1 July 1942

1 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

War Diary of Convoy Office St Malo, 1–15 July 1942; Fregattenkapitän Dr Diederichs, chief of 2nd Patrol Flotilla. Cover Kr 19735. St Malo: light to weak N–NW breeze, fog, calm sea. 04:15: V 713/729 and M 4430 anchor at St Malo Roads with Holland. 06:30 Jersey: M 4601/4604/4605 leave for Granville. 06:45 Cherbourg: V 203/213 return from patrol position. 07:15 St Malo: V 202/208 sail with hospital ship Hüxter for Guernsey. Night convoys completed and day tasks begun according to plan. 10:30 Granville: M 4601/4604/4605 sail with convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 10:40: V 202/208 report by radio that they have lost Hüxter in fog; delay to the planned task is expected.

The 3rd Security Division assigns V 711/724 to ensure daily occupation of the Brummer–Bremse night patrol position; they have been proceeding from Brest since 08:00 and are ordered by radio to Cherbourg. Alderney requests escort for Kurland to St Malo. I order V 203/213 to take her to Cherbourg, intending to combine her with the requested La France convoy and attach M 4611. V 206/204 are assigned to the intended island tour of the A I of Commander Security West on 2–4 July, anchoring at St Malo Roads during night 1/2 July. V 713/729 are assigned the St Malo–Guernsey troop convoy because V 202/208 are unlikely to return in time; if the latter arrive by 23:00 they will take it over.

Situation: V 202/208 shadow Hüxter St Malo–Guernsey–Jersey–St Malo, delayed by fog; V 203/213 at Bremse during night 30 June/1 July, then Cherbourg–Alderney with Schwalbe, Tinda, Corona and Meteor, returning with convoy not yet known; V 713/729/M 4430 complete Holland troop convoy Jersey–St Malo, M 4430 then released to the mine-warfare school, V 713/729 ready for Schokland, Maas and Minotaure to Guernsey; M 4605/4601/4604 alone Jersey–Granville, then Bordsee, Nestor, H 13, Guynemer and Hubbastone via Jersey to Guernsey; V 204/206 ready St Malo, anti-aircraft training; V 711/724 Brest–Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage 7,600 GRT.

Intentions for 2 July: V 202/208 ready St Malo; V 203/213 at Brummer overnight, then ready for convoys; V 713/729 finish the Guernsey troop convoy, then ready; M 4601/4604/4605 ready Guernsey; V 204/206 at St Malo Roads overnight at the Division’s disposal, then alone to Guernsey with the flotilla chief, A I of Security West, Kapitän Schunk, and the Luftwaffe liaison officer of Fighter Leader 3 at Security West [marginal amendments partly indistinct]; V 711/724 ready Cherbourg.

16:25 Guernsey: V 202/208 arrive with Hüxter. After proceeding independently in the fog, they met again as the weather cleared ten nautical miles off Guernsey. 18:30: M 4601/4604/4605 arrive with convoy. 18:40: V 202/208 and Hüxter sail for Jersey. 22:45 Jersey: they arrive. 22:45 St Malo: V 713/729 sail with Schokland, Maas and troop transport Minotaure for Guernsey. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0396–0397.