Conventional Forces N.Z.’s “Only Real Defence”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29582, 3 August 1961, Page 17

Conventional Forces N.Z.’s “Only Real Defence”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. August 2. Conventional forces were today the only effective contribution New Zealand could make to its own defence, sa d the Naval Board in its annual report tabled in the House of Representatives today. The board said it was restating this belief because in an age of men in space, missiles, nuclear weapons, and nuclear submarines, many persons must wonder why nations continued to develop what were now known a« -conventional" forces. Critics of conventional forces based their arguments mainly on the belief that the initial exchange of nuclear weapons in war would cause such devastation that the combatants would be unable to conduct further operations. Two Factors This overlooked two factors—that it was becoming increasingly unlikely that anyone would begin nuclear war because of the danger of immediate and dreadful retaliation, and that it seemed certain that, given adequate precautions, most of the population would, in fact, survive. However, if total nuclear warfare was becoming less likely, the possibility of limited wars or emergencies was not. the report said. The history of the last 10 to 15 years recorded a steady succession—Korea. Suez, IndoChina. Algeria. and the Congo. All were examples of conventional forces in situations which prohibited the employment of nuclear weapons.

Seventy-eight per cent, of the earth’s surface was covered by water and the unrestricted use of it in neace and war was needed for survival. It was the Navy's task to protect and maintain sea communications. Beyond this, a ship was a mobile force, self-contained, and able to move to a

“trouble area.” to operate there alone, or to transport, support, and supply the Army and Air Force. Sea Operations

The forces which could be ranged against the Western Powers regarded operations at sea as of great importance. In the Pacific Ocean alone, the Communist navies operated more than twice as many submarines today as Germany possessed at the outbreak of World War 11. The submarine was mainly an offensive weapon, and countries such as New Zealand. dependent on long lines of sea communication, must undertake some protection of their own account, the report said.