Gun Defences at Isolated Stations

National Archives of Canada

S.34-1-6
8th October, 1943.(AMAS)

SECRET

DCAS

Gun Defences at Isolated Radar Stations

1. At flag "A" you have concurred in the provision of 18 pounder guns at isolated radar detachments on the East Coast and Queen Charlotte Islands.

2. A report has now been received from Eastern Air Command, recommending that the 18 pounder at Cape Bauld be retained and that similar weapons be provided for the radar stations now in course of erection at Brigg Island and Spotted Island in Labrador. Consideration has also been given to the installation of similar weapons at Langara Island and Cape St. James in the Queen Charlotte Islands.

3. Whilst the retention of the 18 pounder at Cape Bauld is recommended, it is considered that in the light of the approved scales of attack, the difficulties of obtaining this type of weapon from the Army and our recent concurrence in the withdrawal of 18 pounder from certain air bases on the West Coast, you may wish to reconsider your earlier decision.

4. As regards guns for the detachments at Brigg Island and Spotted Island, because these detachments are well off the main shipping routes, it is considered that they are under little liability to attack by enemy U-boats. As regards Langara and Cape St. James in the Queen Charlottes, both of these sites are very inaccessible and in the case of the latter, the gun would have to be mounted on a high precipitous rock which has absolutely no cover. Furthermore, as the 18 pounder is considerably outranged by the Naval calibre guns mounted on German and Japanese submarines, the principle need for protection is from enemy landing parties and this could be better provided by supplying the detachments with machine guns or submachine guns.

5. D/AMAS (Ops) concurs in the above.

(KM Guthrie) A/C
D/AMAS