20 December 1944 Part 18

For the E-boat minelaying operation planned for that night

23:50

Radio telegram FT 2238 from the Minquiers: ‘At 14:30 two large transports passed St Malo, course east. From 15:15 to 16:00, approximately 15 nautical miles away to the south-west, five destroyers on a south-easterly course at moderate speed. At 15:40 the formation reversed course. Weather: north-west force 1, sea state 1, hazy, visibility 5 nautical miles.’

The visibility of 5 nautical miles reported from the Minquiers cannot be regarded as reliable, because in the dark night there was no means of establishing visibility over such a distance. At the same time Corbière reported visibility of 100 metres and the eastern naval radar station on Jersey reported visibility below 1 nautical mile. The weather conditions required for S 112's task were therefore considered not to have been met.

The departure of S 112 ordered for 21:30 was postponed because of the poor visibility, first to 22:30, then to 24:00 and finally until the following night.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 37998, Commander of Sea Defences, Channel Islands. Source scan 0138 — original page 307