18 March 1943

18 March 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

Weather: wind 90°, 5 m/sec. From 13:30 to 17:30, the Jersey Group conducted live firing into defensive-fire area A off St Helier.

Ammunition expenditure: I/Artillery Regiment 319, 25 rounds 8-cm Az.; II/Artillery Regiment 319, 24 rounds 8-cm Az. and 12 rounds 8-cm DZ; IV/Artillery Regiment 319, 30 rounds 10-cm Az.; V/Artillery Regiment 319, 10 rounds 10-cm Az.; Army Coast Battery 467, 6 rounds 21-cm Az.; Army Coast Battery 468, 9 rounds 21-cm Az.; Army Coast Battery 355, 18 rounds 10.5-cm Az.; Army Coast Battery 356, 5 rounds 15.5-cm Az. A.Z.: impact fuze; D.Z.: time fuze.

At 16:50, the French motor lighter Comptoir 51 arrived at Guernsey from Granville alone and without escort. At 18:00, Vp. 702/07 arrived with the remainder of the convoy.

Because of the fog prevailing that day, the convoy lost Comptoir 51. She continued to Guernsey alone and without protection, exposing herself to considerable danger: as a French motor lighter she could not identify herself in the prescribed way when approaching the island from seaward. In fog and poor visibility she could easily be fired upon by island units. Convoy commanders must therefore keep their convoys closely together even in fog. If a vessel nevertheless becomes separated, this must be reported immediately so that every relevant station can be informed and take the necessary action when a lone vessel appears.

On the same day, harbour-protection boats had to search for a convoy sailing from Guernsey to Jersey.

At 17:10, FK 04 destroyed a mine in grid square B.F. 3572. Ammunition expenditure: 43 rounds 2-cm.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37997, scans 0611–0612.