4 July 1942

4 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Visibility ten nautical miles, moderate to fairly rough sea, strong SW wind. 02:00 St Malo: V 203/213 arrive with convoy from Cherbourg. 02:10 Alderney: V 202/208 arrive with convoy from Guernsey. 06:30 Cherbourg: V 711/724 return from patrol position. 06:30–10:00 St Malo: live firing; harbour entry and departure closed. 07:00 Guernsey: V 204/206 arrive with convoy from St Malo.

M 4605’s radio installation is unserviceable and cannot be repaired aboard. As she is the only boat of the M 4601/4604/4605 group with radio, even if receive-only, I order the group to return alone from Guernsey to St Malo. Night-convoy requests for 4/5 July: Claus Wilhelm, Alderney–Guernsey, assigned V 711/724 through the Sea Transport Officer Cherbourg; H 49, Holstein and Ad. le Prince with ammunition and men on leave, St Malo–Jersey, assigned V 713/729; RO 21 and Nordplain, Jersey–St Malo, assigned V 204/206, which must proceed alone to Jersey. Guernsey requests an escort for a large troop convoy on 5/6 July; I assign V 713/729, which will leave Granville at 12:00 on 5 July with a convoy via Jersey to Guernsey [the last destination is mistyped Granville]. Under the Division’s secret teletype 2014, after the Alderney–Guernsey night convoy V 711/724 must escort harbour-protection boats 5, 6, 16, 23, 57 and 106 to Cherbourg by day. 13:30 Guernsey: V 204/206 sail alone for Jersey; M 4601/4604/4605 alone for St Malo.

Correction to 3 July, item 2: Kurland remained at Cherbourg because of engine damage. Situation: V 202/208 complete Claus Wilhelm and Elbe troop convoy Guernsey–Alderney, then Schwalbe, Spinel and Elbe to Cherbourg, then ready; V 711/724 Cherbourg–Alderney with Kurland, then Claus Wilhelm and Kurland troop convoy to Guernsey overnight; V 204/206 finish H 2 and Holland convoy, then alone Guernsey–Jersey for RO 21 and Nordplain to St Malo overnight; V 713/729 ready for H 49, Holstein and Ad. le Prince troop convoy to Jersey; V 203 fitting out at St Malo; M 4605/4601/4604 alone Guernsey–St Malo; V 213 out of operational readiness at St Malo. Escorted tonnage 11,380 GRT.

Intentions for 5 July: V 202/208 at Bremse overnight, then ready; V 711/724 finish Claus Wilhelm and Kurland convoy to Guernsey, then six harbour-protection boats to Cherbourg; V 204/206 finish RO 21 and Nordplain convoy to St Malo, then ready; V 713/729 finish Jersey convoy, then alone to Granville for collected convoy; V 203 ready St Malo, trials of minesweeping gear; M 4605/4601/4604 minor repairs St Malo. St Malo Roads unoccupied overnight for lack of boats.

Live-firing exercises are announced for the coming week in St Malo Bay and the sea area around Jersey; boats receive sketches of the danger areas, dates and times. V 213 is reported unready because of propeller damage; duration unknown as a replacement propeller must be brought from Cuxhaven. The necessary arrangements have been made. 16:15 Jersey: V 204/206 arrive from Guernsey. 17:00: owing to rough to high seas off Cherbourg I cancel occupation of Carmen during night 4/5 July. 17:30 Cherbourg: V 711/724 sail with convoy for Alderney. Unfavourable high-water timing and tidal currents mean the slow 7th Patrol Flotilla boats and equally slow convoy cannot sail from Alderney until 05:00 on 5 July. I therefore prohibit embarking troops. 20:05 Alderney: V 711/724 arrive. 22:15 St Malo: M 4601/4605/4604 anchor at the roadstead. 22:30 Jersey: V 204/206 sail with RO 21 and Nordplain carrying troops for St Malo. 23:30 St Malo: V 713/729 sail with troop convoy for Jersey. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0399–0400.