25 June 1942

25 June 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo: slight E–NE air movement, calm sea, visibility five to eight nautical miles. Convoys deviate from plan because Robur/Barfleur fail to join V 206/209 as intended under yesterday’s situation items 2 and 4; both tugs remain Guernsey. After an initial refusal, I arrange with the 3rd Security Division to obtain M 1201/1204 for the intended stronger protection of the night troop convoy. I am given responsibility for orders for convoy 3269, tugs westward.

I intend to divide the movement: (1) M 1201/1204 with Robur/Barfleur depart Guernsey at 06:30 on 26 June for Point 28; (2) M 4601/4604/4605 with Oceanie and Pfalzburg depart at 05:30 for Point 28; (3) M 1201/1204 take over the combined convoy at Point 28 and continue west; (4) M 4601/4604/4605 return to St Malo. Corresponding orders go to boats and authorities. My teletype to the 3rd Security Division records: Robur/Barfleur missed yesterday’s convoy; M 1201/1204 and V 206/209 depart St Malo at 23:00 on 25 June with a large troop convoy for Guernsey; M 1201/1204 depart Guernsey at 06:30 with Robur/Barfleur for Point 28; M 4601/4604/4605 depart St Malo at 05:15 on 26 June with Pfalzburg and Oceanie carrying salvage equipment; transfer at Point 28 about 10:00, then westward while M 4601/4604/4605 return; V 713/729 at the convoy office’s disposal under Security West G 14866. [The preliminary proposal gives 05:30, the teletype 05:15.]

13:10 Jersey: V 202/208 anchor in the roads. St Malo: convoys depart as planned. 18:45: V 206/209 with Minotaure and Holland anchor in the roads. 19:30: M 1204/M 4601/4604/4605 anchor there. 23:00: M 1201/1204 and V 206/209 depart with convoy for Guernsey. 23:15 Jersey: V 202/208 sail with RO 21 for Alderney. 23:15 Alderney: V 203/207 enter.

Correction to 24 June, item 4: delete Robur and Barfleur. Situation for 25 June: V 203/207 at Mikimaus overnight, then ready for night troop convoy Cherbourg–Alderney–Cherbourg; V 202/208 finish Robur/Barfleur convoy Cherbourg–Guernsey, then alone to Jersey for RO 21 night troop convoy Jersey–Alderney; V 206/209 finish H 49 night troop convoy Guernsey–St Malo, then ready for Minotaure and Holland night troop convoy St Malo–Guernsey; M 1201/1204 at St Malo Roads overnight and reinforce V 206/209’s troop convoy during night 25/26 June; M 4601/4604/4605 ready St Malo. Handwritten escorted tonnage: 6,740 GRT.

Intentions for 26 June: V 203/207 finish Alderney–Cherbourg troop convoy, patrol position cannot be occupied, then ready Cherbourg; V 202/208 finish RO 21 troop convoy Jersey–Alderney [night typed 24/25 June], then ready Alderney for RO 21 troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey–Jersey; V 206/209 finish Minotaure and Holland convoy to Guernsey, then ready; M 1201/1204 finish the troop convoy with V 206/209, then Guernsey–Point 28 with Barfleur and Robur, take over Pfalzburg and Oceanie and continue west; M 4601/4604/4605 St Malo–Point 28 with Oceanie and Pfalzburg, then return ready St Malo; V 211 ready Cherbourg; St Malo Roads unoccupied for lack of boats. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0387–0388.