12 January 1943 Part 1

12 January 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

Weather: wind from 180°, 9 m/s.

Southerly winds up to force 10 cause the following damage in St Peter Port harbour. The harbour protection flotilla’s small floating dock breaks its moorings in the old harbour, drifts against the opposite quay and destroys about sixteen small British fishing boats. A bollard first broke out of the dock, causing the mooring lines to part one after another. Otherwise no damage to the dock.

Steamer Nordplain’s stern lines break. She drifts stern-first against Tinda and bow-first against the quay wall. Tinda’s side above water is dented and her shipboard anti-aircraft position destroyed; the gun is undamaged. Nordplain leaks at the stem and her forepeak floods. The quay wall is slightly damaged. All ships are ready to sail again. The floating crane has minor leaks from heavy working in the sea.

1125: A British bomber approaches St Helier harbour, Jersey. Observation post 9 of Army Coastal Battery 467 clearly sees two objects dropped near Demi des Pas. St Helier harbour and roads are closed owing to suspected mines.

Signed on behalf of the commanding officer [signature not securely read].

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37997, scan 0585.