12 August 1942 Part 1

St Malo Convoy Control Office 12 August 1942

Weather: W, fresh breeze to strong wind, easing in the morning; cloudy; visibility 10 nautical miles; fairly rough to moderately disturbed sea; westerly swell.

0015 — Alderney: UJ 1411/04 sailed with convoy for Guernsey.

0315 — Guernsey: UJ 1411/04 arrived with convoy from Alderney.

0320 — Malo: A teletype message arrived from the 3rd Security Division concerning the withdrawal of V 712/08 in exchange for V 707/29, with orders for convoy 3291.

Remark: The vessels thereby assigned to convoy 3291 must first be assembled at Lézardrieux from Guernsey and Malo.

0640 — Malo: M 4605/04 arrived with convoy from Guernsey.

0740 — Lézardrieux: V 711/24 arrived with Livadia from Malo.

0830 — Malo: V 712/08 sailed with convoy for Guernsey.

The night convoys were completed as planned except for the Alderney–Guernsey convoy and return: Georgi remained at Alderney. Contrary to orders, UJ 1411/04 did not undertake the return passage from Guernsey to Alderney.

Convoy tasks: (1) Alderney–Cherbourg. (2) RO 8, Malo–Guernsey. (3) Loriot, 274 PM and Rob. Müller 8, Guernsey–Malo. (4) Night troop convoy with La France and H 49 from Malo to Jersey, and Minotaure from Malo to Guernsey.

Escort allocation: For (1), UJ 1411/04, ordered to proceed without convoy from Guernsey to Alderney and take over the convoy. For (2), V 712/08. For (3), likewise V 712/08 after completing (2). For (4), V 213/08. [A small handwritten annotation beside allocation (2) is unclear.]

1115: Granville requested an escort from Jersey to Guernsey at 0900 on 13 August. The barge H 20 PM, assigned to convoy 3291 under the 3rd Security Division's orders, was being made ready by the Sea Transport Chief to be attached to Loriot with H 274 PM when these arrived at Malo with V 712/08.

Remark: It is repeatedly disruptive that convoy requests are made at short notice, evidently because of inadequate planning. Although such short-notice requests have mostly been met so far, this has always been at the expense of the boats.

Report to the 3rd Security Division — A. Situation on 12 August 1942:

1. V 712/08: Malo–Guernsey with RO 8; later Guernsey–Malo with Loriot, H 274 PM and Rob. Müller 8.

2. V 213/08: night troop convoy of 12/13 August from Malo, with La France and H 49 for Jersey and Minotaure for Guernsey.

3. V 209/11: readiness at Malo.

4. M 4605/04: completion of the night troop convoy of 11/12 August, Guernsey–Malo with Minotaure and Karel; readiness at Malo.

5. M 4611/01: readiness at Malo; minor repairs.

6. V 711/24: completion of the night passage of 11/12 August, Malo–Lézardrieux–Brest with Livadia. Section released to the disposal of the 3rd Security Division. [The report gives 11/12 August; the preceding day's order placed the Lézardrieux–Brest leg on 12/13 August.]

7. UJ 1411/04: completion of the night troop convoy of 11/12 August, Alderney–Guernsey with Rob. Müller 8; then without convoy from Guernsey to Alderney; later Alderney–Cherbourg with a combined convoy.

8. V 206: readiness at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 7,100 GRT.

B. Intentions for 13 August 1942:

1. V 712/08: Malo–Lézardrieux with Loriot, H 274 and H 20; the section then released to the disposal of the 3rd Security Division.

2. V 213/08: completion of the night troop convoy of 12/13 August, Malo–Guernsey; readiness.

3. V 209/11: readiness at Malo.

4. UJ 1411/04: readiness at Cherbourg.

5. V 206/M 1201: without convoy from Malo to Granville, with the Flotilla Commander aboard V 206; then Granville–Jersey–Guernsey with a combined convoy.

6. M 4611/01/05/04: at the disposal of the officer-cadet course of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla.

1445 — Guernsey: V 712/08 arrived with RO 8.

1500 — Guernsey: UJ 1411/04 sailed with Gironde 1 for Cherbourg.

1530 — Guernsey: V 712/08 sailed with Rob. Müller 8 for Malo. [This movement line is struck through in the source.]

Owing to the weather, the tug Loriot and barge H 274 PM had to remain behind. Following a teletype report, the 3rd Security Division decided by telephone that convoy 3291 was to proceed as a complete unit. V 712/08, with barge H 20 PM waiting at Malo, and the tug Pierrot with the two barges Elbe and Mosel waiting at Lézardrieux, were therefore also to remain behind until then.

2030 — Cherbourg: UJ 1411/04 arrived with Gironde 1 from Guernsey.

2050 — Malo: V 712/08 arrived with Rob. Müller 8 from Guernsey.

2205 — Malo: V 213/08 with night troop convoy: La France and H 49 for Jersey, and Minotaure for Guernsey. [Departure is implied by the entry; no separate departure verb is typed.]

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0446, corrected original page 19 (from the 12 August heading), and scan 0447, original page 20. St Malo Convoy Control Office war diary. Times and report numbering follow the source; bracketed notes identify uncertain readings or source amendments.