27 September 1942 Part 2

27 September 1942 — Commander of Security Forces West: review and forwarding

Secret command matter. Reference Gkdos 3390 A4. To Marine Group Command West, copies to the 3rd Security Division and St Malo Convoy Control Office. The St Malo diary for 16–31 July 1942 is submitted with the 3rd Security Division’s assessment and the following remarks.

(1) 16 July, 09:12–12:00, pages 2–3: in similar cases the Luftwaffe commands must notify the Convoy Control Office promptly when weather prevents fighter escort from taking off. The office, in agreement with the commander embarking, must then decide whether to accept the risk of a voyage without fighter escort. The office acted correctly after being confronted with an accomplished fact.

(2) 28 July, 17:00 and 21:30, page 26: while friendly forces are at sea, coastal batteries may fire on located sea targets only after prior enquiry with the responsible Security Division or Convoy Control Office establishes that they cannot be friendly vessels. The corresponding requirement has been raised with the naval commanders. For the Commander of Security Forces West: Chief of Staff [signature not securely read].

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0432. Letter date 27 September 1942 as typed; its Marine Group West receipt stamp appears to read 8 September 1942, an unresolved dating inconsistency.