15 June 1942

15 June 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo: moderate to fresh NW breeze, slightly disturbed sea, visibility 20 nautical miles. 02:55: air-reporting centre 22 WS reports a white light changing into several red stars and white or red aircraft distress lights toward Plateau des Minquiers. 03:00: I order V 208/211 at the roads to weigh anchor and search in that direction. V 208’s commander reports star signals, visible as far as St Malo in the exceptional visibility, probably fired during a coastal troop exercise. Telephone inquiry confirms the observation.

13:00 St Malo: M 1206 and V 704/706 leave with convoy for Brest. 17:00 Cherbourg: V 202/207 leave via Alderney for Guernsey. 23:00 Guernsey: V 204/209 and convoy leave via Jersey for St Malo. 23:00 St Malo: V 203/208 leave with Holland and Ad. le Prince via Jersey for Guernsey.

Situation: V 202/207 overnight Mikado, then Cherbourg–Alderney night convoy 15/16 June; V 206/213 complete Cherbourg–Guernsey night convoy with Minotaure, then Bizon, Stier and two barges to St Malo; V 204/209 ready Guernsey for Minotaure and Maas night troop convoy via Jersey to St Malo; V 208/211 overnight St Malo Roads then ready; V 203/208 ready for Holland and Ad. le Prince night troop convoy to Jersey, continuing Guernsey. Tonnage 5,700 GRT.

Intentions for 16 June: V 202/207 night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey with Antonius, then alone to Cherbourg; V 206 ready St Malo; V 204/209 complete Minotaure and Maas troop convoy Jersey–St Malo; V 203/208 finish Holland convoy Jersey–Guernsey, then ready; V 211/213 alone to Granville then collected convoy via Jersey to Guernsey.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0374.