18 September 1943

18 September 1943 Enemy landing opportunities no longer predictable from tides alone

Top secret telegram to 709th, 716th and 319th Divisions, 18 September 1943. Latest experience and development of Anglo-American landing techniques suggest that the most favourable moment is one hour before high water during dawn. Commander-in-Chief West, however, agrees with the Navy that in the present situation such probability calculations are no longer possible: the enemy’s powerful air force, abundance of men and equipment and high training standard now allow him to undertake landings at a time and place of his own choosing. Particular attention is drawn to Basic Observations No.8, paragraph 1, on timing of landing operations, distributed by the corps on 25 August 1942. Corps Operations Section, 1733 top secret.

T-314 Roll 1604, T314_R1604_English_Translation.docx. 18 September 1943 | Source PDF pages 932. Selected island-related text; document or report date governs placement.