CHERBOURG HARBOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25673, 23 October 1944, Page 2

CHERBOURG HARBOUR

HEAVILY MINED AREAS “A VERY COMPLETE JOB ” The Germans made a very complete job of mining Cherbourg Harbour, and they left the Allied mine clearance authorities some difficult problems, writes Captain Russell GrenfelL R.N., naval correspondent of the Sunday Times. Every conceivable part of the water area was mined, including the outer and inner harbour, and the insides of the enclosed basins. The mines were laid in deep and shallow _ water and in odd corners, as well as in the main anchorage areas. Some were ingeniously attached to many of the permanent moorings, so that ships tying up to the buoy would explode the mine. Anti - invasion mines were well sprinkled over the beaches. Practically every known type of mine was used, including one from the last war not hitherto seen in this. In addition, there is at least one mine which may prove to have novel features. The task of clearing the mines has been made more difficult by the presence of ships sunk by the Germans and of the German boom defences. The odd corners in the angles of breakwaters and moles are hard to get at by reason of their shape and liability to shallow water. The methods used in clearing the basins have called for ingenuity. The sweeping craft are mainly small, and include motor launches, small wooden vessels known as British yard minesweepers, and specially fitted landing The personnel is almost entirely British. In charge of the harbour sweeping is Commander A. E. Doran, D.S.C., R.N., who played a leading part in the sweeping of Malta Harbour during the period of attack.