30 July 1942 Part 2

30 July 1942 — St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: light northerly winds; visibility 5–8 nautical miles, falling to 2–3 in the morning; glassy to smooth sea.

03:15, St Malo — I ordered V 711/24 to take the convoy only to Jersey. Harbour Commandant was asked to arrange assistance for Ad. le Prince. All men on leave aboard were rescued without loss; Ad. le Prince was beached at Dinard. 06:30, Jersey — M 4605/04 sailed with a convoy for Granville. 08:30, Jersey — V 711/24 arrived with the St Malo convoy. 09:30, Granville — M 4605 arrived with the Jersey convoy and then sailed with a convoy for Jersey.

Convoy requests: (1) daytime troop convoy Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) night troop convoy Holland Alderney–Guernsey; (3) Jersey–Granville; (4) combined Granville–Jersey; (5) daytime Jersey–Guernsey; (6) night troop convoy St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey. Orders: (1) V 712/08, with fighter escort requested from and promised by Jafü 3; (2) V 711/24 to proceed without a convoy to Guernsey after item 5 and carry out the night troop convoy [destination as printed]; (3) only M 4605, since the other boat remained at Jersey with machinery damage and the convoy vessels were armed; (4) M 4605; (5) V 711/24; (6) M 1201/06, placed at disposal by the 3rd Security Division until 2 August.

09:50, Alderney — V 712/08 sailed with Georgi carrying troops for Cherbourg. For occupation of Positions Carmen/Caruso, the Commander of Security Forces West ordered that the positions were initially to remain unoccupied. From 12:00 on 1 August: (1) withdraw boats to within six nautical miles of the coast; (2) before daylight, outpost forces were to conduct reconnaissance thrusts in a direction changing daily as far as the northern limit of the former positions. [The later divisional review clarifies that this new arrangement concerned northern Brittany, not Cotentin.] 02:00, Cherbourg — V 712/08 arrived with Georgi from Alderney [time as typed, entered after the 09:50 departure and before 13:15]. 13:15, Jersey — M 4605 arrived with the Granville convoy. 15:00 — V 711/24 sailed with a convoy for Guernsey.

Report to the 3rd Security Division — special occurrence: Ad. le Prince touched bottom at Grand Jardin and was beached at Dinard; all men on leave rescued without losses. Correction to 29 July, item 3: V 711/24’s night troop convoy of 29/30 July went only to Jersey.

Situation for 30 July: (1) V 712/08 daytime troop convoy with fighter escort, Georgi Alderney–Cherbourg, then readiness. (2) V 711/24 completing St Malo–Jersey; Jersey–Guernsey with RO 45 and Hubbastone; unescorted Guernsey–Alderney for night troop convoy 30/31 July Holland Alderney–Guernsey. (3) V 211/08/13/06 and M 4601/11 St Malo readiness. (4) M 4605 Jersey–Granville convoy; return to Jersey with Rheinland, Paul et Janine, Saigon, Tourane, Ponte-cherry and two rescue fast attack boats; then Jersey–St Malo with M 4604. (5) M 1201/06 night troop convoy 30/31 July from St Malo with Bizon for Jersey and Rob. Müller 8 and Minotaure for Guernsey. (6) V 209 fitting out at Cherbourg. (7) T 4/14 St Malo–Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 9,800 GRT.

Intentions for 31 July: (1) V 712/08 Cherbourg readiness. (2) V 711/24 completing Alderney–Guernsey night troop convoy, then readiness. (3) V 211/08/13/06 and M 4611/01/05 St Malo readiness. (4) M 4604 minor repairs at St Malo. (5) M 1201/06 completing St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey night troop convoy, then readiness. (6) V 209 fitting out at Cherbourg. (7) T 4/14 completing St Malo–Cherbourg.

15:00, Jersey — M 4605 sailed with M 4604 in tow for St Malo. 16:00, St Malo — Torpedo boats 4 and 14 reported their intention to sail at 22:45 for Cherbourg at twenty-five knots. They received written notice of a possible encounter at about 01:00 on 31 July near point 328 with two outpost boats and one steamer. 16:45 — Teletype from the 2nd Fast Attack Boat Flotilla: intended Cherbourg–Guernsey passage on 31 July, sailing at 03:30; no encounters expected.

18:20, Guernsey [place corrected by hand] — V 711/24 arrived with the Jersey convoy. 19:30 — V 711’s commander reported machinery damage repairable aboard in eight to ten hours. I cancelled the Alderney–Guernsey night troop convoy, removing the possible encounter for the torpedo boats en route to Cherbourg. 20:30, St Malo — M 4605/04 arrived from Jersey. 22:20 — M 1201/06 sailed with the night troop convoy for Jersey and Guernsey. 23:30 — T 4 and T 14 sailed for Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0426–0427 (original pages 29–30).