30 September 1942 Part 2

30 September 1942 St Malo diary divisional review

3rd Security Division, 30 September 1942. Secret. Reference G 6018 AII. To Commander, Security Forces West, in duplicate; information copy to St Malo Convoy Control Office. Subject: War Diary of St Malo Convoy Control Office, 16–31 August 1942. Previous correspondence: none. The diary for this period is submitted in one copy.

Page 2, 1555, reports of shipping movements: The need to inform the interested coastal-defence and Luftwaffe offices of shipping movements in good time is established. The difficulties arising, particularly in the Channel Islands area, must be overcome by flexible handling. Shipping movements need not, for example, be announced 24 hours in advance. Where convoy details are not yet fixed it is better to report later, provided notification remains timely, than to have to correct the first report.

Page 9, 20 August, 2015, passage of aircraft support ship Tschirschky: It had been agreed with Sea Emergency Service Area Command Brest that Tschirschky should additionally monitor the coastal long-wave frequency. It later emerged that this was pointless because cipher material was lacking. The Sea Emergency Service is requesting equipment of aircraft support ships with Cipher M.

Page 10, 20 August, requests for navigation-light measures: A superior command is entitled to alter SB measures requested by a subordinate unit, just as it may alter the unit's other arrangements. Responsibility naturally lies with the superior office. This has occurred frequently in 3rd Security Division, especially with SB measures, without ever causing difficulty with the office from which the measures are requested.

Page 11, 21 August, 1750, closure of hawser barriers in island harbours: The matter will be clarified with Sea Commander Channel Islands.

Page 19, 28 August, 0226, air attack on night troop convoy with patrol boats V 213/08: Reference is made to the combat report forwarded under 3rd Security Division G 5932 of 28 September 1942.

Additional instruction to the Convoy Control Office: Contact Sea Commander Channel Islands to bring about a change in the opening of the hawser barriers in the island harbours.

Signed on behalf [signature not securely identified]. Administrative markings identify enclosure 1 to Commander, Security Forces West Gkdos 3862 of 9 October 1942 and enclosure 1 to Naval Group Command West Gkdos 5118/42. The former endorsement date differs from the 19 November date on the associated review reproduced below; both are retained as documentary dates.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0469 right and scan 0470 (two photographs of page 1), followed by scan 0471 (page 2). This review concerns the diary for 16–31 August but is placed under its own date.