MORE FACTS FOR FIREPOWER CARAVAN COMMITTEE
1. General

Increased and increasing aerial bombardment over
Europe and the increased use of heavy artillery in the
European theatre, as well as newly expanded production
of heavy artillery, have combined to necessitate the
production ‘of more and more heavy ammunition, As direct
result, ordnance explosives manufacturing works and am=
munition loading plants, sharply cut back last year,
must be returned to near-peak production.

War Manpower Commissioner Paul V. McNutt stated
again on 1 august that 50,000 additional workers must
be found before the end of this year to keep the big
guns of our invasion forces blusting at the enemy.

On 1 august Lieutenant General Somervell said:

"During the early part of 1944, battle experience
proved that it was nece«sary to increase sharply the
use of heavy and medium artillery. This decision, taken
in connecticn with increasing combat expenditure rates
called for in projected operations, required an increase
in 1944 computed required production of six million
rounds. In terms of production rates, the approved
expenditure culls for increasing heavy and medium
artillery ammunition loading rates from the May
production of 500,000 rounds to a monthly rate of
23 million rounds within a comparatively short
period."

A number of explosives and shell-loading plants were
cut-back lust year for three reasons: 1) by the intro-
duction of new methods plants were able to produce at
140 to 160 per cent of estimated capacity; 2) estimated
requirements had been set when neither the full power of
Russian arms nor Russia's production capacity was fully
known; 3) both Russia and England reduced their lend-
lease requirements for certain ordnence items.

Now cur present offensives and our very successes
make necessary greatly increased production from many
of these plants that were cut hack last year. In two
years of operation, for instance, the 8th Air Force has
dropped 300,000 tons == 1,600 pounds a minute day and
night -- of high explosive on Germany and occupied Europe.
In our invasion of the South of France on 15 August the
Navy laid down a barrage of 15,900 heavy-caliber shells.

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