9 September 1942 Part 2

9 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west to north, light to weak breeze; weak variable winds; cloudy to fair; visibility 12–15 nautical miles; calm to very calm sea.

Requests: (1) Claus, Elbe and B 123 S Guernsey–Alderney; (2) Dorsch, Weber and Georgi Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) Claus-Wilhelm, Mazagan, Diamant and Rheinland to Jersey–Guernsey; (4) RO 21, Pointe à Pitre and Compt. 51 Guernsey–Jersey; (5) Minotaure from Guernsey and La France from Jersey with troops to Malo; (6) Spes-Salutis, Elbe and one barge Alderney–Cherbourg; (7) Henka and Tinda Cherbourg–Alderney; (8) tug Vollmar, a 150-ton floating dock and Spes-Salutis [route not stated in this request]. I assign V 212/08 to (1), (6) and (8); V 207/09 to (2) and (7); M 4611/01 to (3), first independently to Granville, then M 4601/11 to (4), after which the boats are to proceed independently Jersey–Malo; V 707/04 to (5), first proceeding Malo–Guernsey with M 1204 to join M 1207.

0410, Guernsey: V 212/08 sailed with convoy for Alderney. 0500, Malo: M 4601/11 independently to Granville. 0720, Alderney: V 207/09 with Dorsch, Weber and Georgi for Cherbourg. 0750, Alderney: V 212/08 arrived with convoy from Guernsey. 0730, Granville: M 4601/11 arrived from Malo. 0800, Granville: M 4601/11 sailed with convoy to Jersey–Guernsey. 0845, Alderney: V 212/08 sailed with convoy for Cherbourg. 0900, Malo: V 707/04 and M 1204 sailed for Guernsey. 0925, Cherbourg: V 209/07 arrived with Georgi, Dorsch and Weber from Alderney. 1100, Jersey: M 4611/01 released Claus-Wilhelm and continued to Guernsey. 1210, Cherbourg: V 212/08 arrived with Elbe, one barge and Spes-Salutis from Alderney. 1400, Guernsey: M 4601/11 arrived with Mazagan, Diamant and Rheinland from Granville.

Heavy unavailability due to battle damage leaves the Convoy Control Office only two pairs from 2nd Patrol Flotilla, one permanently at Cherbourg, one pair from 7th Patrol Flotilla and one pair from 46th Minesweeping Flotilla. The second minesweeper pair is out of war readiness, and M 4604 is also unfit for operations. I therefore request reinforcements from 3rd Security Division to manage Channel Islands traffic. Teletype G 14177 A4 allocates V 705/22, but V 207/09's renewed unavailability for about ten days means this does not yet relieve the remaining boats.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 8 September, item 5: convoy as far as Malo. Situation for 9 September: (1) V 207/09 with Georgi, Dorsch and Weber Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) V 212/08 with Klaus, tug Elbe and B 123 S Guernsey–Alderney, then Elbe, one barge and Spes-Salutis Alderney–Cherbourg, then readiness; (3) M 4611/01 independently Malo–Granville, then Claus-Wilhelm to Jersey and Mazagan, Diamant and Rheinland to Guernsey, followed by RO 21 Guernsey–Jersey, then independently Jersey–Malo; (4) V 707/04 and M 1204 independently Malo–Guernsey, then V 707/04's night troop convoy of 9/10 September with Minotaure from Guernsey and La France from Jersey to Malo; M 1204 ready at Guernsey for Lézardrieux passage; (5) M 4605 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 6,900 GRT.

Intentions for 10 September: (1) V 207/09 convoys Cherbourg–Alderney and return; (2) M 1207, F 6 and V 212/08 Cherbourg–Guernsey with Spes-Salutis for Malo, 150-ton floating dock towed by Vollmar for Guernsey, and Vollmar for Malo; (3) V 707/04 completing the night troop convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (4) M 4611/01 completing Jersey–Malo passage, then fitting out; (5) M 4605 hull cleaning at Malo.

1515, Guernsey: V 707/04 and M 1204 arrived from Malo. 1556, seven nautical miles north-west of Cap de la Hague: V 207/09, escorting coastal motor vessels Henka and Tinda, are attacked with numerous bombs and aircraft guns by about 15 Bristol Beaufighter destroyer aircraft and about 25 Spitfires. V 209 is not hit. V 207 receives numerous gunfire hits, causing two dead, four seriously wounded and 14 slightly wounded, including the commanding officer, Oberleutnant zur See Wieboldt. Henka receives a bomb hit and shortly afterwards capsizes despite unsuccessful efforts to assist.

V 209's commanding officer reports by short radio message: At 1556 in grid square 3543, attack by 15 bombers and 25 fighters, approaching only through the sun sector, with numerous bombs. Bomb hit on Henka. V 209 observed one aircraft shot down; V 207 probably shot down one. Tinda went alongside to take off Henka's crew. V 209 established a tow, but it had to be cut as Henka capsized by the stern. V 207/09 then proceeded with wounded to Alderney and, after first aid, returned to Cherbourg. Two dead, three seriously wounded and 14 slightly wounded were landed there. [This report says three seriously wounded, whereas the introductory diary account says four.] On the return Alderney–Cherbourg, Henka's wreck was found floating vertically, 38 metres below and four metres above water; salvage was impossible. An attempted tow failed. Because it endangered shipping, the commanding officer decided to sink it by gunfire. Eighteen 8.8-cm rounds produced five hits; firing was stopped to continue carrying the wounded to Cherbourg. The wreck continued drifting east, supported by its timber cargo. V 207's commanding officer suffered an eye wound in the attack.

Remark: This attack reinforces the suspicion, based on earlier experience, that departures from Cherbourg are observed and reported to the enemy. So far as the Convoy Control Office knows, all attacks have been made on the Cherbourg–Alderney leg, approximately two hours after leaving Cherbourg. At that point the boats are so far from the German fighter base that fighters, even when taking off immediately after the air-raid report, regularly arrive too late.

1630, seven nautical miles north-west of Cap de la Hague: Henka sunk [the diary also records the partly submerged wreck below]. 1710, Alderney: V 207/09 arrived with Tinda from Cherbourg. 1715, Guernsey: M 4611/01 sailed with RO 21, Pointe à Pitre and Compt. 51 to Jersey–Malo. 1800, Alderney: V 207/09 sailed with fighter escort for Cherbourg. Passing the action position they found Henka floating on her cargo, her bow four metres above water. Towing failed. They attempted to sink the obstruction with the 8.8-cm gun; after five hits they abandoned the unsuccessful attempt because of the wounded aboard. 2000, Cherbourg: V 207/09 arrived from Alderney. 2045, Jersey: M 4601/11 released the convoy and continued independently to Malo. 2310, Guernsey: V 707/04 sailed with Minotaure for Jersey–Malo. 2315, Cherbourg: V 212/08 sailed with tug Vollmar, the 150-ton floating dock and Spes-Salutis for Guernsey. 2325, Cherbourg: M 1207/F 6 independently to Guernsey for steamer Monbaldo's convoy; see 8 September.

Since the drifting wreck obstructs shipping, 3rd Security Division instructs me to issue a warning. I intend to send a radio message but refrain because Sea Commander Channel Islands sends this message: “2043/55: Salvage or sinking of drifting wreck, coastal motor vessel Henka, abandoned as impossible. Salvage tug returning to Cherbourg, escorted by three harbour-protection boats. Wreck continues drifting as an obstruction to shipping in the Cherbourg–Cap de la Hague area.”

Signed: Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0488–0490, original pages 13–15. Aircraft identifications, victory claims and suspicions below are those of the German diary, not independently verified findings.