31 October 1944 Part 9

Conclusion of Cherbourg harbour assessment

The figures in items 2 and 3 generally show that strong westerly, southerly and easterly weather did not impair the use of Cherbourg, as would be expected from the harbour’s geographical situation.

When evaluating item 1, it must be remembered that on 27 October the wind only just reached force 6, after being force 1–2 on the previous day; and that on 21 October the number of entering vessels was recorded as ‘several targets’ because radar detection at the limit of range was not unambiguous.

Although the available records cannot claim completeness because Alderney was far from the enemy approach routes and radar detection was uncertain, the question under investigation can be answered as follows: destruction of Cherbourg’s harbour installations still impaired its continuous use for enemy supply traffic by restricting operations in severe northerly weather.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 37998, Commander of Sea Defences, Channel Islands. Source scan 0031 — original page 223