Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎21v] (47/133)

16
SECTION V
BASE FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FLEET
(1) Not Issued
(2) Principal Commercial Dockyards and Repair Bases
There are no dockyards, aircraft factories, commercial shipbuilding or repair works in
ARABIA.
ARABIA has no mercantile marine in the accepted sense of the word. Local motor
and sailing dhows play an important part in the coasting trade. Hence the country is
dependent on foreign carrying power for its trade both in peace and war time. This is
especially the case regarding the import trade.
ARABIA possesses no facilities for building ocean-going merchant steam vessels Local
sailing and motor dhows are built at BAHRAIN, KUWAIT and other ports.
In considering foreign ports in the area at which repairs can be undertaken, facilities
exist at KARACHI and BOMBAY.
In the area of the Red Sea there are two docks at Suez, a floating dock and seven gliding
slips at Port Said and three docks and a patent slip at ADEN (for details see Dock Book).
(3) Fuel Storage
Oil fuel and coal are obtainable at ADEN, and oil at BAHRAIN. No fuel is maintained
by any of the local Governments in ARABIA. Naval oil barges, holding 500 tons each, are
based, one on BAHRAIN and another on KHOR KAWI.
(4) Supplies and Storage of Ammunition and other Naval Material, including Arsenals and
Armament Factories
Although detailed statistics are not available, IBN SAUD has been able to obtain all the
war material he requires as far as the financial resources of the country will allow. This is
particularly so since the lifting of the arms embargo by GREAT BRITAIN and other countries
in 1925. An embargo by GREAT BRITAIN still exists with regard to the YEMEN. The
dominant position held in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by H.M. Ships, combined with the treaty relations
with the various Arab potentates on the Arabian coast, is a decisive factor in controlling the
traffic in arms in this area.
In past years IBN SAUD has received arms and ammunition from POLAND, GERMANY
and the Government of INDIA ; aircraft from GREAT BRITAIN j petrol and benzine
from the U.S.S.R., GREA1 BRITAIN and ITALY ; W/T apparatus from the Marconi
Company (British).
The Imam of the YEMEN has received arms, W/T apparatus and a tank from ITALY ;
arms, petrol and benzine from the U.S.S.R.
This is not a complete list, but so far as can- be estimated all the war material destined
for ARABIA enters the country by sea, particularly via the ports of JEDDA and HODEIDA,
which is the natural result of a long coast line and the fact that no countries engaged in the
manufacture of war material on a large scale are situated on the northern borders.
Arsenals and Armament Factories
There is an arsenal at JABAL HINDI in MECCA and one at MUWAIL (between MECCA
, an d RIYADH). DETAILS ARE REQUIRED of these and any other arsenals.
Probably such weapons as swords and daggers are made in the*country.
(5) Defended Areas
So far as is known there are no modern fixed coast defences in ARABIA. The forts in
existence are either unarmed or armed with old and useless guns.
(6) Air
The Saudi-Arabian Government possesses the following aircraft :
Three Wapitis purchased in 1930.
One Caudron-Renault Pelican ’ presented by the French Government in 1936.
One Bellanca four-seater monoplane presented by the Arabian Mining Syndicate
in 1937.
Three Capronis presented by the Italian Government in 1937, the first instalment
t of a promised gift of six aircraft.