16 October 1943 Part 1

16 October 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

War Diary of the Commander of Sea Defence, Channel Islands, 16–31 October 1943. Secret. Enclosure to B.Nr. G 6001; handwritten archival marking KA 33412 d.

No special occurrences. Construction report, Naval Artillery Battalion 604.

Batterie Mirus: a mortar position and a training model of a Churchill III tank were built at the fire-control post. Cable trenches were excavated and anti-aircraft bunker No. 2 fitted out. The road to tower No. 2 was concreted, rifle position No. 4 was extended and doors were fitted in anti-aircraft bunkers Nos. 3 and 8. Krupp completed work on the winch at No. 1 gun. Zumbusch painted the ceilings of anti-aircraft bunkers Nos. 8 and 9. The engineer staff laid a mine fence on both sides from Schwabenturm to the smoke installations and erected mine-warning signs.

Batterie Steinbruch: work continued on infantry positions, the galley building and the communal barrack. The armoured cupolas were erected. Work in the fire-control post and crew bunker No. 3 was completed, and shuttering began for anti-aircraft position No. 3. Organisation Todt poured and stripped the superstructure of anti-aircraft position No. 6. Camouflage of guns Nos. 2 and 3 began. Painting in the fire-control post was completed and began in anti-aircraft position No. 2, the machine house and the ammunition bunker. Siemens continued installation of the machinery.

Batterie Strassburg: close-defence works continued and one Tobruk position was completed.

Batterie Lothringen: camouflage work, infantry positions and searchlight position A continued. Installations and cabling in the new fire-control post continued, and the entrance passage was reinforced.

Batterie Annes: work continued without material change.

T-1022 Roll 2422, scans 0709–0711.