8 August 1944 Part 2

8 August 1944 US Navy squadron departs for patrol west of Jersey

The force was tasked to patrol about 8 miles west of Jersey, intercepting and attacking enemy shipping. USS Maloy (DE 791), call sign Skip jack, supported group Tunny comprising PT 503, PT 500 and PT 507, and group Barracuda comprising PT 509, PT 506 and PT 508. Lieutenant H. J. Sherertz, Officer in Tactical Command, was aboard Maloy with Lieutenant Commander Peter Scott, RN, the vectoring officer. The enemy was reported as five or six “M” type minesweepers. [D pages 1–2]

Maloy and six PT boats left Cherbourg at 1800. PT 506 returned at 1930 because of a thrown screw. Patrol was established at 2300. Maloy steamed a six mile north–south course, 11 miles west of Jersey, at 12 knots, planning to reach the northern end on each hour and the southern end on each half hour. Tunny waited inshore of the northern end and Barracuda inshore of the southern end. The sea was smooth with no wind; moderate night visibility deteriorated to 25–150 yards in morning fog. [D pages 1–2]

US Navy. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 34, action report dated 12 September 1944, source set D, pages 1–2. Supplied compilation: Jersey Convoy Action 13 to 14 August 1944.docx. Set letters and page or screenshot numbers refer to that compilation.