4 August 1944

4 August 1944

At 01:10 Battery Lothringen engaged two probable enemy motor torpedo boats six nautical miles south of Jersey. They made smoke and withdrew south-westwards at high speed; one developed dark smoke and was believed hit. Four larger vessels were simultaneously sighted in the haze south of Jersey. At 02:05 Battery Strasbourg, Guernsey, engaged three probable motor torpedo boats six nautical miles south of Guernsey; they withdrew eastwards at high speed. The artillery action protected the St Malo-Channel Islands convoy, which reached its ports. [T-1022/2175, scans 0032 and 0035]

Three enemy targets west of Jersey were engaged by 5./1265; the boats altered course to the north. Planned Channel Islands traffic included four vehicles or small transports totalling approximately 1,000 tonnes, escorted by four security vessels. The escort-control staff at St Malo warned that important transport arrangements could no longer be conducted reliably as the fortress became isolated.

The diary recorded continuing vehicle and personnel movements between St Malo, St Helier and the other islands, but assessed the supply route as increasingly precarious. Goods could reach the islands only while St Malo’s harbour and approaches remained usable.

A retrospective report stated that, following the 30 July evacuation order, the Granville Harbour Command and coastal-battery personnel broke out of the Avranches encirclement across the sands at Mont St Michel and reached St Malo on 1 August. The arrivals comprised the Harbour Command (3 officers, 1 official and 106 men), Point du Roc (2 officers and 40 men), St Pair (20 men), and Kampfgruppe Koch (1 officer and 7 men). Returning the Chateauneuf torpedo depot's stores was impossible because the confused situation and the need to secure Channel Islands supply had exhausted the available transport. A general evacuation was ordered and preparations made to demolish the torpedo depot.

Roll 4009, PG 37597, scans 0118–0123.
Roll 2424, PG 38004, scan 0914 (St Malo Harbour Commandant War Diary).