17 April 1943

17 April 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

Naval Artillery Battalion 604 — Batterie Mirus: Organisation Todt worked chiefly on the embankments at No. 4 gun. Battery personnel continued constructing the mess barrack ; the second 7.5-cm gun position near the fire-control post was almost complete. Camouflage work at No. 1 gun and wiring at No. 2 gun began.

Batterie Strasbourg: installation of the optical instruments in the new fire-control post continued. The infantry positions were further developed. At No. 4 gun, the ammunition-trolley tracks and splinter protection were improved. A fire-fighting pond was still under construction.

Batterie Steinbruch: Organisation Todt work progressed rapidly. Internal fitting-out of the fire-control post began; cable trenches to the fire-control post and guns were excavated. Drainage of bunker I was completed and work on bunker II began. Shuttering was removed from bunker III. The base of the replenishment bunker was poured and work on the combined galley building continued. Battery personnel constructed the communal barrack.

Batterie Lothringen: work on the fire-control post advanced only slowly because of the rocky ground. Battery personnel developed the infantry positions and further improved the all-round wire obstacle.

Naval Artillery Battalion 605 — Battery Annes: Organisation Todt removed the mixing machines and carried out stripping work at accommodation bunker 4. The base of the machinery bunker was reinforced ready for pouring. Other work was unchanged from the preceding week.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37997, scans 0623.