2 July 1942

2 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo: very calm sea, light to weak N–NE breeze, visibility 3–5 nautical miles, patches of fog. V 202/208 anchor with Hüxter at St Malo Roads. 04:05: V 203/213, which had not occupied Brummer owing to an urgent night convoy to Alderney, depart for Alderney late because of fog. 06:30 Guernsey: V 713/729 arrive with convoy. 07:10 Alderney: V 203/213 anchor outside; fog prevents entry. 07:30 St Malo: V 206/204 sail alone for Guernsey with the head of the convoy office, A I and Org 2 of Security West, and Fighter Leader 3’s Luftwaffe liaison officer at Security West, Hauptmann Bäthke. 12:30 Alderney: V 203/213 enter. 13:00 Guernsey: V 206/204 arrive. 14:00 Cherbourg: V 711/724 arrive. 16:15 Guernsey: M 4605/4601/4604 sail for Jersey, being required at Granville on 3 July for a Jersey–Guernsey convoy.

Correction to 1 July, item 2: patrol position not occupied because of the urgent night convoy to Alderney; the day convoy Alderney–Cherbourg postponed to 2 July owing to fog. Situation: V 208/202 ready St Malo; V 203/213 Cherbourg–Alderney with Tinda, Nestor, Schwalbe and Balidar, returning with convoy not yet known, then Bremse at night; V 713/729 complete Minotaure, Schokland and Maas convoy to Guernsey, then ready for Minotaure’s return overnight; M 4605/4601/4604 alone Guernsey–Jersey, then ready; V 204/206 at St Malo Roads during night 1/2 July [month mistyped as 8], then alone to Guernsey with the officers, ready for Claus Wilhelm troop convoy Guernsey–Alderney overnight, returning alone; V 711/724 Cherbourg via Alderney to Guernsey and back via Alderney to Cherbourg with Georgi. Escorted tonnage 4,015 GRT.

Intentions for 3 July: V 202/208 ready St Malo; V 203/213 at Bremse overnight, then Cherbourg–St Malo with Kurland, La France, M 4613 and one harbour-protection boat; V 713/729 finish Minotaure convoy to St Malo, then ready; M 4605/4601/4604 alone Jersey–Granville, then collected convoy via Jersey to Guernsey; V 204/206 finish Claus Wilhelm troop convoy to Alderney, then alone Guernsey–Jersey.

17:00 Cherbourg: V 711/724 sail with Georgi and two harbour-protection boats for Alderney. 21:20 Alderney: they arrive. 21:30 Guernsey: sudden cooling brings fog. An enquiry to Alderney, following V 203/213’s radio report that they have anchored because of fog, establishes that heavy fog has prevailed intermittently there all day. Claus Wilhelm carries nearly 300 men on leave and cannot enter Alderney; I cancel the intended troop convoy. 22:30 Alderney: V 203/213 sail with convoy for Cherbourg. 22:30 Guernsey: V 713/729 sail with Minotaure troop convoy for St Malo. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0397–0398.