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Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎22v] (49/133)

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The record is made up of 1 file (63 folios). It was created in Feb 1932-7 Feb 1942. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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18
SECTION VI
PORTS, ANCHORAGES AND THEIR DEFENCES
Notes. —1. Information is required in accordance with C.B.3000 (38), Chapter III,
Section 5, to cover other ports for addition to this section. Any such reports rendered would
be enhanced in value if accompanied by an up-to-date plan.
2. On no account should the navigational information given under this section be used
without reference to the Official Sailing Directions published by the Hydrographic Department.
AKABA
(Lat. 29° 31' N., Long. 35° 00' E.)
[See Plan 8 and Admiralty Charts 8a and 3595.)
(1) General Remarks
Gulf of Akaba
The gulf of Akaba extends in a north-easterly direction for about 100 miles and varies
in width from 7 to 14 miles. The entrance to the gulf is obstructed by extensive reefs
surrounding Tiran Island, leaving two channels. The western channel is only two cables wide
between the reefs, and the northerly wind and swell come down through it with great force
at times. The eastern channel is about a quarter of a mile wide.
The shores of the gulf are closely bounded by mountain ridges, which are continued
to the northward on each side of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Akaba, a wide and desert valley, the water courses
of which are dry for the greater part of the year. Along the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. these ridges rise in many
places from the plain like walls and the passes over them are extremely difficult. The gulf
is subject to violent and almost constant northerly winds, which blow with considerable force.
During April and May they are usually moderate and then an occasional change to southerly
winds may occur as also during the winter months. These northerly winds raise a considerable
swell and the gulf is consequently almost devoid of native craft. The shores of the gulf are
steep-to and the only anchorages along the eastern coast.are at AKABA {see below) ; between
Omeidar Island and the mainland ; at BIR AL MASHIYA, under a sandy point in about
5 or 6 fathoms ; at SHERM DHABA and at SHERM MUJAWAN, a snug cove with a narrow
entrance with a depth of about 2| fathoms. All these anchorages except the last one are
exposed to the southerly winds, which sometimes come on suddenly and blow hard.
AKABA
AKABA lies on the eastern side of the head of the gulf of the same name. The head of
the gulf forms a semi-circular bay extending for some three miles north and northwest of the
village. The shore is very low, and abreast of the village consists of sand. There is anchorage
off AKABA village in 11 fathoms, and also at the head of the gulf.
The importance of AKABA lies in its proximity to the following frontiers at the head of
the Gulf of AKABA
(a) SINAI-PALESTINE, which runs in a 335° direction from a point 254° 5 miles
from AKABA village.
(b) PALESTINE- TRANSJORDAN Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , which runs in a 010° direction up the WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
ARABA from a point about 310° 2-2 miles from AKABA.
(c) TRANSJORDAN Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan -SAUDI ARABIA, which runs from EL BURG point to
MEDAWARA, some 80 miles inland. This frontier is not recognized by
IBN SAUD, who claims AKABA as Saudi territory.
(2) Port Facilities
It is estimated (September, 1941) that the port capacity is about 100 d.w. tons per day.
It is to be developed.
Lifting Appliances
Nil.
W arehouses
Nil.

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Content

This file consists of two parts. The first part (folios 1-9) begins with a 'state of report' document for an Admiralty Naval Intelligence Division report entitled 'Arabia, Intelligence Report'; the 'state report' concerns the updating of the report in October 1941, and it includes a list of maps, plans and photographs that are contained in the report. There then follows a small amount of correspondence between India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , War Office, and General Staff (India) officials regarding the supply of an earlier issue of the report, dated 1939.

The second part of the file consists of the actual report, entitled 'C.B. 1892 (X) (10/41) Arabia Intelligence Report', dated October 1941, with appended maps, plans and photographs relating to Arabian Peninsula ports. The report is divided into four sections (six sections are listed in the table of contents, which lists sections one and three, most of section two, and one part of section five, as 'not issued', i.e. not printed in this edition of the report).

The first section to appear in the report is entitled 'Section II: Strategy and Tactics'; parts 1 and 3-6 of this section have been omitted, leaving part 2, which has the heading 'Possible Lines on which War Plans would be Framed'.

The next section, 'Section IV: Geography and Topography', provides an overview of the geography and topography of the Arabian Peninsula, including information about climate, transport facilities (including a table of landing grounds and seaplane anchorages), and communications.

The third section, 'Section V: Base Facilities and Maintenance of the Fleet' (from which part one has been omitted), provides a summary of principal commercial dockyards and repair bases, locations for fuel storage, supplies and storage of ammunition, fixed coastal defences, and aircraft.

The final section of the report, 'Section VI: Ports, Anchorages and Their Defences', proceeds through a number of Gulf ports in alphabetical order (i.e. Akaba, Bahrain, Doha, Hodeida and Ras Kethib, Jedda, Kamaran, Kuwait, Mukalla, and Muscat), describing each place's port facilities, anchorages and defences, as well as providing other information relating to matters such as government, commerce, water supply, transport and communications.

Enclosed with the maps and plans is a symbols chart, which lists some of the symbols used in the maps and plans.

Extent and format
1 file (63 folios)
Arrangement

The Arabia Intelligence Report contains a table of contents. The maps, plans and photographs, which are listed below the table of contents, appear after the main text of the report.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The file is formed of two parts. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover of the first part at 1 and terminates at the inside back cover of the second part at 65; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎22v] (49/133), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2160B, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043097172.0x000032> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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