Complex sentence: Fedala coast defense batteries were alerted by the noise of landing craft engines and illuminated the beach approaches with searchlights but the searchlights were extinguished when the landing craft support boats opened fire with machine guns.
Split into simpler sentences: Fedala coast defense batteries alerted by the noise of landing craft engines illuminated the beach approaches with searchlights. Searchlights were extinguished when the landing craft support boats opened fire with machine guns.