10 November 1943 Part 3

10 November 1943 Subsequent assessment of gunnery training

Undated subsequent contribution concerning the 10 November diary entry. Secret. Draft signed Rieve; for the Commanding Admiral Channel Coast, acting Chief of Staff.

Increasing enemy air superiority has forced a restriction of daytime shipping and the provision of a tug and escort craft for daytime coastal-battery firing. The training stations at Cherbourg and Le Havre are closed, leaving the Channel Islands as the only practical firing opportunity; Batterie Steinbruch has therefore been designated the training battery.

Air activity, and particularly the attack on the tow and its protection craft on 10 November, now makes vessel movements by daylight impossible. No daylight moving-target exercises can therefore be conducted anywhere in the area of the Commanding Admiral, Channel Coast. Future moving-target exercises must be carried out only at twilight or by night.

The resulting loss of training is to be offset by exercising directors and fire-control procedures on the firing simulator, and by increasing daytime firing at anchored cross-targets and drifting barrels. The use of several targets permits the rapid changes of target required against landing craft and has proved effective. The intention of Naval Group West to establish a training-firing facility in a less air-threatened area is welcomed. The proposed facility was to be organised on the model of the Coastal Artillery School.

T-1022 Roll 2422, scans 0725.