28 June 1942

28 June 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Alderney: V 204/206 arrive with troop convoy. St Malo: weak wind about N, visibility eight to ten nautical miles, calm sea. 05:30: V 211 reports after entering Cherbourg at 04:45 that V 211/213, drifting at Carmen, were attacked by aircraft at 03:15–03:17. Both attacking fighters destroyed [German claim]. Eleven wounded on V 211, three on V 213 including its commander. Radio reporting was impossible because V 211’s transmitting equipment and all V 213’s radio had been disabled by aircraft fire. 06:15: I report the action to Security West by telephone.

06:30: V 204/206 sail alone for Guernsey. 09:30 St Malo: I drive to Cherbourg to visit the wounded, inspect the boats and speak with commanders. 09:40 Guernsey: V 204/206 arrive. 10:00: Minotaure night troop convoy requested; I assign V 713/729. M 4430, at Jersey, is needed for the mine-warfare school on 29 June, and I want to reunite V 713/729, which have operated together. I order V 713 and V 729 from Jersey to meet at J 3; exchange V 729 and V 209, so V 713/729 continue with convoy from J 3 to Guernsey and V 209/M 4430 proceed alone to St Malo. [A handwritten marginal clarification involving M 4430 and the rendezvous is only partly legible.]

13:30 Cherbourg: I arrive. Inspection: V 213 has slight damage and is ready to sail. I appoint Leutnant zur See Hienzsch, commander of V 207, which is unready for four weeks, to command V 213 [surname reading provisional]. V 211 has over 300 hits from 2-cm and machine-gun fire. The shot-down aircraft striking the mast tore and buckled it with all its rigging; it fell on deck without damaging the hull. V 211 will be unready for about fourteen days.

Remark: the crews, brought back to establishment after the 20 June casualties by men detached from V 210 in the shipyard, behaved impeccably. Both attacking aircraft were destroyed [German claim]. V 211’s commander, Leutnant zur See Joost, deserves special praise for determination and example: wounded by gunfire on 20 June and not fully recovered, he continued to command. V 213’s commander, Leutnant zur See Martiensen, was seriously wounded by the first enemy fire.

Lessons: (1) The two aircraft attacked from the side away from the moon at about 100 metres altitude, spaced 500 metres apart. (2) Again they fired continuously from the beginning, allowing early anti-aircraft fire directed at their muzzle flashes; the aircraft themselves were not initially visible. (3) One aircraft exploded with a flash 600 metres from V 211. The other lost height after hits and exploded against V 211’s mast, tearing and buckling it. (4) Both boats’ combat performance was good [handwritten replacement, provisionally read as Gefechtsleistungen, for the struck-out typed word “damage”].

14:30 Cherbourg: urgent secret teletype to Security West, information copy 3rd Security Division, following inspection and discussion with commanders, referring to Security West G 15980. During night 27/28 June at Brummer, 03:15–03:17, two Spitfires attacked at low level while V 211/213 were stopped for a listening pause. They approached from the side away from the moon towards the visible boat silhouettes. Early continuous enemy fire enabled well-placed defensive fire. One Spitfire crashed in flames and exploded 600 metres from V 211. The second also fired early; repeatedly visibly hit at 800–600 metres, it lost height and exploded against V 211’s mast. The mast, broken and torn from its support, fell to starboard aft, clear of the bridge. Eleven wounded V 211, three V 213 including commander Leutnant zur See Martiensen. Over 300 hits on V 211, few on V 213. V 211’s MES failed; V 213 able to sail, without a commander and with only one watch officer. V 211 expected unready fourteen days. Signed chief 2nd Patrol Flotilla. [The first report names Carmen, this teletype Brummer; both retained.]

18:35–20:45 St Malo fortress: exercise alarm [opening minute as read]. 19:45: I return from Cherbourg. A further request arrives for Claus Wilhelm night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey; I give V 204/206 corresponding orders. Correction to 27 June item 1: replace V 211/203 with V 211/213; V 203 resting Cherbourg.

Situation: V 211/213 at Brummer overnight, then unready Cherbourg after air attack; V 203 resting Cherbourg; V 204/206 finish Georgi and Claus Wilhelm troop convoy Guernsey–Alderney, alone back to Guernsey, ready, then alone Guernsey–Alderney; V 713/M 4601/4604 finish Ad. le Prince troop convoy Jersey–St Malo, then ready; V 729/M 4430 ready Jersey, alone Jersey–Ida 3 at night; V 713/209 Minotaure night troop convoy St Malo–Ida 3; V 207 unready Cherbourg; V 202/208 resting St Malo; M 4605 ready St Malo. Tonnage 1,650 GRT.

Intentions for 29 June: V 204/206 Claus Wilhelm night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey, then ready; V 713/729 finish Minotaure night troop convoy Ida 3–Guernsey; V 209/M 4430 alone Ida 3–St Malo, then ready; V 202/206 coal and replenish provisions St Malo [as typed]; M 4605/4601 St Malo Roads overnight at the 3rd Security Division’s disposal; M 4604 ready St Malo; V 203 ready Cherbourg. 20:45 Guernsey: V 204/206 sail alone for Alderney to collect troop convoy. 22:00 St Malo: V 713/209 sail with Minotaure troop convoy towards Ida 3 for Guernsey. 22:40 Alderney: V 204/206 arrive. 24:00: they sail with Claus Wilhelm troop convoy for Guernsey. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0389–0391.