1 January 1943 Part 4

1 January 1943 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to north-west force 7–8, overcast, rain, visibility 3–5 nautical miles, sea 5–6, high swell.

0520, Malo roads: M 4623/25 arrived from Cherbourg and anchored. Tasks: (1) occupy Terminus/Titus under 3rd Security Division's order on the night of 1/2 January; (2) night troop convoy from Malo, Holland and RO 8 to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 to Guernsey; (3) V 210/13 Malo–Cherbourg for degaussing; (4) M 4613/11 to Brest under 3rd Security Division's order; (5) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey.

Assigned: (1) V 212/09; (2) V 207/08; (3) V 210/13 to join convoy 2 and then proceed to Cherbourg; (4–5) M 4613/11 to escort to Jersey and afterwards proceed to Brest, with onward escort on 2 January planned by two boats of C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla. Four A Group boats of that flotilla were also at two hours' notice for the night of 1/2 January under 3rd Security Division's order. Remark: bad weather and the preliminary storm warning made completion of these tasks seem unlikely.

1200, Malo: M 4613/11 sailed for Granville to collect combined convoy. 1200, Malo: FK 07/20 sailed for Guernsey. 1230, Malo: because of the storm warning received, I cancelled V 212/09's sailing to position, since their weapons could not be used. 1300, Malo: Sea Transport Office cancelled the night troop convoy owing to storm.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 31 December: item 1 substitute V 704 for V 703. Escorted tonnage on 31 December: 1,850 GRT. [This differs from 1,550 in the December summary.] Situation for 1 January: (1) V 703 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 704 at Cherbourg, aKB until 3 January [abbreviation retained]; (3) M 4611/13 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey, afterwards independently to Brest; (4) V 212/09 at Malo, occupation of position cancelled owing to weather; (5) V 210/07/08/13 at Malo, not sailing owing to weather; (6) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, four boats at Malo on two hours' notice; (7) V 711/22 and M 4612 rest at Malo; (8) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Jersey; (9) M 4623/25 complete Alderney–Malo passage. Escorted tonnage: 3,200 GRT.

Intentions for 2 January: (1) V 703 ready at Cherbourg; (2) M 4613/11 Jersey–Brest; (3) V 212/09 ready at Malo; (4) V 210/07/08/13 night troop convoy of 2/3 January from Malo with Holland and RO 8 to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 to Guernsey; (5) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, V 711/22 and M 4612 ready at Malo; (6) three C Group boats to continue combined convoy Jersey–Guernsey; (7) four C Group boats to check Jersey roads with SSG.

1420, Malo: FK 07/20 returned owing to weather. 1500, Granville: M 4613/11 took Midsland, Pointe à Pitre, Saigon, Chiemsee and Nordplein into convoy for Jersey. 1620, Malo: as weather continued to worsen, I radioed M 4613/11 to enter Jersey and not continue to Brest. 2000, Malo: M 4613/11 radioed intention to enter Jersey about 2100. At 2200 no sighting or arrival report had been received, so at 2229 I ordered a radio position report. No answer followed. 2400: 3rd Security Division lifted the boats' two-hour readiness. Draft signed Dr Diederichs; certified correct, Wunderlich, Lieutenant Commander.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0681–0685, cover, archival cards and original pages 2–3. Scan 0681: microfilm identifier PG–38001–NID. Scan 0682: Naval High Command folder, War Diary, St Malo Convoy Control Office, 1943. Scan 0683: Allied contents list for PG/38001, covering surviving diary periods during 1943 and January–February 1944. The list omits 1–15 May and December 1943; it does not itself establish why. Scan 0684: diary opened 1 January and closed 15 January 1943. Chief from 1–9 January: Commander (Fregattenkapitän) Dr Diederichs, Chief of 2nd Patrol Boat Flotilla; from 10–15 January: Lieutenant Commander (Korvettenkapitän) Wunderlich, acting. British Admiralty registration PG/38001/NID; German registry Ch 26494 [as read].