31 July 1942 Part 5

July 1942 Island patrol actions reinforcements battery readiness and inspections

Editorial note: Monthly report or annex; placed at the end of the reporting month because no single document date is supplied. Dates within the text retain their original meaning. The inspection annex is a programme; proposed visits are not treated as confirmed events.

German patrol craft between Cherbourg and Alderney were attacked on several nights by British motor torpedo boats and aircraft, suffering killed and wounded. Enemy air activity otherwise remained within its customary level.

The corps reserve was reorganised around Infantry Regiment 585 and II Battalion Artillery Regiment 320. Fortress Construction Battalions 13 and 30 left the Channel Islands for Granville on 6–7 July in preparation for transfer east; Fortress Construction Battalion 19 remained on the islands while reorganising. Units absent for training were recalled as a precaution against possible British landings. An infantry-gun platoon of Infantry Regiment 582 and an anti-tank platoon of Panzerjäger Battalion 319 returned from Beverloo and reached Jersey on 20 July.

Construction Company 4 and Construction Column 158 moved from Jersey to Alderney on 19 July, while 1st Company Fortress Construction Battalion 158 moved to Guernsey on 20 July. Two Renault R35 tanks were added to the island division on 5 July. From 12 July, forty casemate guns of 10.5 cm calibre on the islands were operational. At Batterie Mirus, guns Nos. 1 and 2 were ready for powered operation from 27 July, while Nos. 3 and 4 remained ready for manual operation.

Additional engineer companies were assigned to accelerate coastal mine-laying. Units and anti-aircraft batteries were moved across the mainland sector, parachute formations returned from training, and replacement and guard units arrived. The commanding general visited the Channel Islands during the month and returned on 16 July. A series of exercises, command-post discussions and inspections examined airfield defence, coastal artillery, signals and permanent construction.

Generaloberst Dollmann’s programme included a situation briefing on Guernsey, an exercise by Panzerjäger and Reconnaissance Battalion 450 in the north of the island, a south-coast strongpoint at Corbière, and Batterie Mirus. On Jersey he was to receive a briefing from Major-General Count von Schmettow and inspect Army Coastal Battery 470, east-coast defence, an Artillery Regiment 319 battery, La Motte strongpoint and Saint Helier harbour. An optional Alderney visit included naval batteries, Hill 145 and north-coast defence. The Naval Commander in France planned parallel visits to Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey from 14 to 16 July.

No exceptional supply difficulties arose. From mid-July, potato harvests on Jersey and Guernsey met troop requirements. Hot weather made mineral-water supply difficult because the Guernsey factory could not meet demand and mainland deliveries remained insufficient. The large increase in Organisation Todt labourers exceeded its own administrative capacity, requiring assistance from the divisional quartermaster. Horse health was very good. Further notes covered large horse transfers and the formation of light transport columns for fortification materials.

Situation map accompanying the July 1942 activity report. Source PDF page 0308.

T-314 Roll 1603, T314_Roll_1603_English_Translation.docx. Source PDF pages 0221–0228 | LXXXIV Army Corps activity report for July 1942; Source PDF pages 0303–0304 | Annex 1 to the July activity report | Inspection programme; Source PDF pages 0305–0309 | Annexes 2–4 to the July activity report