12 February 1944
Summary
Shipping loss or rescue. Shipping and convoy movements. Communications and signals
Location Details
Jersey; Guernsey; St Malo
Diary Entry
12 February 1944 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary
Weather: wind from 360°, 5 metres per second. At 21:55 FK 56, en route with FK 18 from St Malo to Guernsey, radioed: FK 18 has struck a mine; tug assistance required immediately. It was established that FK 18 struck the mine at 21:15 in grid square BF 3845, right centre. St Malo Convoy Control was immediately asked to send boats from St Malo to assist.
22:13 — Harbour-protection boats of St Malo Harbour Protection Group sailed to assist.
22:33 — FC 34 [identifier as typed] radioed that FK 18 could not be kept afloat and was sinking. Boats of the St Malo group recovered the crew and classified material.
22:48 — St Malo Convoy Control ordered FK 23, 25 and 26, which had been en route from Jersey to St Malo since 18:00, to return immediately to Jersey. The signal was sent blind; no acknowledgement could be obtained from the boats.
Source of Information
Roll 2422, scan 0787, original page 10.