5 June 1942 Part 1

5 June 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo: weak variable winds, very calm sea, visibility 3–5 nautical miles, patches of fog. 01:05: radio report from V 206/211, escorting Alderney–Cherbourg, of sighting an enemy motor torpedo boat in square 3552. 01:46: an unsigned radio message reports motor and reciprocating-engine noises in square 3528. V 204/209 [as typed] are stationed in that square. These might be torpedo boats Falke and Kondor, proceeding east. No further reports from either section or other sources.

05:00: V 202/204 leave Carmen for St Malo, where each is to receive a 2 cm quadruple mounting. Intended convoys and patrol stations carried out. 05:30: V 203/209 and convoy anchor in St Malo Roads. Convoy demands are increasing sharply. The present weather makes Carmen/Caruso essential and requires a second patrol pair permanently at Cherbourg. From next week I therefore intend to use only one escort for suitable convoys, particularly large newly built vessels, once the quadruple mountings are fitted in three boats. 11:45: V 202/204 arrive off St Malo. A handwritten addition records orders to V 203/209 for a collected convoy from Granville.

Situation: V 703/726 completing troop convoy with Holland, Maas and Ad. le Prince to Guernsey, then an ammunition barge to Alderney and a convoy not yet specified to Cherbourg; V 202/204 after night station Mikado [as listed; narrative says Carmen] proceed alone to St Malo for quadruple mounting installation; V 203/209 finish Guernsey–Jersey–St Malo troop convoy with F 2 and Derfflinger, then ready; V 208/213 ready Guernsey for night troop convoy via Jersey to St Malo with Holland and Ad. le Prince; V 206/211 after Alderney–Cherbourg night convoy rest; V 205 eastward; ferries ready St Malo; M 1201/1202 overnight St Malo Roads. Tonnage 4,300 GRT.

Intentions for 6 June: V 703/726 Cherbourg–Guernsey with RO 8; V 202/204 ready St Malo while weapons fitted; V 203/209 St Malo Roads overnight; V 208/213 completing Jersey–St Malo troop convoy, then ready; V 206/211 at Mikimaus overnight; V 205 eastward; ferries 108/110 alone to Granville, then collected convoy via Jersey to Guernsey and readiness there.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0368–0369.