16 August 1943 Part 12

16 August 1943 Higher command assesses the Sark minefield operations

Editorial note: Retrospective review of June operations and aircraft claims; these comments do not describe a new attack.

Commander Security West, G 9363, 16 August 1943. Secret. To Naval High Command, Naval Staff, copies division and flotilla. Diary 1–15 June, engineering section and comments submitted. Sark minefield work conducted energetically and tactically correctly.

The bypass proved too close to minefield once its extent established. After proving clear it had been promulgated by Commander Security West, but with minesweeping escort mandatory owing to dangerous proximity. Division should first have established minefield’s extent in view of announced bypass, rather than immediately create another. Only after extent known could best new bypass be decided.

Comments on 15 June air action attached. Enemy’s heavy aircraft losses, five kills, remarkable and attributable to flotilla’s effective weapons. Chief of Staff.

T-1022 Roll 3252, 24th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3252_English_Translation.docx. 16 August 1943 | Entry 0221 | Source PDF pages 221–222. 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.