12 October 1944 Part 1

12 October 1944 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

08:00 weather: south-south-west force 5–7, sea 3–5, visibility fifteen nautical miles, overcast, cloud base 1,200 metres. 08:35: Alderney sighted an auxiliary aircraft carrier northbound in BF 3528. A destroyer on the northern waiting station. 11:30: four LSTs northbound in BF 3552.

12:00 weather: south-west force 4–5, sea 3–4, visibility fifteen nautical miles, overcast, cloud base 1,200 metres. 12:05: FK 01/56 departed Guernsey for Jersey with forces' mail and small army supplies. 12:06: firing readiness ordered for all Guernsey Group except Steinbruch and the harbour barrier battery. 12:20: Alderney sighted two Liberty ships southbound in BF 3552; Guernsey Group ready to fire. 13:10: Jersey Group ordered immediate firing readiness north, west and south; ready at 13:20. 14:15: Alderney sighted two Liberty ships, one LST and two escort destroyers northbound in BF 3528. 14:55: FK 01/56 entered Jersey. 17:00: six LSTs southbound in BF 3552.

18:00 weather: west force 3–5, sea 2, visibility fifteen nautical miles, heavily overcast, cloud base 1,500 metres. 18:50: two Liberty ships southbound in BF 3552. Minquiers reconnaissance postponed 24 hours owing to weather.

Enemy convoy traffic observed: towards Cherbourg, six Liberty ships, six LSTs and one freighter with one funnel and two masts. Towards England, five LSTs, one LSI [infantry landing ship], two Liberty ships, two escort destroyers and one auxiliary aircraft carrier. Towards St Malo, five freighters with one funnel and two masts.

Roll 2422, scans 0859–0860, original pages 193–194.