11 July 1943 Part 1

11–15 July 1943 Diary and naval artillery staffing statement

No special occurrences for 11–15 July.

Personnel statement entered after the 11–15 July entry, without a separate date: the continuing withdrawal of naval-artillery officers for the sea-officer career prompts the following observations. With the release of six younger naval-artillery officers ordered by the Commanding Admiral Channel Coast, Gkdos 2171 I, a total of eighteen officers have now been detached in recent months, largely without replacement. Naturally these are the youngest, most capable and best-assessed officers. Apart from the very adverse effect on the naval-artillery battalions’ training and combat readiness, there are these serious disadvantages.

1. Some of the officers released have only recently completed specialist coastal-artillery courses. The entire training effort and cost are consequently wasted.

2. Because of the staffing situation, the remaining officers who have not yet attended courses can no longer be sent on them. Without specialist courses these officers are only conditionally employable, and the batteries’ standard of training must suffer further.

3. Officers’ attendance at conferences of all kinds on the mainland, held very frequently recently, will no longer be possible.

4. Annual leave, the recent increase in leave owing to bomb damage, and illness must, if further officers are withdrawn, inevitably lead to battery commanders being replaced for long periods even by Feldwebel, senior non-commissioned officers. Disciplinary and training difficulties must follow.

For these four reasons, further withdrawal of naval-artillery officers must have the gravest consequences for combat readiness, training and discipline.

T-1022 Roll 2422, scans 0668.