17 July 1942

17 July 1942 — St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: north-west, fresh breeze to strong wind; occasional showers; visibility 10 nautical miles; moderately rough sea.

00:10, off Alderney — V 711/24 sailed for Guernsey with a night troop convoy. 04:40, Guernsey — V 711/24 arrived from Alderney with the troop convoy. 06:00, Cherbourg — V 713/204 arrived from Position Caruso. 06:00, St Malo — M 4605/1/4 arrived from Jersey with the night troop convoy. M 4604 had to put in because of engine damage.

08:20, St Malo — M 4605/1 sailed for Granville without a convoy. Departure should have followed immediately after arrival. The group commander aboard M 4605 reported that he had not received the teletype order sent to Harbour Commandant Jersey at 15:35 on 16 July, reference G 3631, for M 4605 on 16/17 July. The Sea Transport Officer at Harbour Commandant Jersey, Kapitänleutnant Hartmann, stated instead that the order had been delivered aboard immediately after arrival, but without a receipt. Subsequent enquiries established that the order for M 4605 had mistakenly been delivered to H 49. Harbour Commandant Granville was informed of the escorts’ late arrival.

09:00 — A request arrived for a night troop convoy from St Malo to Guernsey on 17/18 July for 400 soldiers. Through Harbour Commandant Guernsey, I ordered V 202, on arriving from Guernsey that evening, not to enter harbour but to wait in St Malo Roads for V 203 and the convoy, then join them.

11:15, Granville — M 4605/1 arrived off Granville and took over the combined convoy for Jersey and Guernsey.

Situation reported to the 3rd Security Division for 17 July: (1) V 713/204 at Position Caruso during the night of 16/17 July, then Cherbourg readiness. (2) V 209/211 Cherbourg readiness. (3) V 711/24 completing the Alderney–Guernsey night troop convoy with Georgi and ready for the Guernsey–St Malo convoy of 17/18 July with Holland and Nordplain. (4) V 206/02 Guernsey–St Malo with senior officers, then V 206 at readiness. (5) M 4605/1 completing the Jersey–St Malo night troop convoy, then St Malo–Granville without a convoy, then Granville–Jersey with Rheinland, Helma, Tufrane, Mazagan, Comptior 66, H 307 and G. Guynemer [names as read], and onward to Guernsey with Diamant and Rabat. (6) V 203/02 St Malo–Guernsey night troop convoy of 17/18 July with Rob. Müller 8 and Minotaure. (7) M 4604 at St Malo for minor repairs. Escorted tonnage: 6,175 GRT. [A preceding crossed-out correction states that the unescorted Guernsey–Alderney voyage and return had been cancelled because of V 711’s machinery damage; it is not treated as an uncancelled instruction.]

Intentions for 18 July: (1) V 713/204 Cherbourg readiness. (2) V 209/211 Position Caruso during the night of 17/18 July, then Cherbourg readiness. (3) V 711/24 to complete the Guernsey–St Malo troop convoy with Holland and Nordplain, then readiness. (4) V 203/02 to complete the St Malo–Guernsey troop convoy, then readiness at Guernsey. (5) M 4605/1 Guernsey readiness. (6) V 206 St Malo readiness. (7) M 4604 minor repairs at St Malo. (8) St Malo Roads unoccupied for lack of boats.

15:40, Jersey — M 4605/1 detached the Jersey-bound vessels from the combined convoy and continued with Diamant to Guernsey. 16:50, Guernsey — V 206/02 sailed for St Malo with the Commander-in-Chief, Seventh Army, accompanying staff and head of the Convoy Control Office. 17:15, off Guernsey — Two fighters arrived as escort. 19:30, Guernsey — M 4605/1 arrived with Diamant from Granville via Jersey. 21:30, St Malo — V 206/02 arrived in the roads. 21:50, St Malo — V 203/02 sailed for Guernsey with the night troop convoy. 23:00, Guernsey — V 711/24 sailed for St Malo with the night troop convoy. Signed: Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0415 (original pages 4–5). The continuation page is headed 17 August 1942 in error; its position and contents establish 17 July.