7 January 1945 Part 2

7 January 1945 Part 2 Minquiers sightings and island defence and supply

Enemy situation:

According to radio intelligence, at 0108 hours an unidentified ship was drifting onto the breakwater, probably at Cherbourg, and requested tug assistance.

At 0835 hours on 7 January, five escort destroyers heading south and three Liberty freighters heading north were observed north of Cap de la Hague from the Channel Islands.

The following movements were observed from the Minquiers between 28 December and 6 January:

On 2 January at 1440 hours, two freighters from St Malo to Granville.

On 6 January at 0820 hours, four transports from Granville heading west.

Own situation:

From 1231 to 1241 hours, Battery Mirus fired on an escort destroyer northwest of Guernsey, which withdrew westward while laying smoke.

During active aerial reconnaissance over the Channel Islands, Jersey’s anti-aircraft artillery shot down a Lightning.

A supply convoy from Guernsey to Jersey was carried out.

Translator’s note: The first time is printed as “0108.” in the scan and is rendered as 0108 hours; no separate event date is explicit in that line.

German Naval Staff diary. BArch RM 7/68; former British Admiralty reference Case GE 165, PG 34425. Published Part A, volume 65. PDF pages 128, 129; printed page 122, 123. Audited translation reference 7.