4 May 1942

4 May 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo. Planned night convoys run to schedule. Remark: lock times restricted by repairs make troop convoys to Guernsey, including via Jersey, impossible in one night. The 2nd Patrol Flotilla’s boats are now practically employed only on troop convoys and almost invariably sail night after night. Further shortening of the nights will reduce escorted tonnage further. These connections are particularly emphasised—almost exclusively troop convoys, restricted St Malo lock times, and division of passages into stages owing to shorter nights—so that self-serving presentations from other quarters can be appropriately countered.

13:00: V 205 reported ready again. Weather W–NW light breeze, visibility ten nautical miles, calm sea. I issue the required night-convoy orders according to the situation sent to the division. Correction to 3 May, item 4: also Carteret–Cherbourg with two tugs and five fishing cutters.

Situation: V 210/06 ready St Malo; V 208/09 ready Guernsey, night RO 45 troop convoy to St Malo about 21:30; V 207/12 night Jersey–St Malo troop convoy, then ready; V 1510/204/213/205 ready Cherbourg; V 211 unready St Malo. Tonnage 3,464 GRT.

Intentions for 5 May: V 210/07 ready St Malo, replenish stores [07 as typed]; V 208/09 ready St Malo for night troop convoy; V 206/12 St Malo–Jersey with H 23 troop convoy, leaving about 01:00; V 1510/213 Cherbourg–Alderney convoy and return; V 205/04/M 1202 Cherbourg–Alderney convoy, then without convoy to St Malo.

14:00: Kapitän zur See Lutter intends to travel to Jersey with his adjutant and Korvettenkapitän Richarz. I make my leader boat V 206 available; it is to escort the night troop convoy to Jersey with V 212. 15:00: by teletype G 1719 I report the two Siebel ferries ready and request details of their intended task so that arrangements can be made with Flak Regiment 15. 23:30: divisional Gkdos 1332, crossing my message, provides details for their employment. [Continuation on scan 0337.]

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0336–0337.