24 August 1943 Part 8

24 August 1943 Mehlem report on Normandie II and the air attack

Editorial note: Mehlem’s allegation about Normandie II’s master should be read with the division’s qualifying assessment of 5 October. The supplied diary gives 00:25 for the attack, whereas this report gives about 01:00; the accounts describe the same encounter.

Leutnant zur See Mehlem, commander M 4610. Operational location, 24 August 1943. To command of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla. Report.

For the convoy from Jersey to Saint-Malo during the night of 23/24 August I ordered the formation shown in the accompanying sketch: M 4610 ahead, Normandie II with a lighter, Meteor, Guêpe 76 with a lighter, Guêpe 58 with a lighter, and M 4616 and M 4613 as escorts.

The tug Normandie II dropped astern and failed to notice the formation turning to port at Ida 2 at 01:00 [time in report differs from diary]. I ordered M 4616 by Morse to go to the tug, which was continuing on the old course, and bring her back to the formation. I continued slowly with the convoy. When M 4616 reached the tug, an aircraft emerged from a cloud, engine stopped, and attacked M 4616 and the tug at low altitude, dropping six bombs. There were no casualties or damage. M 4616 ordered the tug to follow. The tug did not comply, so as not to attract further aircraft through the sparks she was throwing. Despite repeated orders from M 4616, she remained stopped.

M 4616 steamed to the escort leader, M 4610, and made the foregoing report verbally. Morse lamps were not used because of the aircraft danger. I ordered M 4616 and M 4613 back to Normandie II to compel her to continue by force, using a prize crew if necessary. Since I was by then in Saint-Malo Bay with the convoy, and Meteor carried weapons in addition to my own boat, I considered the convoy sufficiently protected and out of danger. I proceeded at 8 knots to Saint-Malo and anchored in the roads at 04:00.

At 02:30 I sent this radio to inform the escort office that the formation had split: after an unsuccessful aircraft bombing attack on M 4616 and Normandie II at Ida 2, Normandie refuses to continue because she is throwing sparks. Passage delayed. I continue with the rest of the convoy. M 4616 and M 4613 follow with Normandie. M 4610.

M 4616 and M 4613 returned to the tug, proceeded to Saint-Malo and anchored in the roads at 04:50. The master of Normandie II forced me to split the convoy escort by his conduct; he did not obey repeated orders to follow M 4616. His conduct was wrong in every respect. Despite throwing sparks, he should have proceeded to the formation, if only to place himself under its gunfire protection. I request punishment of the tug master. Signed Mehlem, Leutnant zur See and commander.

T-1022 Roll 3129, 46th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3129_English_Translation.docx. Record 463b | Source PDF scans 463, 464.