14 June 1943 Part 2

14 June 1943 Further Sark mines and recovered anti sweep equipment

Editorial note: The diary’s suggestion of delayed mine release was not accepted in the division’s 15 July assessment.

14 June. Group sailed St Peter Port 0115 for Sark check, deployed 28-metre sweep at 330 at 0220, double echelon 200 metres, SW force 1–2, sea state one, good visibility. Believing north–south and east–west sweeps had cleared mines, carefully checked along buoyed line both sides of Herz. Depth 28 metres because previous 30 metres touched bottom twice during turns. Cut four more mines at regular east–west intervals 500 metres north of previous ones, in places previously crossed, suggesting possible delayed release to depth. Again identified Mark I. Stopped work 0700, recovered gear 0712 at 330. Anti-sweep device caught on otter-sweep swivel recovered: four separate toothed saws on mine mooring wire, controlled by large iron otter board so cutting edges face current. Working only with current when time permits should render cutter ineffective. St Peter Port secured 0900.

T-1022 Roll 3252, 24th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3252_English_Translation.docx. 1 June 1943 | Entry 0214 | Source PDF pages 214–220. Selected island-related extract; the date above identifies the event or later report, while the source reference may identify the start of its diary period.