9 February 1943 Part 1

9 February 1943 Channel Coast assessment of the harbour protection flotillas

SECRET. Annex to page 3 of the Sea Commander, Channel Islands, war diary. For the Admiral Commanding, Channel Coast: Chief of Staff, acting; signature not securely read. Handwritten date read as 9 February 1943.

The harbour protection flotillas in the Channel Coast command have twice lost their best boats through ordered transfers to Commander Security West and Admiral Atlantic Coast. The small addition of motor fishing cutters — twenty-three for the whole command in 1943 — is insufficient to replace losses through wear, weather and combat, let alone meet growing tasks. Some boats had to be accepted for want of suitable alternatives despite exceptionally poor seaworthiness and performance.

The only remaining immediate way of improving available strength is to shorten repair-yard stays at existing yards and create additional capacity through smaller private yards, some requiring reopening or expansion. Both measures have been initiated.

The flotillas have long known this situation and that no improvement in the supply of vessels is foreseeable. The Channel Islands flotilla should therefore have taken precautions in good time. Although the islands’ weather, navigational difficulties and lack of repair facilities are recognised, the impression remains that the flotilla leadership has not used all possible firmness to eliminate losses through avoidable errors. Reference is made to this command’s letter G 1297 A III of 2 February 1943.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37997, scan 0592.