15 June 1943 Part 4

15 June 1943 Flotilla account of the Sark air attack and loss of M 483

Editorial note: Additional detail for the attack and M 483 loss already recorded on 15 June. Five aircraft destroyed is a German claim; the master retains other accounts giving three. This is one attack, not an additional sinking.

15 June. Main group sailed St Peter Port 0250 to continue Sark checks, deployed 28 metres at 330, double echelon 200 metres. WSW force 2–3, sea state 1–2, poor visibility. Four passes west from route cut one mine. While turning into fifth and intended last pass owing to dawn, at 0614 attacked from northwest at low level by eight to ten light bombers and ten to twelve fighters. Claimed five aircraft shot down, three fighters and two bombers, three more damaged and smoking on withdrawal.

M 483 received bomb hit from port into main engine room and sank; other boats recovered crew. Strafing caused slight damage on others, more serious on M 452, degaussing installation failed. Leader could not radio aircraft warning because transmitter temporarily disabled by gunfire. M 452 assigned transmission also had gunfire damage, as did M 442 and sinking M 483. Cause: completely unarmoured radio room on bridge where air attacks concentrate. Since common switchboard for important electrical equipment, radio, sonar, gyrocompass, echo sounder etc., is in radio room, experience requires at least switchboard protection. After rescuing M 483 crew returned St Peter Port. Action report submitted 16 June.

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.