22 October 1942 Part 7

22 October 1942 Garrisons weapons and defences of Sark and Les Casquets

Sark. Army strength: four officers, one medical officer, thirty-seven NCOs and 231 men. Navy: one petty officer and three men. Customs: seven men. Listed weapons include twenty-three MG 34s and one Belgian light machine gun, twenty-one submachine guns, four light mortars plus three French light mortars, two heavy mortars, a rifle-grenade launcher, three antitank rifles, 3.7 cm and Czech 4.7 cm self-propelled antitank guns, 5 cm Pak 38, a French 10.5 cm gun, three medium and one light flamethrower, twelve defensive flamethrowers 42, 3,320 grenades and forty-two antitank mines for rapid use. Ammunition scales vary by weapon and projectile type; the originals preserve the detailed return.

Existing engineer defences include coastal minefields containing 939 S-mines and a cable barrier at the harbour entrance. Planned additions are thirteen coastal fields with 1,480 S-mines, two fields with twenty antitank mines, two hedgehog barriers with concealed charges, two tank traps and prepared blockage or demolition of landing approaches. Measures include blocking a road tunnel with earth or concrete, cratering a mole root and cliff path, and closing a tunnel’s inland exit after mining. Island commander is First Lieutenant Knaul, commander of 6/583; appointment of a captain is intended. General Müller commands the division.

Les Casquets. Army guard: one officer, three NCOs and twenty-one men; navy: one NCO and seven men. Weapons: one French 2.5 cm antitank gun, five machine guns and one antitank rifle, each with three ammunition scales, and 150 grenades. Wire, tripwire and concertina obstacles are under construction; S-mines are being considered. There are no fixed lighthouse ladders. Lieutenant Bender of 11/582 commands, under Müller.

Translation note: Several weapon quantities and the first minefield count are indistinct; only secure figures are transcribed. Original inventory pages retain ammunition details and uncertain entries.

Original source image | Source PDF page 526 | Entry dated 22 October 1942

Original source image | Source PDF page 527 | Entry dated 22 October 1942

Original source image | Source PDF page 528 | Entry dated 22 October 1942

T-314 Roll 1603, expanded reading edition T314_R1603_English_Translation.docx. 22 October 1942 | Source PDF pages 526–528. Supplement to material retained from earlier editions.