10 November 1943 Part 7

10 November 1943 Group A mine clearing between Jersey and Guernsey

10 November, 02:40: sailed. 03:25: deployed ORG at 35 m 2.5 nautical miles south of Ida 6, 0.8 nautical miles west of route. 04:30: reversed 2 nautical miles south of Point 332, 1 nautical mile east of route. 05:05: true course 259° at 49°22′ N. 05:25: true 169°, 4.5 nautical miles south of Ida 6, 1 nautical mile west of route. 05:30: NE 2, sea 1, overcast, good visibility. 05:37: M 4623 mine detonation, 49°20.2′ N, 2°29.6′ W, water 60 m. 06:04: true 79° at 49°15.5′ N. 06:16: true 349°. 06:40: M 4626 grapnel detonation at 49°20.5′ N, 2°26.5′ W [later summary says M 4623]. 06:43: M 4625 grapnel detonation, 49°21′ N, 2°26.6′ W. M 4625 lookout saw explosive buoy before detonation.

07:15: gear recovered one nautical mile south of Ida 12. 07:45: entered Guernsey. 08:30, G 201: 05:37 M 4623 mine detonation, column 50–60 m, water 60 m, kite smashed. Reports 06:40 and 06:43 grapnel detonations. Route now swept to 1.2 nautical miles east and 1 nautical mile west, double line abreast, Emil 2, speed 9 knots. Intend east–west passes next night, sail 17:30 until 21:00 and again 04:00 until daylight.

18:00: sailed four boats. 19:00: via Guernsey signal station, following Hüfner's telephone discussion with division about equipping boats, ordered Saint-Malo. 19:15: ORG at 35 m, double line abreast, starboard echelon, Emil 2, 3 nautical miles south of Ida 6. 19:32: east course, 5.5 nautical miles south of Ida 6. 19:35: radio 1856/25 confirms Saint-Malo instead of Guernsey. 20:05: true 230°, 1.5 nautical miles west of bypass/Heart intersection. 20:35: met V 712/V 725 convoy, recognition exchange. 20:52: true 150°. 21:18: Point 332, joined island route. 21:35: recovered gear 1.5 nautical miles southeast of Point 332, no mines, normal formation to Saint-Malo. 22:28: Ida 5. 22:38: met V 210 convoy, recognition exchange. 23:30: Ida 3. 24:00: SW 3–4, sea 2, overcast, very good visibility. M 4622 training, normal readiness Saint-Malo.

T-1022 Roll 3129, 46th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3129_English_Translation.docx. Record 587 | Source PDF scans 587, 588, 589, 590, 591.