5 July 1942 Part 1

5 July 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo: weak to moderate SW breeze, visibility ten nautical miles, slight to moderate sea. 04:00: V 204/206 arrive from Jersey. 05:15 Jersey: V 713/729 arrive with troop convoy from St Malo. 09:10: they sail alone for Granville. 10:00 Guernsey: V 711/724 arrive with troop convoy from Alderney. Remark: contrary to orders, Harbour Commandant Alderney sent 200 men on leave aboard Claus Wilhelm. The convoy travelled entirely in daylight and its departure was not reported. Such disobedience can expose a troop convoy to the gravest danger. 12:30 Granville: V 713/729 sail with convoy for Guernsey.

V 209/206 receive orders for the St Malo–Guernsey troop convoy during night 5/6 July. Orders for the further Jersey–Granville and Granville–Jersey–Guernsey convoys and Guernsey–Granville night troop convoy were issued yesterday. Correction to 4 July, item 2: no troops are transported [the report retains this intended restriction despite the preceding account of its violation]. Correction to intentions for 5 July, item 1: cancelled owing to rough to high seas.

Situation: V 202/208 ready Cherbourg; V 711/724 Alderney–Guernsey with Claus Wilhelm, Kurland and Surinama, then Guernsey–Alderney–Cherbourg with harbour-protection boats; V 204/206 complete RO 21 and Nordplain troop convoy to St Malo, then V 204 ready; V 209/206 night troop convoy St Malo–Guernsey with Livadia, Minotaure, Rob. Müller and Karel [night typed 4/5 July; orders give 5/6]; V 713/729 finish H 49, Holstein and Ad. le Prince convoy [destination typed Guernsey, movements give Jersey], then alone Jersey–Granville, then Pondicherry, Saigon, Rabat and Tourane via Jersey to Guernsey, followed by H 2 and Holland troop convoy Guernsey–Granville overnight; V 203 ready St Malo; M 4605/4601/4604 minor repairs St Malo. Escorted tonnage 12,360 GRT.

Intentions for 6 July: V 202/208 ready Cherbourg and at Brummer overnight; V 711/724 ready Cherbourg; V 209/206 finish Livadia, Rob. Müller 8, Minotaure and Karel troop convoy to Guernsey, then ready; V 203/204 ready St Malo, V 203 trials of minesweeping gear; V 713/729 finish H 2 and Holland troop convoy to Granville, then alone to St Malo and ready; M 4605/4601/4604 minor repairs St Malo. 18:30 Guernsey: V 713/729 arrive with convoy. 20:00: V 711/724 sail with six harbour-protection boats for Cherbourg. 23:00: V 713/729 sail with night troop transport for Granville. 23:15 Cherbourg: V 202/208 sail for Carmen. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0400.