First British Missile Force Being Raised

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 15

First British Missile Force Being Raised

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, April 29.

Britain is creating her first guided - weapon regiments, equipped with the American Corporal long-range artillery rocket, it was officially announced today. A report on the Army Estimates for the year 1957-58 said that the first surface-to-surface guided weapon regiment is being raised. A second regiment would be raised in the course of the year and would also be equipped with the American Corporal, the report added.

The Corporal, over 40ft long and weighing about 12,0001 b, is a beam-riding artillery rocket which can either a high explosive or nuclear warhead. Authoritative air manuals credit it with a speed of 1980 miles an hour and a range of 150 miles. During the recent nuclear trials in Australia, the Army used a wide range of equipment, including instruments for measuring radiation, which were fully tested, the War Minister (Mr John Hare) said in the report.

He added that the Army was providing engineering and administrative support for the nuclear trials at Christmas Island. Further progress had been made in equipping the Army with operational instruments to measure nuclear radiations from both a nuclear explosion and from radioactive fallout. The reshaping of the Army so that reduced ground manpower was offset by greater efficiency through guided missiles was necessary because of the present strains on Britain’s economy, Mr Hare added.

Reduced Spending The Army Estimates showed that spending this year was expected to be £401.400,000, compared with £ 500,000.000 last financial year. Simultaneously, the strength of the active Army would fall during the year from 373.300 to 335,000 Factors which would enable the Army to spend less this year were reduced orders for new equipment, maximum use of existing stocks, reduced active strength, restriction of reserve Army parttime training, the withdrawal of British contractors from the Suez Canal base, and the ending of the subsidy to the Arab Legion. On regional questions, the Minister made these comments:—

Cyprus: Eoka morale and potential had been severely shaken and the Eoka intimidation campaign was losing ground among the civilian population. Arabian Peninsula: It had been decided to double the Trucial Oman Scouts. These were the units which maintained law and order on the Trucial coast off the Persian Gulf where Britain had

treaty relationships with several sultans.

East Africa: From July 1, the East African Forces, which had been controlled and administered by the War Office since 1939. would become once again the full responsibility of the three East African territories (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika). West Africa: Nigeria. Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Gambia should assume responsibility for their own forces. Malaya: The Federation Army would be increased by’ the formation of two Malay battalions and two multi-racial Federation battalions with a light scale of supporting and admihistrative units. The report said that the decline of terrorist activities in Malaya should enable the British troops to withdraw progressively from their advanced jungle camps during the coming year. Conventional Arms The report described progress in British conventional weapon re-equipment. Troop trials of the F.N. rifle had been completed in Malaya and Kenya, and /the rifle had fully justified expectations. There were 14.000 in service and the United Kingdom production was scheduled to start this year. Bren light machine-guns converted to 7.62 mm. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation rounds, were in service. Large-scale production was planned of a new sub-machine-gun to replace the existing Sten gU User trials would take place this year of possible replacements for the Vickers machine-gun.