Heavy Expenditure Involved In Australian Defence Plan

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 7

Heavy Expenditure Involved In Australian Defence Plan

Ret. 11 p.m. CANBERRA, June 4. A naval base at Manus Island, in the Admiralty Group, which may also be used by the United States Navy, is part of Australia’s new defence plan. The plan provides for a naval squadron, a permanent and Militia army and an air force of 16 squadrons, all manned by volunteers. Revealing the scheme in the House of Representatives to-day, the Minister of Defence, Mr J. J. Dedman, said that it would cost £250,000,000 in five years.

Details were as follows: — Navy.—A squadron, including two light aircraft carriers, two cruisers, six destroyers, and three frigates. Permanent Army,—A brigade group, including three infantry battalions and an armoured unit, plus fixed defences. Militia—Two field infantry divisions, one armoured brigade, group corps unit and fixed defences. Air Force.—Sixteen squadrons, comprising 144 aircraft, backed by 439 reserve planes and 698 for training and miscellaneous units.

The strengths will be:—Navy, 14,753; permanent army, 19,000; Militia, 50,000; air force, 12,625. In addition to the squadron, the navy will have three survey ships and tenders, a frigate for training, two minesweepers, three air-sea rescue vessels, an ocean-going tug, an ammunition carrier and two boom defence vessels. A carrier, two destroyers, six frigates, 31 minesweepers and 39 miscellaneous vessels will be held in reserve. It will be at least two years before the carriers are available.

Annual Militia training periods will be 14 days’ camp and 24 days’ home training, 12 of which will be voluntary. The air force will have a task force of nine squadrons.