8 August 1942 Part 3

St Malo Convoy Control Office 8 August 1942

Weather: SW to W, light to moderate breeze; clear to cloudy. Visibility 10–15 nautical miles; heavy coastal haze in the morning and fog in places. Sea very calm to calm.

0330 — Guernsey. V 209/11 arrived with a convoy from Cherbourg–Alderney.

0445 — St Malo. M 4611/01 arrived with a convoy from Guernsey.

0630 — St Malo. V 213/08 departed with a convoy for Jersey.

Remark: this convoy had only been requested during the night as allegedly very urgent.

By secret command teletype from the 3rd Security Division, the departure of convoy 3308 from Lézardrieux is brought forward to 2130. The V 711/24 pair receives the corresponding order.

The following escort duties are scheduled for today:

1. Convoy 3308 from Lézardrieux to Cherbourg.

2. St Malo–Jersey.

3. Combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey.

4. Night troop convoy Guernsey–St Malo.

I assign the following boats:

For item 1: V 711/24, which are to join convoy 3308 off Lézardrieux at 2130 as it sails. For this convoy V 712/08 also receive orders to be at Point 326 at 0530 on 9 August and to accompany it to Cherbourg to increase anti-aircraft protection.

For item 2: V 213/08, which are to proceed without a convoy to Granville after completing this task.

For item 3: V 213/08.

For item 4: V 209/11.

1320 — Jersey. V 213/08 arrived with a convoy from St Malo.

1325 — St Malo. An escort request is received from the Harbour Commandant, Alderney, for a convoy Alderney–Guernsey–St Malo. V 712/08 receive orders to carry out this escort after completing convoy 3308 on 9 August.

1420 — St Malo. V 711/24 departed without a convoy for Lézardrieux.

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

A. Situation on 8 August 1942

1. V 712/08: readiness at Cherbourg.

2. V 213/08: St Malo–Jersey with H 6 S, B 113 S, Gueppe 58, Irene and five barges. Then Jersey–Granville with Tourane, Elfriede and HS 7/207. Later from Granville with convoy G: Guynemer, Mazagan, barge 130, Comptoir 66/51, Point à Pitre and Gabes for Jersey; Rheinland and Helma for Guernsey. [The “G” following “convoy” is retained as written.]

3. V 711/24: passage St Malo–Lézardrieux. Join convoy 3308 coming from the west and escort it to Cherbourg.

4. V 209/11: readiness at Guernsey for the night troop convoy of 8/9 August, Guernsey–St Malo with La France.

5. M 4605/04: readiness at Morlaix for the night passage of 8/9 August, Morlaix–Lézardrieux with Gironde.

Tonnage escorted: 19,800 gross register tons.

B. Intentions for 9 August 1942

1. V 712/08: in accordance with the 3rd Security Division's order, from Point 326 with convoy 3308 to Cherbourg.

2. V 213/08: readiness at Guernsey.

3. V 711/24: completion of convoy 3308 on 8/9 August. Then Cherbourg–Guernsey with Gueppe 71/56 and barges.

4. V 209/11: completion of the night troop convoy of 8/9 August, Guernsey–St Malo. Readiness for the night troop convoy of 9/10 August, St Malo–Guernsey.

5. M 4605/04: completion of the night convoy of 8/9 August, Morlaix–Lézardrieux. During the night of 9/10 August, onward escort of Gironde, Lézardrieux–Guernsey.

6. M 4611/01: readiness at St Malo.

7. U-J 1411/04: readiness at Cherbourg.

1440 — Jersey. V 213/08 departed without a convoy for Granville.

1700 — Granville. V 213/08 took over the convoy to Jersey–Guernsey.

2100 — Lézardrieux. Convoy 3308 sailed for Cherbourg with U-J 1411/04 and V 711/24. [The departure is recorded as 2100 here, although the earlier order specified 2130.]

2230 — Jersey. V 213/08 arrived. Because the weather is deteriorating, the convoy is not continued farther.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0443, original pages 12–13, concluding at the top of scan 0444, original page 14.