31 August 1943

31 August 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary

Weather: wind 270°, 1 m/sec. 02:43. The naval radar sets I and II on Guernsey obtained contacts. Alarm for Artillery Group Guernsey. At 03:10 the target was assessed as probably a barrage balloon. At 03:28 the alarm ended. At 03:40 the Channel Coast Commanding Admiral and 319th Infantry Division were informed. The Alderney naval radar set was out of action. No. 3 gun of Batterie Elsass was again operational.

Construction report, Naval Artillery Battalion 604.

Batterie Mirus: work continued on infantry positions at the four guns and fire-control post. Perimeter wiring at No. 4 gun and the north-east gate was completed. Levelling of the central road and the track from the service building continued, and earth was excavated for the petrol bunker at the farmhouse. Organisation Todt poured the working floor at anti-aircraft position No. 5, fitted ventilation at No. 2 and continued the drainage pipe at No. 4.

Mirus: Windheim completed camouflage of the superstructures of anti-aircraft bunkers 1 and 2 and began camouflage of gun bunkers 2 and 4.

Batterie Steinbruch, battery work: work continued on the galley, petty-officers’ home and communal barrack; the officers’ home was erected. Interior work continued in the living bunkers of the fire-control post and No. 4 gun. The third heavy-machine-gun position and an alternative position were built up with sandbags. Organisation Todt stripped anti-aircraft position 2 and continued banking at water tank 3 and the fire-control post and drainage at the ammunition replenishment bunker and anti-aircraft position 6. Siemens continued fitting new Epa and Seipa couplings at the guns, lighting in the ammunition bunker and heating in living bunkers 1 and 2.

Batterie Strassburg, battery work: ammunition stacking was completed and work continued on the gun day rooms. Extension of the trolley tracks began. Ten new infantry positions were built and more were in progress. A new soakaway was made at the fire-control post and 3.7-cm optical equipment installed. Organisation Todt continued levelling at the fire-control post. Artillery Weapons Command Guernsey began removing destroyed gun components.

Batterie Lothringen, battery work: the office barrack was extended. Work continued on the close defences of No. 1 gun and machine-gun nest 6, and camouflage at No. 2 gun. Organisation Todt continued building the fire-control post and poured the fourth embrasure of the bearing post. Buildings were spray-painted with tar paint and horticultural camouflage continued. Batterie Annes continued previously begun work without change.

T-1022 Roll 2422, scans 0693–0694.