9 August 1942 Part 1

St Malo Convoy Control Office 9 August 1942

Weather: S to SW, moderate to fresh breeze, then fresh breeze to strong wind, squally; cloudy to overcast with isolated precipitation, followed by breaks in the cloud. Visibility 5–8 nautical miles, with coastal haze still present in the morning; visibility 10–15 nautical miles. Sea calm to slight; in the first half of the night slight to moderate, becoming calm to slight again in the morning.

0000 — Guernsey. V 209/11 departed with a night troop convoy for St Malo.

0315 — Cherbourg. V 712/08 departed for Point 326 in accordance with the 3rd Security Division's order.

0520 — St Malo. V 209/11 arrived with a convoy from Guernsey.

0730 — Cherbourg. UJ 1411/04, V 711/24 and V 712/08 arrived with convoy 3308.

Today's escort duties:

1. Cherbourg–Alderney.

2. Alderney–Guernsey.

3. Jersey–Guernsey.

4. Cherbourg–Guernsey.

5. Night troop convoy St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey.

The necessary orders are issued to: for item 1, V 712/08; for item 2, V 712/08; for item 3, V 213/08, which will resume the passage to Guernsey interrupted yesterday; for item 4, V 711/24; for item 5, V 209/11.

1025 — Jersey. V 208/13 departed with a convoy for Guernsey. [The source gives “V 208/13” here, whereas the assignments and subsequent arrival give “V 213/08”; the discrepancy is retained.]

1100. The commanding officer of V 711 reports that the convoy under item 4 is only seaworthy to a limited extent. I order departure to be postponed until the weather improves and report this to the 3rd Security Division.

To enable the tug Pierrot and two barges to join convoy 3391 (see item 4 above), I order M 4601/11 to take these vessels to Lézardrieux on 10 August, where they will probably be able to join 3391 on 11 August. [“M 4601/11” is written here and in the following intentions; the readiness lists give “M 4611/01”.]

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

A. Correction to the situation of 8 August 1942

For item 2: because of the weather, only as far as Jersey.

For item 5: night passage postponed by 24 hours because Gironde grounded.

B. Situation on 9 August 1942

1. V 712/08: Cherbourg–Alderney with Sperber and Antonius, then Alderney–Guernsey with Meteor and Gigalle [name reading uncertain]. Readiness.

2. V 213/08: Jersey–Guernsey with Rheinland, Helma and Netsor [name as read; uncertain]. Readiness.

3. V 209/11: completion of the night troop convoy of 8/9 August with La France. Later, night troop convoy of 9/10 August from St Malo with La France as far as Jersey, and Nordplain [name reading uncertain], Rob. Müller 8, Karel and Minotaure as far as Guernsey.

4. M 4605/04: readiness at Morlaix for the night passage of 9/10 August, Morlaix–Lézardrieux with Gironde.

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

6. V 711/24: readiness at Cherbourg for the Cherbourg–Guernsey convoy.

Tonnage escorted: 6,400 gross register tons.

C. Intentions for 10 August 1942

1. V 712/08: readiness at Guernsey.

2. V 213/08: readiness at Guernsey for escorting H 49 and Diamant to Granville–St Malo. [The first identifier reads “H 49”; the first digit is darkened.]

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

4. M 4605/04: completion of the night passage of 9/10 August, Morlaix–Lézardrieux. During the night of 10/11 August, onward escort of Gironde, Lézardrieux–Guernsey.

5. M 4601/11: St Malo–Lézardrieux with Pierrot and barges. Return without a convoy.

6. V 711/24: readiness at Guernsey for the Guernsey–Lézardrieux convoy with Loriot and barges.

The Sea Transport Chief announces that Livadia is to be escorted westward. A teletype from the 3rd Security Division orders the Convoy Control Office to take her as far as Lézardrieux; from there an outpost-boat pair will take her onward on the Division's orders.

1300 — Cherbourg. V 712/08 departed with a convoy for Alderney.

1415 — St Malo. A teletype from the 3rd Security Division is received concerning T 4's passage westward. T 4 has already reported its intentions.

1403 — Guernsey. V 213/08 arrived with a convoy from Jersey. [This entry follows 1415 in the original.]

1600 — Alderney. V 712/08 arrived with a convoy from Cherbourg.

2145 — Alderney. V 712/08 departed with a convoy for Guernsey.

2200 — St Malo. V 209/11 departed with a night troop convoy for Jersey–Guernsey.

2200 — St Malo. T 4 departed westward.

2200 — Morlaix. M 4605/04 departed with Gironde for Guernsey.

Remark: in accordance with the 3rd Security Division's order, this convoy proceeds directly to Guernsey without calling at Lézardrieux.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0444, original pages 14–15. The 10 August entry at the foot of page 15 is not included here.