19 August 1943

19 August 1943 M 4616 Cherbourg Guernsey escort

19 August: teleprinter departure order from Saint-Malo escort office: at 22:30 M 4616, M 4600, M 4601 and M 4605 to escort tugs Denise and Volkmar, one lighter and cutter H 74 MO from Cherbourg to Guernsey. Beforehand conduct several gear passes over the suspected dropping position. 20:30: M 4600, M 4601 and M 4605 made four passes with SSG and KKG in Cherbourg inner roads; no mines cleared. M 4600's commander reported completion by teleprinter.

22:30: M 4616 cast off for escort task. Despite repeated instructions from harbour commandant to be assembled ready to sail outside entrance at 22:30, convoy had not formed. Boats lay stopped for 35 minutes until tow connection established. Escort leader M 4616's commander. Calm sea, good visibility, moonlight. Formation in original. Signed Aust.

T-1022 Roll 3129, 46th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3129_English_Translation.docx. Record 466 | Source PDF scans 466, 467.