6 September 1943 Part 2

6 September 1943 Railway Batteries 685 and 722 proposed employment

Top secret. Corps headquarters to Seventh Army, 6 September 1943. A copy of Naval Commander Normandy’s request to the Admiral Channel Coast is submitted. Independently of the admiral’s decision, the corps considers Batteries 685 and 722 only very limited naval-target batteries because of their low rate of fire and minimum ranges. Electrical ammunition handling would improve Battery 685’s suitability only slightly; minimum range permits coverage of only part of the channel between mainland and island.

Battery 722’s wholly open position is vulnerable to aircraft and naval fire, for nearby conspicuous points provide good references for naval gunnery. Its position also seriously endangers the arsenal. Once the effective Gréville naval coastal battery is established, both railway batteries’ importance against naval targets will diminish completely.

If the admiral agrees with the naval commander, nothing prevents Battery 722’s relocation. Battery 685, however, is already fortified at great expenditure of concrete and labour and can at least keep the waters around Alderney under fire; it should remain. The corps does not wish to lose 722 altogether. It proposes splitting it into two two-gun batteries, set back from the coast in western Cherbourg defence area, to fight for the coastal foreground within range and support the land front. Before extensive preparatory work begins, approval of this plan and army intervention with the Admiral Channel Coast are requested. War-diary copy without enclosure.

T-314 Roll 1604, T314_R1604_English_Translation.docx. 6 September 1943 | Source PDF pages 903–904. Selected island-related text; document or report date governs placement.