COMPARATIVE VALUE OF TARGETS
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REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR ASCENDANCY Tab B European Theatre - Appendix G-IX Rubber |
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No. |
Place |
Name of Plant |
Output in tons/annum |
Percentage of Total |
|
1. |
Schkopau (Merseburg) |
Bunawerke G.m.b.H. |
38,000 |
18.5% |
|
2. |
Huls (Recklinghausen) |
Chemischewerke Huls G.m.b.H. |
59,500 |
29% |
|
TOTAL |
97,500 |
47.5% |
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NOTES: 1. It is estimated that the minimum operational requirements of Germany call for a consumption of about 200,000 tons of rubber per annum. This total production is obtained from four main sources – natural rubber by blockade running from the Far East, reclamation, production of synthetic rubber and available stocks. It is not possible accurately to forecast the amount of rubber which can be brought in by blockade running, but it is clear that the output of the two synthetic rubber plants mentioned above represents practically 50% of requirements and, if destroyed, would reduce available supplies below absolute minimum requirements and would render the rubber situation extremely critical and probably decisive. |
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1. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETS
The synthetic rubber plant layout is complicated and involves many chemical processes, and it is not possible to detail these within the scope of these notes. Whilst they are large and laid out with a view to minimizing the effects of bombing, they are highly vulnerable to air attack in view of the nature of the materials employed and the complicated chain of continuous processes involved.
2. NUMBER OF DIRECT HITS AND TYPE OF BOMBS REQUIRED
It is considered that it is desirable to employ 600 lb. bombs and to lay on such a weight of attack that not less than 50 of these bombs fall within an aiming point area of 1000' by 1000'.
3. NUMBER OF SORTIES AND BOMBER FORCE REQUIRED
Based upon detailed calculations taking into account all operational factors involved in making attacks against highly defended targets, with appropriate allowances for probabilities, aiming errors, losses, etc., etc., and allowing for the fact that with the weight of attack proposed the destruction will be such that the plant will take more than 6 months to repair and, hence, that no further attacks will be required it appears that it will be necessary to have:--
286 SORTIES
In order to carry out these sorties in 35 operational days a force of:—
11 BOMBERS
must be set-up.