Date: 26th December
1944
From: The
Commanding Officer, HMS Gleaner
To: Commander in Chief, The Nore
Subject:
Minesweeping Reports No. 2 and 4
REPORT No.
2
Thursday 21st
December 1944
Searching
sweep of channel from NF3 to 53F buoys.
Speedwell, HALCYON, Speedy, Seagull with dan layer Foday.
Wind variable. Sea and swell 10. Weather misty.
Moored mine
swept up, not sunk. Lost in poor visibility.
Speedwell
parted port sweep on what is believed to be the wreck marked PA in
position 51°21’N, 2° 13’E. This puts the wreck approximately one
mile to westward of charted position.
REPORT No.
4
Speedwell
swept up one moored mine believed German, believed GR. Apparently
new, black paint. 51° 21’ 42” North. 2° 12’ 42” East. Charted depth
14 fathoms. 21st December 1944 1342A, no evidence to
suggest that mine was dragged before being cut.
H A King, Lt
Commander RNVR
Senior Officer (borne in Speedwell during this operation)
_______
HMS
Shearwater on patrol during night of 18th/19th
December reported that E-boats had been encountered and had possibly
laid mines in the vicinity of 51° 21’ 30” N, 02° 10’ 40” E. A search
of QZS 596 was therefore ordered and this was carried out by 1st
Minesweeping Flotilla on 21st December, one moored mine
being cut as in Minesweeping Reports 2 and 4. A danger area was then
declared and this area was subsequently cleared by the 18th
MSF, five moored mines being swept, all to the eastward of the
original one.
Admiral of
the Fleet
The Nore
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