Page 527 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

report on ire muscat infantry
FOR THE YEAR 1945-

1. Muscat Defencoo.
There Is nothing to add to last year's report, the de­
fences are in good condition and nothing other than minor re-
pairs are required, It is proposed to remove one 3 Pdr. gun
from Eait-al-Fhlaj to the vicinity of the Mutrah Fort, where it
will be in a position to cover the town of Mutrah and all entrances
from the Batinah direction and also the coa6t road from Muscat to
Mutrah.
A revision in the defensive system will become necessary
in the event of there being any alteration in the strength and
armament of the Force, as the siting of piquets will be changed.
This will also be affected by the i!.T. situation..

The situation regarding the 12 Pdr. "Dahpu" Naval gun
remains static. After the first burst of enthusiasm by the
Navy nothing further has happened, and it rather looks as if it
is to become a permanent monument in the same way as the Dahpu
herself who continues to disfigure the harbour.
The two 2.75 guns are in serviceable condition although
the supply of spare parts asked for in 1944 has not been received.
It is presumed that these are in very short supply as, so far as
Is knoY/n, this gun is not used anywhere else except by the
Tochi Sccuts who have some, I believe as Post guns at Miranishah
and Datta Khel in the Tochi valley in Waziristan.

2. Launch.
The launch has been out of order since March as a new
Magneto was required. The old Magneto was repaired in Karachi
but proved unsatisfactory. A new one was obtained from Bahrein
at the beginning of December and the launch is new running
well.
A number of planks were replaced in the under water part
of the hull during the summer, but a considerable number still
require replacing dwing to worms. A new keel is also required
(see Annual Report for 1943). It Is considered that the present
under water part of the hull will give at least another year* a
service, and it is my opinion that further repairs would be
a watte of time and money until seasoned teak and copper nails
become available. The iron nails used in repairs a few months
ago have already started "weeping1 •
3. Wirelesjg.

There has been no change In the situation, Various
firms have been approached with a view to having the sets put
in order and providing a suitable wireless mechanic to install
them, and to obtain operators, but no satisfactory answers have
been peceived. The Cable and Wireless Company are of the opi­
nion that itisdoubtful whether a sufficiently highly qualified
man could be obtained for much under Rs.800/- p.m.

The makers, the Premier Radio Company have been add­
ressed a number of times with a view to obtaining blueprints
of the sets as none were sent with the sets, hut no answer
has been received.

_ • Howell of the Cable and Wireless Company very kindly
looked at the sets and is of the opinion that repairs to tbs damaged
sets.,.