3 November 1943 Part 5

3 November 1943 Group A mine clearing between Jersey and Guernsey

Editorial note: The plotted positions are contemporary claims. The accuracy of the 3 November navigation was questioned in the reviews of 14 December 1943 and 5 January 1944, included under those dates.

3 November, 00:15: ORG at 18 m deployed one nautical mile west of Ida 5; double echelon, 200 m spacing. 00:40: turned onto Heart Route at Point 332. 01:08: M 4622 lost starboard otter at 49°17.9′ N, 2°22.5′ W; a mine cut, not detonated [depth indistinct]. 01:18: M 4621 grapnel detonation. 01:48 [minute uncertain]: M 4621 another grapnel detonation at 49°18.9′ N, 2°20.9′ W; port otter lost, commander reported probably a mine. Task abandoned to establish bypass to island route Ida 6/Point 332, sweep down to Point 332 and back, then enter Guernsey. Enemy detections previous night suggested further mines; subsequent finds confirmed assumption.

02:00: left Heart Route onto bypass at 49°23.9′ N, 2°15.8′ W, south of Sark. 02:15: reported mine cut at 49°17.9′ N, 2°22.5′ W, bypassing via 49°23.9′ N, 2°15.8′ W to 49°22.6′ N, 2°28.7′ W, then Point 332 and back, entering Peter Port. 03:15: joined island route at 49°22.6′ N, 2°28.7′ W. Transit prolonged by need to redeploy gear after losses. 03:36: M 4622 mine detonation, water 55 m [position partly indistinct]. 03:38: M 4621 and M 4622 grapnel detonations at 49°18.8′ N, 2°27.9′ W.

03:40: IG fire from starboard quarter; immediately fired five-shot IG fan toward suspected carrier, simultaneously requested ES recognition signal by star-cluster cartridge. Correct ES cartridge reply immediate, followed by recognition exchange using Morse letters for naval forces. Established other formation was 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla. 03:51: M 4622 sighted mine 20 m abeam port. 03:52: M 4622 mine detonation, 49°19′ N, 2°26.9′ W, depth 52 m, water column 50–80 m; degaussing system failed, compass unserviceable. 03:55: M 4623/M 4621 grapnel detonations at 49°16.7′ N, 2°26.8′ W.

03:56: with gear on M 4622 and again M 4621 partly carried away/unserviceable, turned formation west; redeploying nearly at low water in minefield considered inadvisable. Initially intended Guernsey about 3 nautical miles west of island route, but imminent low water and M 4622 degaussing failure prompted return Saint-Malo. 04:00 entry records radio 0419/43: mines 5 nautical miles north of Point 332, returning Saint-Malo. 04:45: recovered gear, normal formation, direct Ida 3 to avoid minefield at low water and excessive entry into lee. 08:30: anchored Saint-Malo roads. 09:30: weighed. 10:35: entered and secured. M 4626 continued repairs.

T-1022 Roll 3129, 46th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3129_English_Translation.docx. Record 587 | Source PDF scans 587, 588, 589, 590, 591.