Certain Island: Scales of Attack against. Report by J.I.C.

pronounced slope it would be unsuitable for the landing and taking off of troop carrying aircraft. Any airborne attack would therefore be limited to the dropping of parachute troops, and we consider such form of attack by the Italians as most unlikely. The only Italian parachute troops known to be available are two native battalions of doubtful value, normally stationed in Tripolitania. The presence, however, of German aircraft on aerodromes in Sicily suggests that German parachute troops might be employed and these could be made available in large numbers.