31 July 1942 Part 2

31 July 1942 — St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: north-east, light to moderate breeze; fair; visibility 8–5 nautical miles [as printed]; smooth to slight sea. The night troop convoy and movements of the torpedo boats and fast attack boats proceeded as planned.

03:30, Cherbourg — Three fast attack boats sailed for Guernsey. 03:50 — T 4/14 arrived from St Malo. 04:00, Jersey — M 1201/06 released the daytime convoy off Noirmont and continued to Guernsey. 06:00, Guernsey — M 1201/06 arrived with the convoy from St Malo via Jersey. 07:50, St Malo — V 206/11 sailed with a convoy for Granville.

Convoy duties: (1) daytime St Malo–Granville; (2) barges St Malo–Jersey; (3) night troop convoy Guernsey–St Malo; (4) night troop convoy Jersey–St Malo; (5) daytime Oceanie Guernsey–Alderney; (6) night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey; (7) combined daytime Cherbourg–Alderney; (8) combined daytime Alderney–Cherbourg. Orders issued to (1) V 206/11; (2) V 203/13 [as typed, despite V 203’s damage]; (3) V 208/13 after item 2; (4) V 711/24; (5) M 1201/06; (6) M 1201/06 and V 209; (7) V 712/08 and V 209; (8) V 712/08. [The later situation and sailing entries assign V 711/24 to Guernsey and V 213/08 to Jersey.]

10:35, Granville — V 206/11 released Bordsee to enter harbour. 12:00, St Malo — V 208/13 sailed with a convoy “for Guernsey” [as printed; the situation specifies Jersey]. 12:05 — V 206/11 arrived without a convoy from Granville.

Report to the 3rd Security Division — correction to 30 July, item 2: the unescorted Guernsey–Alderney voyage and return to Guernsey were cancelled because of V 711’s machinery damage. Situation for 31 July: (1) V 712/08/209 combined Cherbourg–Alderney convoy, then V 712/08 without V 209 in combined Alderney–Cherbourg convoy. (2) V 711/24 night troop convoy 31 July/1 August Minotaure Guernsey–St Malo. (3) V 206/11 St Malo–Granville with Bordsee, immediately returning alone, then readiness. (4) V 208/13 St Malo–Jersey with four tugs and six barges; later night troop convoy 31 July/1 August Jersey–St Malo with Karel and Schokland. (5) M 4611/01/05/04 St Malo readiness and minor repairs. (6) Completing night troop convoy of 30/31 July with Bizon for Jersey and Rob. Müller 8 and Minotaure for Guernsey; then Guernsey–Alderney with Oceanie; later night troop convoy 31 July/1 August Alderney–Guernsey with Holland and V 209. (7) T 4/14 completing St Malo–Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 8,600 GRT.

Intentions for 1 August: (1) V 712/08 Cherbourg readiness. (2) V 711/24 completing Guernsey–St Malo night troop convoy, then minor repairs. (3) V 206/11 unescorted St Malo–Granville, then combined Jersey–Guernsey convoy [route as printed]. (4) V 213/08 completing Jersey–St Malo night troop convoy, then readiness. (5) M 4611 St Malo readiness and minor repairs. (6) M 4601/04/05 at the St Malo Mine and Barrage School’s disposal. (7) M 1201/06 completing the night troop convoy, then Guernsey readiness.

14:10, Guernsey — M 1201/06 sailed with Minotaure for Alderney. 15:30 — Urgent teletype: the 4th and 5th Fast Attack Boat Flotillas were to sail from Boulogne at 22:30 via Route Herz, four boats for Cherbourg and eight for Guernsey. I replied by urgent teletype that no encounters were expected if the sailing time was maintained. 16:00, Cherbourg — V 708/12/209 sailed for Alderney [typed arrival wording struck through]. 18:30, Alderney — They arrived with the Cherbourg convoy. 18:50, Jersey — V 213/08 arrived with the combined convoy from St Malo. 19:00, Alderney — M 1201/06 arrived with Oceanie from Guernsey. 20:45 — V 712/08 sailed with Oceanie and Weber for Cherbourg. 22:30, Guernsey — V 711/24 sailed with Minotaure’s night troop convoy for St Malo. 22:40, Jersey — V 213/08 sailed with Schokland and Karel for St Malo. 23:50, Cherbourg — V 712/08 arrived with the Alderney convoy.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0427–0428 (original pages 31–32).