise the una of
the sheds aB an integral md nornal part of any supoly dietribution
uystem. The compromise reached includad the nravislon Lhet the U.S.
&my 8hOUld 00 operate most of the sheds turned over to theu that they
oould be evacuated within a very few day8 if necessary. This nscensity
fortunateLy never arose.
73. Conclusions,
a,. Sorting sheds ahould be provided to facilitate aorting of
@.Ippliae in tho Immediate vicinity of ports and to clear docks when in-
land transportation is not available.
b. Sorting sheds 8hpuld be used only to the mini” extent
nsceeeary to prevent exoesn interdegct ehipmeats reeulting from in-
proper sorting at ports, and to keep dooks clear. Their use for other
purposes is uneconomical in trsnaportation and mconer.