A great feat of improvisation : logistics and the British Expeditionary Force in France 1939-1940 /
A Great Feat of Improvisation redresses the long-standing lacuna in the historiography of the BEF, logistics. Wide ranging in reach, comprehensive in scope and meticulously researched, it lucidly demonstrates, through description and analysis, not only the importance of logistics to military operati...
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| Language: | English |
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Warwick, England :
Helion and Company Limited,
[2021]
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Table of Contents:
- List of abbreviations
- List of diagrams
- List of maps
- List of photographs & illustrations
- List of tables
- BEF divisions & types: France 1940
- BEF: senior & key Q appointments
- BEF logistics notes
- Glossary
- Nomenclature
- Weights & measures
- Foreword / Gary Sheffield
- A personal introduction / by Dennis R. O'Callaghan
- Acknowledgements
- Author's preface
- Author's note
- Introduction
- Part I : Plans and preparations. Cinderella and the pumpkin: the influences of experience, empire, politics and finance in shaping BEF logistics 1919-1939 ; Everybody's trucking: the expansion of the logistic task vehicle fleet in the British Army in the period 1935-1940 ; Horseshoes to sparkplugs: infantry division organic logistic organization in the BEF ; Appendix: Divisional RASC example load lists
- Part II : Early days. Marrying the driver: logistics and the deployment of the BEF to France ; Docks and stocks: the challenges of building the base ; Leakers and fillers: the supply of petrol oil and lubricants to the BEF ; Factory to fire trench: conventional ammunition supply for the British Expeditionary Force deployed to France 1939-1940 ; Appendix: Artillery ammunition and fuze
- Part III : AQ interlude. Mightier than the sword: an appreciation of the achievements of the BEG's GHQ AG Personal Services Section 1939-1940 ; White Cliffs: the role of AQ in planning and delivering the BEF's leave programme 1939-1940 ; Taken for granted: the forgotten logisticians of the BEF
- Part IV : Preparing for battle. Sharpening the sword: the development of logistic plans and operations in the BEF: November 1939-April 1940 ; Tracks across France: railway operations during the preparatory phase September 1939-May 1940 ; Chasing the rhino: an analysis of logistic support for the 1st Armoured Division during 1939-1940 ; Operation FLANNELFOOT: supporting the gas warfare capability of the BEF
- Part V : Combat operations. Riding the rails: the role of the railway in supporting BEF combat operations ; Still obscure: maintaining an operational ground line of communication ; Worst job of the lot: BEF combat logistics from Abbeville to Dunkerque and beyond ; Run rabbit run: denial and departure
- Part VI : Aftermath. Back in Blighty: the contribution of national and military logistics to the reception of the BEF in the United Kingdom ; Reflection and retrospect: punishment of the innocent? ; Conclusion
- Bibliograpy
- Index.