1 August 1942 Part 1

Scan 0436 — original page 2

Weather: NW, light to moderate breeze; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; clear, early haze; calm to slightly disturbed sea.

0200 — Alderney. M 1201/06 and V 209 sailed for Guernsey with Georgi and Holland.

0400 — St Malo. V 213/08 arrived from Jersey with the night troop convoy.

0540 — Guernsey. M 1201/06 and V 209 arrived from Alderney with the convoy.

0600 — St Malo. I leave for Cherbourg for the burial of men killed from V 203/02.

0730 — St Malo. V 711/24 arrived from Alderney with Minotaure.

0810 — St Malo. M 4601/4/5 sailed on training trips for the mine-warfare school [Sperrschule].

0830 — St Malo. V 206/11 sailed for Granville without a convoy.

0920 — Cherbourg. I arrive. The following convoy requests have been received:

1. Day convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey.

2. Holland, carrying troops, Guernsey–St Malo on the night of 1/2 August.

For these I issue orders to:

1. V 206/11, which are to proceed to Granville without a convoy and take over the convoy there.

2. M 1201/06 and V 209.

1045 — Cherbourg. With the commanding officer of V 712, Lieutenant zur See Ullerich [surname reading provisionally retained], I discuss the new orders issued by BSW in BSW Gkdos 4475, following Gkdos 4450 (non-occupation of Carmen/Caruso), for occupying the patrol positions. These are effective from 1200 on 1 August. I order that the positions be taken up accordingly during the night of 1/2 August.

1030 [source order retained]. BSW teletype Gkdos 4537 is received concerning the departure of four torpedo boats and five minesweepers from Cherbourg and the arrival of four torpedo boats at St Malo. I am to inform the torpedo boats and minesweepers of possible encounters [with other naval movements].

1230. Teletype 3. S.D. Gkdos 2364 is received concerning the suspension of convoy traffic in the Channel Islands area during the night of 1/2 August. I issue the corresponding orders and, in particular, cancel the night troop convoy (see above, 0920, item 2). By teletype I inform the 3rd Torpedo-Boat Flotilla and 8th Minesweeping Flotilla that position Brummer is occupied (modified in accordance with the new order).

1230 — Cherbourg. After visiting the wounded in the Luftwaffe and naval hospitals, I drive to Valognes to visit the wounded there. I discuss with Lieutenant zur See Jacobsen his action report on the engagement of boats V 204/203 on 28 July 1942. [The final digit of the first boat number is corrected by hand; read here as 204.]

1300. Radio message 1222/27 is received from V 206 reporting that V 211 has suffered an engine breakdown; that the convoy has been released to proceed to Jersey; and that V 206 is towing V 211 to St Malo.

1530 — Ouistreham. V 204 arrived for the repair of battle damage.

1600 — St Malo. I am back from Cherbourg.

1630. V 206/11 anchor in St Malo roads.

T-1022 Roll 2423, St Malo Convoy Control Office. Scan 0436 — original page 2