21 July 1942 Part 2

21 July 1942 — St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: south-west to west, light to moderate, occasionally fresh breeze, veering north-west; clearing; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; very smooth to slight sea.

01:15, Alderney — V 713/211 arrived with the night troop convoy from Guernsey. 03:10, off Jersey — V 711/24 passed with its convoy. 03:20, Jersey — The steamer Maas, which was to join the convoy, sailed ahead without escort. 05:00, Guernsey — V 206/08 arrived with a convoy from St Malo. 05:50, Alderney — V 213/02 [as read] arrived from position. 07:15, Granville Roads — Maas arrived alone and anchored. 08:45 — V 711/24 and convoy anchored and provided anti-aircraft protection. The night convoys passed without incident.

Convoy requests: (1) daytime Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) daytime Alderney–Guernsey, Irene and Klaus Wilhelm; (3) daytime Guernsey–St Malo, Rob. Müller with the Commander of Security Forces West; (4) night Guernsey–St Malo, H 49; (5) night St Malo–Guernsey, Livadia, Karel and Holstein; (6) daytime Granville–Jersey–Guernsey.

10:45 — The 3rd Security Division, teletype G 12001, recalled V 713/29; V 729 had reported operational readiness at 18:00 on 20 July. V 712/08 would be available as replacements from Morlaix at 07:00 on 22 July. Allocations: (1) V 203/02; (2) V 713/211; (3) V 206/08; (4) V 711/24 after item 6; (5) M 1204/05, allocated by the 3rd Security Division for the Commanding Admiral after V 209/04 became unavailable, but no longer required for that purpose; (6) V 711/24. To hand over V 713/29’s duties, V 203/02 was to join item 2 with V 729 after completing item 1. V 211 was ordered to St Malo with M 1204/05.

Situation for 21 July: (1) V 713/211 completing the Georgi night troop convoy Guernsey–Alderney, then with V 729 escorting Claus Wilhelm and Irene Alderney–Guernsey. (2) V 203/02 at Position Caruso, then Alderney–Cherbourg with Dorsch, Antonius and Corona; returning Cherbourg–Alderney with V 729 and convoy. (3) V 711/24 completing Guernsey–Granville with RO 21 and Maas from Jersey; Granville–Jersey with Helma and Pointe à Pitre, then Rheinland, Saigon and Nordsee to Guernsey; night 21/22 July Guernsey–St Malo with H 49 and Ad. le Prince from Jersey. (4) M 4605/1/4 fitting out at St Malo. (5) V 206/08 with the Commander of Security Forces West completing the St Malo–Guernsey troop convoy, then ready to escort Rob. Müller 8 and the commander to St Malo. (6) V 729 operationally ready at Cherbourg; see item 2. (7) M 1204/05 night convoy 21/22 July Livadia, Karel and Holstein St Malo–Guernsey. (8) Three minesweeping boats St Malo–Guernsey. Escorted tonnage: 10,625 GRT.

Intentions for 22 July: (1) V 713/29 Guernsey–Brest. (2) M 1204/05 completing the night St Malo–Guernsey convoy, immediately returning to St Malo with V 211. (3) V 203/02 at Position Carmen during the night of 21/22 July, then Cherbourg readiness. (4) V 711/24 completing Guernsey–Jersey–St Malo, then resting at St Malo. (5) M 4605/1/4 fitting out. (6) V 206/08 St Malo readiness. (7) V 712/08 Morlaix–Guernsey. (8) V 211 resting at St Malo.

11:00, Alderney — V 203/02 sailed with a convoy for Cherbourg. 12:30, Granville — V 711/24 sailed with a combined convoy for Jersey and St Malo [as recorded]. 13:30, Cherbourg — V 203/02 arrived from Alderney. 15:30, Cherbourg — V 203/02/729 sailed with a convoy for Alderney. 16:05, St Malo — Three minesweeping boats sailed for Guernsey with the Admiral, staff and head of the Convoy Control Office. On the Commander of Security Forces West’s orders, I joined the Admiral’s inspection voyage through 23 July.

16:00, Guernsey — V 206/08 sailed for St Malo with Rob. Müller 8 and the Commander of Security Forces West. 16:15, Jersey — V 711/24 detached Helma and Pointe à Pitre and continued to Guernsey. 16:35 — Radio message 1633/29 [as recorded] ordered replacements V 712/08 to proceed to Guernsey, rather than St Malo, after their Morlaix convoy. 19:00, Guernsey — V 711/24 arrived with the remaining convoy from Granville and Jersey. 19:00, Alderney — V 203/02/729 arrived with the Cherbourg convoy. 19:05, Alderney — V 713/29/211 sailed with a convoy for Guernsey.

19:15, Guernsey — V 711/24 sailed alone for Jersey for the troop convoy to St Malo. H 49 was not ready. Holland’s passage to Cherbourg for degaussing was more urgent. 19:30, Guernsey — R 179/80/81 arrived from St Malo with the staff and head of the Convoy Control Office. 21:40, St Malo — V 206/08 arrived with the Guernsey convoy; the Commander of Security Forces West disembarked at the lock. 22:00, Guernsey — V 713/29/211 arrived with the Alderney convoy. 22:30, grid 3812, upper middle — V 711/24, proceeding alone towards Jersey, anchored half a nautical mile south of Corbière because of fog. 23:00, Alderney — V 203/02 sailed for the outpost position in grid BF 3528/29.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0418–0419 (original pages 11–13).