United Nations

“ Cinema shows continued to be provided regularly in all camps and outposts in the Gaza Strip and the Sinai. The present Indian battalion has also brought its brass band and pipes and drums and both these have been made available to other contingents for parades and other functions. The Royal Canadian Dragoon Guards once again visited UNEF and remained in the area for nearly three weeks providing concerts and light music for all the contingents.
30. Most contingents have their own chaplains (Pandits and Garanthis for the Indian contingent) and services are held regularly. ”

“ At the same time, economies have been made in both manpower and material in an effort to reduce the logistics overhead of the Force. The following paragraphs set out in some detail the progress made on the more important aspects.
Equipment
32. Vehicles. Further reductions have been made in the number of different makes, types and models of vehicles in the Force. In the autumn of 1961 the vehicle establishment was again revised with the result that in vehicles falling into the "general purpose" category, the Force has now standardized on six basic makes. ”

“ Some significant economies in personnel and equipment have been achieved by merging the Transport Company workshop element into the UNEF Workshop proper.
Transport requirements
37. Trials are currently being conducted with a view to reducing the size of the Transport Company in both personnel and vehicles. It is expected that substantial economies will be effected. This is partially due to the Force making greater use of existing railway facilities with a resultant reduction in long road hauls. ”

“ In the previous report, mention was made that radio and telephone equipment had been installed at Force headquarters and at the maintenance area. Similar equipment has now been installed at the UNEF Air Base at El Arish, thereby completing the programme. All units and installations are now connected by radio telephone, and the three main bases at Gazah, Rafah and El Arish have been provided with a teleprinter service. Progress has also been made in replacing operational telephone cable between unit headquarters and subsidiary company-platoon locations. ”

“ Further, the procurement of spare parts, always a problem with older vehicles, should be overcome to a great extent as more new vehicles are put into service.
33. Generators. The standardization programme for generators continues and should be largely completed in 1962. The Force has adopted a common make of generator, with three different capacities to meet the needs of the various camps. The maintenance and spare parts problem will be reduced to negligible proportions when this programme is completed.
34. Communications equipment. ”

“ The medical staff consists of specialists in internal medicine, bacteriology and radiology, and the hospital is provided with the required equipment to provide these services. Dental treatment is primarily the responsibility of the contingent dental officers. ”

“ The Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron and the Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion are deployed along the 215 kilometers of the IF as follows.
(1) Sector 1 (from ADL/IF junction, GR 0802-0703, to GR 0916-0340) - Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron Mobile patrols operate from two outpost camps and cover the entire length of the IF in this sector twice by day. ”

“ By night, patrols stand by ready to move out should the need arise. Squadron headquarters is located in the UNEF maintenance area at Rafah. (2) Sector 2 (from GR 0916-0340 to the Gulf of Aqaba, GR 1405-8785) - Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion This area is kept under observation by mobile patrols by day and standing patrols at irregular timings by night operating from the four permanent outposts and by OPs established at Taret Umm Oasis, El Amr, El Quseima, El Sabha, El Kuntilla and Ras el Naqb. ”

“ Denmark, Norway and Sweden: Six months tour of duty; all personnel rotated by chartered commercial aircraft (in October/November 1961 and April/May 1962) . (d) India: One year tour of duty; rotated annually by chartered Indian ship (in October/November 1961) . (e) Yugoslavia: Six months tour of duty; rotated by chartered Yugoslav ship (in November/December 1961 and May/June 1962) .
8. Since the inception of the Force the total number of contingents rotated is as follows: Brazil 5 (9 half-yearly rotations) , Canada 5, India 5, Denmark 11, Norway 11, Sweden 11 and Yugoslavia 11. ”

“ While this system has been in operation for the Sharm el Shiekh detachment, using Caribou aircraft, for some time, it is a recent innovation for the remaining two detachments. The result has been a reduction in the requirement for vehicle maintenance and repair in the Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion. In addition, the vehicle establishment of the Yugoslav Battalion has been slightly reduced.
Petrol, oil and lubricants
42. Petrol storage facilities have been generally improved and all major camps have bulk underground storage tanks. ”