20 July 1942 Part 2

20 July 1942 — St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: west, light to moderate breeze; fair to cloudy, some precipitation; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; very smooth to smooth sea.

Position Carmen was not occupied because of strong wind and a fairly heavy sea. 05:20, off Guernsey — V 713/211 arrived with RO 21 from Cherbourg [origin as printed; the preceding day records departure from Alderney]. 06:15, St Malo — V 711/24 anchored in the roads with the night troop convoy. The night convoys were completed without special incidents.

Convoys to be carried out: (1) night troop convoy Georgi Guernsey–Alderney on 20/21 July; (2) night troop convoy Guernsey–Granville, also Maas from Jersey; (3) night troop convoy St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) daytime convoy Jersey–St Malo. I allocated: (1) V 713/211; (2) V 711/24, to proceed unescorted St Malo–Guernsey; (3) V 206/08, with the Commander of Security Forces West aboard V 206; (4) M 4605/1. For a combined convoy requested from Granville at 12:30 on 21 July, V 711/24 was allocated; on arrival that morning it would provide anti-aircraft protection for its convoy in Granville Roads.

14:10, St Malo — V 711/24 sailed for Guernsey without a convoy.

Report to the 3rd Security Division — correction to 19 July, item 4: the Jersey–Guernsey convoy also included Rabat, Nestor and Paul et Janine; the Guernsey–St Malo night troop convoy also included RO 45.

Situation for 20 July: (1) V 713/211 completing the RO 21 night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey on 19/20 July, later Georgi Guernsey–Alderney on 20/21 July. (2) V 203/02 at readiness; not on position during the night of 19/20 July because of weather. (3) V 711/24 completing the Guernsey–St Malo night troop convoy with RO 8, RO 45 and Minotaure, then unescorted St Malo–Guernsey at midday, then Guernsey–Granville with RO 21 on 20/21 July. (4) M 4605/1 Jersey–St Malo with tow and Diamant. (5) V 206/08 St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey night troop convoy with Holland and Ad. le Prince on 20/21 July; the Commander of Security Forces West aboard V 206. (6) M 4604 St Malo readiness. Escorted tonnage: 11,500 GRT.

Intentions for 21 July: (1) V 713/211 completing the night troop convoy, then Alderney readiness. (2) V 203/02 at Position Caruso during the night of 20/21 July, then Alderney–Cherbourg with a convoy. (3) V 711/24 continuing the troop convoy with RO 21, adding the steamer Maas at Jersey for Granville; combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey at midday. (4) M 4605/1/4 fitting out at St Malo. (5) V 206/08, with the Commander of Security Forces West, completing the troop convoy, then ready for Rob. Müller 8 and H 49 Guernsey–St Malo. For the Commanding Admiral France’s inspection voyage, three boats of the 10th Minesweeping Boat Flotilla [number partly overwritten] had been ordered to be available at St Malo, instead of Jersey, at 15:00 on 21 July for the St Malo–Jersey voyage.

14:10, Jersey — M 4605/1 sailed for St Malo with three tugs and three lighters. 20:30, St Malo — M 4605/01 arrived with a convoy from Guernsey [origin as printed]. 21:00, Guernsey — V 711/24 arrived from St Malo without a convoy. 22:00, Guernsey — V 713/211 sailed with a convoy for Alderney. 22:20, St Malo — V 206/08 sailed with the night troop convoy for Jersey and Guernsey, with the Commander of Security Forces West aboard V 206. 22:30, Guernsey — V 711/24 sailed with a convoy for Granville. 23:00, Cherbourg — V 203/02 sailed for Position Caruso. Signed: Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0417–0418 (original pages 9–11).