1 May 1943 Part 1

1 May 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

SECRET. War diary of the Commander of Sea Defence, Channel Islands, 1–15 May 1943; annex to Sea Commander Channel Islands B.Nr. G 2732, handwritten file number 31256 d and Naval War Staff registry 1432/43.

Weather: wind 360°, 9 m/sec. At 15:20, the harbour-protection boats FK 27 and FK 45, lying in Jersey harbour, engaged a low-flying aircraft. No hits, damage or casualties were recorded. Ammunition expenditure: 15 rounds 2-cm and 15 rounds 13-mm.

Batterie Mirus: wiring of the Pleinmont and Krähenest bearing posts and ammunition bunker I continued. Road construction and work on the mess building continued. Earth embankments were formed at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 guns; No. 1 gun and the fire-control post were camouflaged with bushes. Infantry positions required both new construction and overhaul.

Batterie Strasbourg: installation of lighting circuits in the crew and ammunition bunkers advanced. The fitting-out and masonry work in the new fire-control bunker were completed. Camouflage was improved by covering with earth. Mining of the positions shown on the construction plan began.

Batterie Steinbruch: Organisation Todt continued shuttering the ammunition bunker. Cable trenches were excavated further. Work continued on clearing the view from the fire-control post and the field of fire for No. 4 gun. Crew bunker IV was levelled. The lighting installation continued, and procurement of motors for ventilation and heating began. Reinforcement work on the combined galley barrack started; battery personnel continued the communal barrack.

Batterie Lothringen: the earth excavation for the fire-control post was completed. Excavation for the bearing post and construction of a shelter for the searchlight crew began. Wiring continued.

Naval Artillery Battalion 605 — Batterie Annes: Organisation Todt began removing rust from the roof of the fire-control post. At the machinery bunker and ammunition replenishment bunker I, shuttering and reinforcement were prepared for pouring and construction material was brought forward.

General work: excavation for the fire-control cable, levelling and other earthworks continued. Employee Pfeiffer of M.A.Z.A. Cherbourg, installed elevation arcs for mounting heights of 40 metres and mounting-height regulators for 80 metres. Specialists began installing the E-rangefinder cupola, target columns and armoured hoods. Air-supply and exhaust pipes were installed at the machinery bunker.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37997, scans 0629–0631.