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can expect discomfort of troops, heat exhaustion, and disease; and (2) in the area of
less than 32° F. for January, during the coldest weather, the ground will be frozen,
and this will ameliorate conditions of poor trafficability. The former area (1) is in
general that of the central plateau and the south and southeastern provinces. The
latter (2) is that of mountain regions and the higher portions of the Meseta.
Passes Liable to Snow Blockage During the Winter.-The length of time during
which a given pass will be blocked varies from season to season, as it will vary between
two passes of similar latitude and altitude in the same season. In general, however,
snow blockage-limited to the northern half of the peninsula-can be expected from
November to March at 5,000 feet elevation, and from September to May in passes of
more than 6,000 feet elevation.
The six months of winter are the least favorable for military action. Cross-
country movement would be moderately to extremely difficult, secondary roads often
being impassable, rivers swollen, air strips muddy, and planes can be expected to be
grounded from 15 days per month in the North to 10 days per month in the South.
Summer, despite its heat (and general deficiency of water supply), is by far the more
favorable season for any military action.
Forests:
Approximately 10 percent of the area of Spain is covered by forests which occur,
for the most part, on the upper mountain slopes. The extent of cleared land is ex-
plained largely by the need of fuel, by overgrazing, especially of the ubiquitous goat,
and by willful destruction during periods of civil war. Conifers are located on the
upper reaches of the higher mountains. Hardwoods of two types are to be found. To
the north is a mixture of oak, beech, and chestnut, a similar association to that in
western Europe. To the south is a mixture of live oak, cork oak, and olive, a typical
Mediterranean scrub forest.
Concealment Values of Forests.-The concealment values of these forests are as
follows:
a. The conifers provide year-round concealment.
b.
The northern hardwoods, which are deciduous, provide good summer con-
cealment but poor winter concealment.
C.
The southern hardwoods of the Mediterranean type provide year-round con-
cealment since they are evergreen; but it is always inferior to the concealment offered
by the northern hardwoods during summer.
d. The unforested area in the Iberian peninsula which is not cropped usually is
covered by one of two associations: (1) a steppe in which esparto grass predominates;
or (2) the maquis, which is a second-growth Mediterranean scrub rising to a height of
some 6 to 8 feet, with a maximum of some 10 or 12 feet. Either of these associations
offers little or no concealment.
Soil Trafficability
Soil trafficability may be roughly defined as the suitability of soil for heavy
traffic. The Iberian peninsula is divided, according to soil trafficability, into four
classes:
SECRET
62
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"ocrText": "can expect discomfort of troops, heat exhaustion, and disease; and (2) in the area of\nless than 32° F. for January, during the coldest weather, the ground will be frozen,\nand this will ameliorate conditions of poor trafficability. The former area (1) is in\ngeneral that of the central plateau and the south and southeastern provinces. The\nlatter (2) is that of mountain regions and the higher portions of the Meseta.\nPasses Liable to Snow Blockage During the Winter.-The length of time during\nwhich a given pass will be blocked varies from season to season, as it will vary between\ntwo passes of similar latitude and altitude in the same season. In general, however,\nsnow blockage-limited to the northern half of the peninsula-can be expected from\nNovember to March at 5,000 feet elevation, and from September to May in passes of\nmore than 6,000 feet elevation.\nThe six months of winter are the least favorable for military action. Cross-\ncountry movement would be moderately to extremely difficult, secondary roads often\nbeing impassable, rivers swollen, air strips muddy, and planes can be expected to be\ngrounded from 15 days per month in the North to 10 days per month in the South.\nSummer, despite its heat (and general deficiency of water supply), is by far the more\nfavorable season for any military action.\nForests:\nApproximately 10 percent of the area of Spain is covered by forests which occur,\nfor the most part, on the upper mountain slopes. The extent of cleared land is ex-\nplained largely by the need of fuel, by overgrazing, especially of the ubiquitous goat,\nand by willful destruction during periods of civil war. Conifers are located on the\nupper reaches of the higher mountains. Hardwoods of two types are to be found. To\nthe north is a mixture of oak, beech, and chestnut, a similar association to that in\nwestern Europe. To the south is a mixture of live oak, cork oak, and olive, a typical\nMediterranean scrub forest.\nConcealment Values of Forests.-The concealment values of these forests are as\nfollows:\na. The conifers provide year-round concealment.\nb.\nThe northern hardwoods, which are deciduous, provide good summer con-\ncealment but poor winter concealment.\nC.\nThe southern hardwoods of the Mediterranean type provide year-round con-\ncealment since they are evergreen; but it is always inferior to the concealment offered\nby the northern hardwoods during summer.\nd. The unforested area in the Iberian peninsula which is not cropped usually is\ncovered by one of two associations: (1) a steppe in which esparto grass predominates;\nor (2) the maquis, which is a second-growth Mediterranean scrub rising to a height of\nsome 6 to 8 feet, with a maximum of some 10 or 12 feet. Either of these associations\noffers little or no concealment.\nSoil Trafficability\nSoil trafficability may be roughly defined as the suitability of soil for heavy\ntraffic. The Iberian peninsula is divided, according to soil trafficability, into four\nclasses:\nSECRET\n62"
}