28 August 1942

28 August 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Winds around south; cloudy to fair; fresh breeze to strong wind; visibility about 8 nautical miles; slight to moderate sea.

[0]100, Guernsey: V 213/08 sailed with convoy to Malo. 0226: Two British bombers attacked the convoy led by V 213/08, consisting of steamer Minotaure with troops aboard and steamer Kromwyk. I submitted the following short combat report to Commander, Security Forces West, 3rd Security Division and the Sea Transport Chief.

“V 213/08 escorting steamers Minotaure and Kromwyk, 28 August, 0226, Qu. 3574 u.K. Attack by two bombers at low level, turning from the moonward side into the dark side. Each attacked Minotaure, carrying troops, once in succession, dropping three bombs in all; one aircraft also used its guns. The escorts and steamers engaged with barrage fire directed by sound because the aircraft could not be seen on the dark side; visual fire was also possible as they withdrew. No hits on the aircraft were observed, but one left a cloud of smoke and, losing height, disappeared north-westward.”

Remark: Weather conditions were especially favourable for the attack: an entirely clear full-moon night, in which the convoy stood out very clearly to the aircraft. Conversely, after moving to the dark side relative to the moon, the aircraft could not be made out during their approach despite the bright night, so anti-aircraft fire could have no direct effect. The barrage fired by the patrol boats and steamers certainly disturbed the attackers' steady approach, since both bombs and gunfire missed their target. In precisely such circumstances, wire rockets would be an effective defence. Their provision to the escort boats has been urgently requested from Commander, Security Forces West, while I asked the Sea Transport Chief to arrange corresponding equipment for troop transports.

[0]400, Malo: V 211/07 with convoy anchored in the roadstead before Jersey [the source couples the location “Malo” with “before Jersey”; retained as written]. [0]640, Malo: M 4605/01 sailed without convoy to Granville. [0]720, Malo: V 213/08 with convoy anchored in the roadstead. [0]930, Granville: M 4605/01 sailed with Pointe à Pitre, Normand, Nordsee, Nestor, Comptoir 66 and Magazan [spelling here; Mazagan elsewhere] to Jersey–Guernsey. [1]135, Malo: V 206/13 sailed for practice firing off Malo with the anti-aircraft detachment.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Pointe à Pitre from Granville for Jersey, Normand, Nordsee, Nestor, Comptoir 66 and Mazagan for Guernsey; (2) Georgi and others Cherbourg–Alderney–Guernsey. I assign M 4605/01 to (1), first proceeding independently to Granville, and V 707/04 to (2).

1300, Jersey: After releasing Pointe à Pitre, M 4605/01 continued with the remaining convoy to Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Special occurrence: Attack by two bombers on V 213/08 and convoy south of Guernsey; no damage. Corrections to the situation for 27 August: Item 1, V 213/08 in the evening with Dorsch and Kromwyk to Guernsey, Dorsch released off Alderney; item 5, V 707/04 coaling at Cherbourg.

Situation for 28 August: (1) V 213/08 night troop convoy of 27/28 August with Kromwyk and Minotaure Guernsey–Malo; V 208 minor repairs; (2) V 211/07 completing the night troop convoy of 27/28 August, La France and Robert Müller 8 Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (3) V 206/13 daylight practice firing with anti-aircraft detachment off Malo, then readiness; (4) M 4605/01 independent passage Malo–Granville, then Pointe à Pitre to Jersey and Normand, Nordsee, Nestor, Comptoir 66 and Mazagan to Guernsey; (5) V 209, M 1202 and M 4611/04 ready at Malo; (6) V 707/04 with Georgi and others Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 28/29 August with Georgi Alderney–Guernsey. Escorted tonnage: 8,300 GRT.

Intentions for 29 August: (1) V 208 minor repairs at Malo; (2) V 211/07/06/09/13 and M 1202 ready at Malo; (3) M 4605/01 ready at Guernsey; (4) M 4611/04 combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (5) V 707/04 convoy Guernsey–Alderney–Cherbourg.

1645, Guernsey: M 4605/01 arrived with the remaining convoy from Granville. 1700, Cherbourg: V 707/04 sailed with Georgi and Henka for Alderney. Henka returned to Cherbourg because of engine damage. 1830, Malo: V 206/13 returned from practice firing. 2015, Alderney: V 707/04 arrived with Georgi from Cherbourg.

Signed on behalf: Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0466 right and scan 0467 left, original pages 19–20. Leading hour digits on page 19 are partly obscured. The position and bearings in the combat report are retained without inferring a modern location.