23 June 1942

23 June 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo: light winds, very calm to calm sea, visibility two to three nautical miles. Intended night troop convoys proceed as planned. V 208/202 are ordered to be off Granville at 15:00 for the requested convoy, take it to Jersey [handwritten correction], then proceed alone to Guernsey. During night 23/24 June they take Georgi’s troop convoy to Alderney and return Georgi without troops to Guernsey. V 206/M 4601 receive the day convoy to Jersey and are to bring Holland back to St Malo during night 23/24 June. The 12th Minesweeping Flotilla provides Leutnant zur See Paschen as V 206’s commander.

Because the 3rd Security Division particularly wants Robur and Barfleur in St Malo by 25 June, I order V 202/208 to proceed Guernsey–Cherbourg on the morning of 24 June [handwritten destination correction], then first bring both vessels to Guernsey in a day convoy. 15:00 St Malo: Kapitän zur See Kopp and Korvettenkapitän von Hoppenstedt of Naval Commander Channel Coast, Sea Transport Chief Kapitän zur See Lutter and Harbour Commandant St Malo Fregattenkapitän Beesel visit the convoy office.

Correction to 22 June: item 1, Cherbourg–Alderney with Georgi, C 33 S and a barge, then Georgi night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey; item 2, ready Cherbourg. Situation for 23 June: V 203/207 finish Georgi night convoy Alderney–Guernsey, then alone to Alderney, onward Cherbourg with Lena, B 124 S and C 33 S, then back to Alderney with convoy not yet known; M 4600/4606/4607 released from disposal; V 208/202/209 finish Minotaure and Nordplain night troop convoy Guernsey–St Malo; V 202/208 alone St Malo–Granville, then Paul et Jeanne, Rheinland, Pointe à Pitre, G. Guynemer, a barge and Rhône to Jersey, alone onward Guernsey and ready for Georgi troop convoy to Alderney; V 206/M 4601 St Malo–Jersey with B 113 S, Gueppe 58/76, Holstein, Cl. Wilhelm and six barges, then ready for Holland, Ad. le Prince, Schokland and Karel troop convoy Jersey–St Malo; M 1201/1204 at St Malo Roads overnight; M 4604/V 209 resting St Malo; M 4605 out of operational readiness. Tonnage 8,540 GRT.

Intentions for 24 June: V 203/207 at Mikado until 01:30 and Mikimaus until daylight, then Alderney for Cherbourg convoy; V 202/208 finish Georgi troop convoy Guernsey–Alderney, then return Georgi to Guernsey, alone onward Cherbourg, day convoy with Robur, Barfleur and others [destination overtyped]; V 206/M 4601 finish Holland, Ad. le Prince, Schokland and Karel troop convoy Jersey–St Malo; M 4604/V 209 ready St Malo; St Malo Roads unoccupied for lack of boats. To give the heavily worked crews, currently conducting escorts with only three pairs, an uninterrupted rest, I intend no convoys on 27–29 June. I send a corresponding teletype to Security West, the 3rd Security Division and the Sea Transport Chief. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0386.