3 August 1942 Part 3

St Malo Convoy Control Office 3 August 1942

Weather: W–SW, light to moderate breeze, fresh in gusts; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; calm to slightly disturbed sea.

0015 — Cherbourg. V 712/08 arrived from Alderney with a convoy.

0110 — St Malo. T 10/13/14 arrived from Lézardrieux.

0130. A radio message is received on the harbour-protection frequency reporting that a submarine on a north-westerly course was sighted from Plémont, Jersey, on a bearing of approximately 360 degrees, 17 nautical miles away.

Remark: My enquiries establish that this report was made by an infantry post at 2130. The intervening authorities passed on this improbable report—a half-submerged submarine seen at dusk at 17 nautical miles—uncritically, without taking any action themselves, and far too slowly. As no boats of the Convoy Control Office are nearby, and more than four hours have elapsed since the alleged sighting, I take no action.

0740 — St Malo. M 1201/06 and V 209, with a convoy from Guernsey, anchored in the roads.

The following convoy tasks have been received:

1. Night troop convoy Cherbourg–Guernsey.

2. Night troop convoy Maas–Georgi, Guernsey–Alderney.

3. Day convoy of barges and others, St Malo–Jersey.

4. Night troop convoy La France, St Malo–Guernsey via Jersey, where Minotaure and H 49 are to join.

Whether these convoys can be carried out during the night depends upon the measures to be taken for T 4's passage Cherbourg–St Malo.

For the time being, only the convoy in item 3 is set in motion, accompanied by V 213/08, with orders to continue from Jersey to Guernsey.

The convoy request is amended: item 1 will be carried out without troops, via Alderney, by V 712/08; item 2 will be combined with it as a night troop convoy from Guernsey to Alderney.

1130 — St Malo. V 213/08 sailed for Jersey with a convoy.

Item 4 will be carried out by V 711/24.

A number of teletypes arrive concerning T 4's intended passage from Cherbourg to St Malo, but for the time being they leave a decision on its final execution open.

Remark: Consequently, after 1500—when departure from St Malo is no longer possible—I cannot send any more boats north. The intended protection on route Herz is thereby made impossible.

The following situation and intentions were reported to the 3rd Security Division:

A. Correction to the situation of 2 August 1942

To item 4: add Rob. Müller 8.

B. Situation on 3 August 1942

1. V 712/08: Cherbourg–Alderney with Schwalbe, Poincaré, Verdun, B 1105 [number provisional], Ch. Rebière [name provisional] and Dorothea Weber [typed “Dorotha Weber”]; continuing to Guernsey with Schwalbe, then night troop convoy of 3/4 August, Georgi and Maas, Guernsey–Alderney.

2. V 711/24: night troop convoy of 3/4 August from St Malo, with Holland to Jersey, H 49 and Minotaure to Guernsey.

3. V 206 and M 4601/04/05/11: St Malo, fitting out and at readiness.

4. M 1201/06 and V 209: completion of the night troop convoy of 2/3 August, Guernsey–St Malo, with Holland, Nordplain [spelling as here] and Rob. Müller 8; then the minesweepers at the disposal of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla, V 209 fitting out.

Tonnage escorted: 8,000 gross register tons.

Following intentions [no separate heading visible in the source]

1. V 712/08: completion of the night troop convoy of 3/4 August, Guernsey–Alderney.

2. V 711/24: completion of the night troop convoy of 3/4 August, St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey.

3. V 213/08: return from Herz 332 to Guernsey, then ready for the night troop convoy of 4/5 August, Guernsey–Alderney.

4. V 206/09 and M 4601/4/5/11: St Malo, fitting out and at readiness.

1700 — Cherbourg. V 712/08 sailed for Alderney with a convoy.

1800. I order V 213/08 to be at point 332 from 2200 for T 4's passage. V 213/08 are to steam back to Guernsey after T 4 has passed, and no later than 0100 on 4 August.

1810 — Jersey. V 213/08 sailed for Guernsey without a convoy.

1920 — Guernsey. V 213/08 arrived from Jersey without a convoy.

1930 — Alderney. V 712/08 arrived from Cherbourg with a convoy; immediately continued to Guernsey with a convoy.

2000 — St Malo. The decision is received that T 4 will proceed from Cherbourg to St Malo without S-boat protection.

2000 — Cherbourg. Several S-boats sail through the Channel Islands area.

2115 — Guernsey. S-boats sail.

2125 — Guernsey. V 213/08 sailed for point 332.

2200 — Cherbourg. T 4 commences passage to St Malo.

2230 — Cherbourg. V 712/08 arrived from Alderney with a convoy. [The location is reproduced as written, although adjacent entries place these boats on the Alderney–Guernsey route.]

2240 — St Malo. V 711/24 sailed for Guernsey with a convoy.

2330 — Guernsey. V 712/08 sailed for Alderney with a convoy.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423. Corrected translation from the original scan images.
scan 0437, original page 5, continuing on scan 0438, original page 6.