'File 8/46 Staff Officer (Intelligence), Persian Gulf, Intelligence Reports' [‎33r] (65/70)

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G0NITD1OTIAL,
NOE ON THE TIIN'IRIAL IRMXAIT' SCUTIilURN^
This note ic made to give a rough guide on the establishment
and character of the above Force. It is not guaranteed to be
accurate in every detail. The strength of the Southern Naval
Forces at present is 34 Officers and 450 Warrant Officers and
Ratings. The IToadouartora of the Force are at the Khorrmnshahr
Naval Base at the junction of the +Sh&tt-al-Arab and the Karim,
I attach hereto a schedule ahoY/ing the present holders of the
various appointments. , . .
The majority of the Officers were trained at the Ttalian
Naval College at Livorno prior to the last -war, which accounts
for the abnormal percentage of high-ranking officers. The type
of individual c ©minis si on od to the Navy generally is superior to
that of it her a Forces in Iran, and I have found all the Naval
Officers to be most co-operative and helpful.
The strength of o Southern Naval Forces is at present
3 sloops built in Italy •eproximatoly l6 years ago. The tonnage
of each of these is ahou\ 250 tons and the complement is 4 Offleers
and 100 other ranks. In addition to the sloops the Nay'" has 3
motor torpedo boats v/bich wore purchased by them from the R.A.F,
in Basrah. These craft wore originally American Air Service
Rescue launches and each is powered with ty/in 750 H.P, Douglas
Aero Nngines. The M.T.B's wore examined approximately one year
ago by a Marine Engineer and found to bo in fair condition. They
have not boon so far on service.
There is usually one sloop patrolling the area of the
Makran coast, its main task being to combat smuggling operations
between Arabia, India and Iran. A special dump of fuel has boon
placed at Bandar Abbas and Bushiro which can be used by the Navy
when required. .
Early this year two of the Officers Nakhoda Majlossi and
Afkaird, were taken to Australia and back on a Company tanker to
give them navigational experience. Those Officers fitted in well
With the tanker crev/ and created a favourable impression