3 July 1942 Part 1

3 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Cherbourg: very calm sea, light to weak W–SW breeze, visibility five nautical miles. 00:30: V 203/213 release convoy and proceed to patrol position in grid BF 3519/27. 05:45 St Malo: V 713/729 anchor at the roadstead with troop convoy. 08:00 Jersey: M 4601/4604/4605 sail alone for Granville. 09:45 St Malo: V 713/729 pass through the lock. For the requested troop convoy St Malo–Guernsey during night 3/4 July I assign V 206/204, still at Guernsey, and instruct them not to enter the locked harbour on returning this evening, but to land the flotilla chief, A I and Org 2 of Security West and Fighter Leader 3’s liaison officer by motorboat and remain ready.

10:00: I learn that V 711/724’s intended and radio-notified 03:00 passage Alderney–Guernsey did not take place. Apparently they remained at Alderney because of fog, without notification. I assign V 202/208 to the Guernsey–Alderney troop convoy and order departure St Malo–Guernsey at 14:00. 11:00 Guernsey: V 206/204 sail alone for Jersey. 12:00 Granville: after arrival of M 4605/4601/4604, a convoy is formed with Normand, Diamant and Gabes for Jersey and Helma for Guernsey. 12:35 Alderney: V 711/724 sail with convoy for Cherbourg. 13:50 Jersey: V 206/204 arrive. 14:00 St Malo: V 202/208 sail alone for Guernsey. 15:00 Cherbourg: V 711/724 arrive; V 203/213 sail for St Malo with La France, M 4611 and HS 207. It is learned afterwards that Kurland, brought from Alderney on 1 July to join this convoy, remained at Cherbourg because of engine damage; no notification was given.

Correction to 2 July: item 5, Claus Wilhelm troop convoy postponed 24 hours by fog; item 6, Cherbourg–Alderney, then ready for Alderney–Cherbourg convoy. Situation: V 202/208 alone St Malo–Guernsey for Claus Wilhelm troop convoy to Alderney; V 203/213 Cherbourg–St Malo with Kurland, La France, M 4613 and one harbour-protection boat [planned Kurland retained in this list despite the preceding report; M 4611 in the movement entry]; V 713/729 finish Minotaure convoy to St Malo, then ready; M 4605/4601/4604 alone Guernsey–Granville [Jersey in the morning departure], then Normand, Diamant, Gabes and Helma to Jersey–Guernsey; V 204/206 alone Guernsey–Jersey–St Malo, then H 2 and Holland night convoy to Guernsey; V 711/724 Alderney–Cherbourg convoy, then Brummer overnight. Escorted tonnage 9,150 GRT.

Intentions for 4 July: V 202/208 Alderney–Cherbourg with convoy not yet known, then ready; V 203/213 fitting out at St Malo; V 713/729 ready for night troop convoy; M 4605/4601/4604 alone Guernsey–St Malo; V 204/206 finish H 2 and Holland convoy, then ready; V 711/724 finish Brummer patrol, then available for Cherbourg convoys.

15:16 Jersey: M 4605/4601/4604 arrive with convoy from Granville; 15:40 sail onward for Guernsey [the two lines are reversed in the original]. 18:45 Guernsey: they arrive. 19:25: V 202/208 arrive alone from St Malo. 20:05 Jersey: earlier departure was impossible owing to low water. 23:00 Guernsey: V 202/208 sail with Claus Wilhelm and tug Elbe for Alderney. 23:30 Cherbourg: V 711/724 sail for Brummer; despite the 7th Patrol Flotilla boats possessing neither KDB nor S-Gerät [source equipment abbreviations], I have them occupy the position because no other boats are available. 23:30 St Malo: V 204/206 reach the roadstead and the convoy-office chief, A I and Org 2 disembark. 23:45: V 204/206 sail with H 2 and Holland troop convoy for Guernsey. Handwritten note: V 204 proceeds without convoy to the shipyard. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0398–0399.