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British Minelaying.
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14. Except for a few airborne mines laid off the French Atlantic coast there has been no British minelaying in the past week because of the bad weather and lack of escorts.
Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping.
Home Waters.
15. Enemy aircraft laid mines off the Humber on the nights of the 15th/16th and the 16th/17th January, off Milford Haven and in the Bristol Channel on the night of the 16th/17th, and in the Thames Estuary on the night of the 19th 20th. Mines were also seen to drop in Moelfre Bay, which is on the coast of Anglesey in the Liverpool approaches, and a dangerous area was declared.
The heavy minelaying in the Liverpool approaches carried out by enemy aircraft last week has resulted in six casualties this week. Only two of these ships sank, the others, including three H.M. Ships, reached harbour safely. Three ships were mined in the Bristol Channel, one of which sank. One was sunk in the Thames Estuary, and another was mined off Milford Haven but safely docked.
During the week LL Sweep detonated four magnetic mines in the Liverpool approaches, four in the Thames Estuary, two off Milford Haven, and one each off Harwich, Falmouth and in the Bristol Channel.
S.A. Gear, Type A, detonated three acoustic mines in the Liverpool approaches, three in the Thames Estuary, and one off Plymouth. Type C detonated four acoustic mines off Milford Haven, and an A.A. Trawler fitted with a jury rig detonated her first acoustic mine off Liverpool. H.M.S. Viscount put up two acoustic mines off Liverpool.
The mine totals are: acoustic 153, magnetic 869, contact 795.
Foreign Waters.
16. The Germans are reported to have laid mines in the outer approaches to Trondheim, Norway.
Enemy Minesweeping.
16A. There are further indications of enemy minesweeping activity in the Dover area. Of several British mines which have been washed ashore, nine have been cut, and some Oropesa-type floats, presumed to be of enemy origin, have also been washed ashore.
Enemy Shipping.
German.
17. Only five German ships are reported to have been in Trieste on the 1st January, whereas twenty were said to have been there on the 5th December, of which nine left on the 15th December for an unknown destination.
It has been reported that a 10,000-ton ship which was recently raised at Narvik is now at Banak, in Norway, being used as a depot ship for troops and aircraft personnel. This may be the Jan Wellem, 11,776 tons, reports of the raising of which had previously been received and which was said to have left Narvik in December.
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Germany.
MILITARY SITUATION.
18. A new Armoured Division, probably the 12th, has been formed in the Protectorate, bringing the total up to thirteen. Three of these Divisions are probably in Roumania.
The total of identified Divisions has now increased to 218.
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