28 April 1943 Part 2

28 April 1943 Guernsey tug unavailable for the UJ 1402 rescue

Editorial note: Regional rescue-resource context from the consolidated report of the action off Morlaix. UJ 1402 sank off Brittany; this is not an island-area sinking.

Everything tried to bring UJ 1402 in. V 424 took tow ahead, M 475 and M 422 alongside pumped. Water continued rising; supporting vessel between them no longer possible. Minesweepers took crew; commander and seven men jumped last and were recovered. UJ 1402 sank rapidly at 0836 at 48°57.2′ N, 3°48′ W [latitude differs from flotilla report]. Tug assistance requested through St Malo became unnecessary. Shortage of sea tugs in Channel Islands area again apparent: sole large sea tug Minotaure, constantly used for troop transport, was at Guernsey and could only have reached scene late afternoon.

T-1022 Roll 3252, 24th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3252_English_Translation.docx. 28 April 1943 | Entry 0142 | Source PDF pages 142–157. 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.