3 September 1942 Part 2

3 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-westerly winds, strong to stiff; fairly rough sea; visibility 10–15 nautical miles.

0330, Cherbourg: V 707/04/02/10 sailed with eight tugs and five barges, convoy 3303, for Lézardrieux. 1100, Alderney: V 207/09 sailed with Henka and Tinda for Cherbourg. 1100, Guernsey: V 213 sailed with Heinrich to join convoy 3303, which had not yet been sighted.

Requests: (1) convoy 3303, eight tugs and six barges from Cherbourg for Malo, Brest and Lorient, stated passage speed 6 knots; (2) Henka, Tinda and tug Elbe Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) coastal motor vessel Heinrich Guernsey–Brest. [The request says six barges, whereas the departure entry says five.]

I assign V 702/10 to (1), to be relieved by V 707/04 at Lézardrieux. For the convoy requested by 3rd Security Division's secret teletype 2762 of 31 August, I issue this order to Harbour Commandant Cherbourg, copied to 3rd Security Division, referring also to the Harbour Commandant's secret communication 1065 of 31 August: (I) V 702/10 and V 707/04 sail Cherbourg at 0330 on 3 September with all vessels for Malo, Brest, Lorient and La Pallice, commanded by the commanding officer of V 707; (II) proceed to Lézardrieux; V 213 joins at point Herz 330 at about 0830; (III) V 707/04 depart Lézardrieux at 0830 on 4 September with the Malo-bound vessels; (IV) the commanding officer of V 707 is to arrange the required measures; (V) 3rd Security Division will order the westward passage from Lézardrieux. V 207/09 are assigned to (2); V 213 to (3), also as in the foregoing order.

1350, Cherbourg: V 207/09 arrived with Henka and Tinda from Alderney, having left tug Elbe there because of the heavy sea.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 3 September: (1) V 207/09 Alderney–Cherbourg with Henka and Tinda; (2) V 707/04/02/10, with convoy 3303 on passage Cherbourg–Lézardrieux, entering Guernsey because of the weather; (3) V 212/08 and M 4605/01 ready at Malo; (4) M 4611/04 ready at Guernsey. Escorted tonnage: 2,400 GRT.

Intentions for 4 September: (1) V 207/09 convoys Cherbourg–Alderney and return; (2) M 4605/01 combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (3) M 4611/04 with Claus-Wilhelm Guernsey–Jersey; (4) V 212/08 night troop convoy of 4/5 September from Malo, La France for Jersey and RO 21, Schokland and Minotaure for Guernsey [Nordplain is struck through]; (5) V 707/04 with Darnae, Nestor and Compt. 56 Granville–Jersey.

1410, Guernsey: V 213 returned with Heinrich after failing to find the convoy. Convoy 3303's intended timings are severely delayed by suddenly worsening weather. V 213, which should have stood ready with Heinrich at point 330 on route Herz from 0830 to join for Brest, waits in vain. The convoy leader decides to enter Guernsey with the convoy, badly battered by strong wind and heavy seas and widely scattered.

1420, Guernsey: The individual patrol boats enter with the convoy's tugs and barges which they have assisted. The convoy leader gives me this brief report: “Convoy 3303 brought to Guernsey owing to the weather. Tug D 117 S and barge H 313 PM filled by the sea and sank between points 328/330. Dutch seaman Klaas Bronk drowned; remaining crew members rescued. Sunken vessels do not obstruct shipping. Escort vessels entering independently have expended towing gear and sustained sea damage. Detailed report follows.” The announced detailed report is attached as an enclosure.

Remark: At the ordered sailing time the weather was still satisfactory, sea state 2, without warning of deterioration. There was therefore no objection to the convoy leader's decision to sail. His measures when the weather worsened, his assistance to convoy vessels in distress and his decision to enter Guernsey are approved. He bears no blame for the loss of tug D 117 S and barge H 313 PM, nor for the death of Dutch seaman Klaas Bronk.

Signed: Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0479–0480, original pages 5–6.