14 October 1943 Part 6

14 October 1943 Army Coastal Battery 463 inspection

Editorial note: Extract from the report dated 17 October 1943 on the Commander-in-Chief’s tour of 13–16 October (Roll 1558 scan 1068, Operations No. 5213/43 secret). Placed here under the inspection date. Imported from the supplied English translation; its uncertain readings are retained.

7. Army Coastal Battery 463. Reserve Major Friederici, commander of Army Coastal Artillery Battalion 727, reported. Accommodation and ammunition rooms developed as reinforced field fortifications, with 80 cm concrete. Gun positions are open circular field emplacements. Troops complained that the bunkers’ interior paint, Asedon, was harmful to health and made prolonged occupation impossible.

Provision of armour-piercing shells for all batteries was requested, including the heavy mortar batteries. The Commander-in-Chief heard a presentation on concentrations of fire and night barrage areas. Concentrations and barrages are prepared around the island at all points vulnerable to landing.

Troops complained of the heavy burden of detachments to officer and NCO courses at Gross Born and the Army Coastal Artillery School at Béziers.

T-312 Roll 1558, scans 1073–1074. Extract from T-312_Roll_1558_Master_English_Translation.docx.