26 March 1944

Summary

Normandy radar reports concerning the Channel Islands

Location Details

Jersey; Guernsey; Alderney; St Malo; Cherbourg; Cap de la Hague; Cotentin; Normandy

Diary Entry

26 March 1944 Normandy radar reports concerning the Channel Islands

Normandy radar reporting station — 1944-03-26

Night 26/27 March. Wind E–NE 3–5, visibility 5–8 nautical miles, sea 1–3. Exceptionally good radar weather. Enemy transmissions received by FuMO214 for the first time in Normandy area. Report sent to Channel Coast Radar Centre; Sea Commandant alerted to this special occurrence.

Enemy transmissions: FuMO214 Arromanches, 2039–0020,30°–40°; Jobourg, 2053–2135,45°–65°; FuMO51 La Pernelle, 1958–2330,40°–50°; FuMO2 Arromanches, 2039–2330,30°–40°. One patrol boat, two minesweepers and two tugs Guernsey–Cherbourg tracked very well by relevant sets. Recalled by radio message 2321, then ordered back to Cherbourg by radio message 2359; continuously assisted with locating signals because of delay and deviations.

Normandy radar reporting station — 1944-03-26

Continuation of 26/27 March. The request for a locating signal from leading patrol boat 716,0015 of 27 March, was transmitted by the boat, according to later discussion with its commander, Lieutenant-Commander Möller. Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg failed to pass it to the Radar Reporting Station. Punishment followed. Owing to the strong current, the formation was four nautical miles north of Herz route from 0228 to 0236. FuMO214 Jobourg detected a new target close to the formation, about one nautical mile ahead to port. The Radar Reporting Station identified it as an own vessel slightly separated from the formation, since course and speed exactly matched our boats. After consultation with commander Vp 716, however, these were enemy fast boats observed by Vp 716. For course and speed of the movement, see annex.

Extensive fighter-bomber activity off Cotentin peninsula; own convoys warned by nine aircraft locating signals. Fighter-bomber attacks on Cherbourg–St Malo, Alderney–Cherbourg and Guernsey–Cherbourg movements unsuccessful. Six modern minesweepers Cherbourg–St Malo: commander 10th Minesweeping Flotilla requested locating signals by signal. Since the vessels were outside Jersey sector shortly afterwards, only one signal could be given immediately. Further signals followed upon entering Cap Fréhel radar sector.

FuMO51 La Pernelle detected several sea targets at 0054 at 518 hectometres in upper-right corner BF3531, course 220°, speed 23 knots. At 0133 formation bearing 334°, 377 hectometres from La Pernelle; turned onto reciprocal course. At 0146 Cap de la Hague II outpost observed detonation and white flares in the contact area. Targets then proceeded slowly on changing courses until 0153 in BF3526 right-edge centre to upper-right edge. Then departed course 20°, speed 16 knots. Last measured position from La Pernelle at 0256:358°, 648 hectometres. Targets tracked by FuMO214 Cap Lévy from 0134 to 0209 out to 370 hectometres, and by FuMO51 Cap de la Hague II from 0130 to 0155 out to 388 hectometres. FuMO1 Cap Lévy did not detect the targets despite simultaneous occupation and repeated direction onto them. Probably the formation reported by Naval Direction-Finding Battalion Flanders in intelligence report 998 of 27 March 0035; its course at that time agrees. Own E-boats could not be deployed because of weather. Connection between enemy operation and first enemy transmissions received by FuMO214 is striking.

At the same time Normandy radar-interception network took bearings [continued on next frame].

Normandy radar reporting station — 1944-03-26

Continuation of 26/27 March. Normandy radar-interception network took bearings on a shipborne emitter from 0049 to 0347 in upper centre BF3535 via 3534, 3537, upper centre 3561, 3537, 3534, 3537, upper centre 3167, 3198, 3195 to 3192. Target lost 0347. Newly detected 0414 in BF3195 to 3193, back to 3195, then upper-left corner 3186 at 0617. No results from repeated direction of radar sets. Probably small vessels escorting the formation reported above. Nine enemy-target locating signals to warn Guernsey–Cherbourg movement.

Call from 2nd Security Division (Lieutenant Schneider): Radar Reporting Station sends too many locating signals. Explanation: Guernsey–Cherbourg movement, in 3rd Security Division area, had to be warned by radio, as it was only 15 nautical miles from enemy. 10th Minesweeping Flotilla had requested locating signals. Fighter-bomber attacks required timely warning to intended targets (own convoys) by locating signals, in agreement with St Malo convoy control.

Detections immediately passed to Sea Commandant Normandy. La Pernelle linked with Naval Artillery Battalion 260 for Hamburg battery from 0100 to 0256. No firing because range too great. FuMO2 Étretat tracked unknown targets from 2330 to 0020 from left centre BF3575 to right centre 3575; course 245° from 2330 to 2349 and 340° from 2349 to 0020. Targets small and very difficult to distinguish. Enemy locating signal 0020. FuMO214 Cap Lévy tracked several small targets from 0303 to 0327 from centre BF3553 to lower-right corner 3537, course 76°, speed 20 knots. FuMO2 Lévy and FuMO51 La Pernelle, directed onto them, detected nothing. [Crossed out: Probably …] FuMO2 Alderney: unknown contacts 0247–0257 from right-edge centre BF3516 to left-edge centre 3524; small sea targets, difficult to distinguish, course 110°, speed 7 knots. No confirmation from Cap de la Hague sets directed onto them. Authenticity of contacts questionable.

Following report of enemy transmissions to Channel Coast Radar Centre, order at 2200: Goldammer or Stendal a or b. Arromanches made a slight tuning adjustment. Cap Lévy was unfamiliar with handling Goldammer, and Jobourg had no Goldammer attachment. Arromanches immediately fully serviceable after slight detuning. At Cap Lévy, only when the set commander entered the set did it become apparent that reported enemy transmissions had been misinterpreted from fixed echoes in the second or third time-base sweep. Training in countermeasures and interpretation of enemy transmissions is under way.

Normandy radar reporting station — 1944-03-26

Continuation of 26/27 March. By order of Sea Commandant Normandy, increased defensive readiness from 2145 to 2350. Thirty-one locating signals for navigational assistance.

Source of Information