escort would be needed and the carriers could remain well to seaward. The Mosquitos would land on Cocos Island after the operation. 7. The weapon to be employed will depend on whether the present trials of HIGHBALL are successful. If they are, I understand that it should be possible to use it operationally against ships, in about three months time and this projected operation would seem to be an ideal occasion for its debut. Failing HIGHBALL we shall probably have to use some type of bomb as we have no aircraft with sufficient radius of action capable of carrying the 18" torpedo and the American torpedo is not dependable.