11 July 1942

11 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Fresh W–NW breeze, visibility 15–20 nautical miles, NW swell and moderately disturbed sea. [Opening date and time column clipped at the binding.] Night convoys and patrols completed without special events apart from weather delays. Guernsey: V 206/M 4611 arrive with convoy from Granville. St Malo: V 711/724/M 1205 arrive. Cherbourg: V 202/208 return from patrol position.

Convoy requests: RO 8 with horses Guernsey–Granville; three vessels expected from the west, notified by 3rd to 2nd Security Division, see 9 July; night troop convoy St Malo–Jersey. V 206/M 4611 are ordered to leave Guernsey about noon for Granville, release RO 8 to enter at high water, then proceed to St Malo. The second task is possible only on the evening of 12 July. I intend to withdraw V 202/208, since V 711/724 have already relieved V 713/729, and combine the second and third tasks. V 203/204 are ordered to escort the Jersey troop convoy tonight, then proceed alone to Cherbourg to relieve V 202/208, who will bring the convoy back. The intention is reported to 3rd Security Division. 12:00: V 206 reports RO 8 has dried out and can sail only ten hours later. Correction to 10 July item 5: strong wind postpones Georgi’s troop convoy to Alderney by 24 hours [typed “2400 Std.”].

Situation: V 202/208 at Bremse overnight, then ready Cherbourg; V 711/724/M 1205 finish Minotaure convoy Guernsey–St Malo, then ready; V 713/729 ready Guernsey for Georgi troop convoy to Alderney tonight; V 206/M 4611 finish Granville–Jersey–Guernsey convoy with Bordsee, then ready for RO 8 to Granville overnight; V 203/204 ready St Malo for Ad. le Prince to Jersey overnight; V 209 minor repairs St Malo; M 4601/4604/4605 ready St Malo. Escorted tonnage 1,750 GRT.

Intentions for 12 July: V 202/208 at Brummer overnight, then ready Cherbourg; V 711/724/M 1205 ready St Malo; V 713/729 ready Guernsey for Georgi to Alderney overnight, then convoy to Cherbourg; V 206/M 4611 finish RO 8 to Granville, then alone to St Malo; V 203/204 continue alone to Cherbourg [night troop-convoy wording struck through]; M 4601/4604/4605 and V 209 ready St Malo. 21:30 St Malo: V 209/204 sail with night troop convoy to Jersey [changed pairing; see 12 July correction]. 23:00 Cherbourg: V 202/208 sail for patrol position. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0404–0405.