10 December 1942 Part 2

10 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-east to south force 6–7, overcast, rain, visibility 5 nautical miles, sea 4–5.

0030, Jersey: V 213/09 released Holland and continued with the rest to Guernsey. 0115, Guernsey: M 4611/12 arrived with Rob. Müller 8 from Jersey. 0200, Alderney: V 703/04 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. 0315, Guernsey: V 213/09 arrived with RO 45 and Minotaure from Malo. 0330, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed for Alderney. Remark: owing to poor weather the boats left the planned convoy behind and sailed to collect V 208 for demagnetisation at Cherbourg. 0615, Guernsey: V 703/04 arrived with Karel from Alderney. 0630, Alderney: V 711/22 and V 208 sailed for Cherbourg. 0730, Cherbourg: UJ 1401/02/14 and V 210/12 arrived with Nordvard from Malo.

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy from Guernsey with RO 21 and Minotaure, from Jersey with La France, to Malo; (2) night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (3) Rob. Müller 8 Guernsey–Jersey; (4) Paul et Janine Granville–Jersey; (5) Tinda and Franka Cherbourg–Alderney. Orders: (1) V 213/09; (2) V 703/04; (3) M 4611/12; (4) to avoid V 207 proceeding alone Granville–Malo, Paul et Janine accompanied it, subsequently to go to Jersey with C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla; (5) V 212/08/10, subsequently independently Alderney–Malo.

0830, Granville: V 207 sailed with Paul et Janine for Malo. 0845, Malo: M 4600/01/02/05/04/06 sailed to check Malo Bay with SSG. 1130, Malo: V 207 handed Paul et Janine over in the roads to C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla for Jersey; weather nevertheless forced the vessel to enter harbour.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 9 December, item 3: V 207 found two damaged harbour-protection boats at Les Ardentes and took them in tow for Granville. FK 06 sank en route. V 207 entered Granville with FK 13 and FK 06’s crew, baggage and weapons. M 4611/12 carried out the convoy task; delete Nestor. Situation for 10 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 9/10 December Alderney–Guernsey with Karel, then night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (2) V 711/22 early Cherbourg–Alderney without convoy owing to weather, then back to Cherbourg with V 208; (3) V 208 demagnetisation at Cherbourg, then item 10; (4) M 4611/12 ready at Guernsey owing to weather; (5) V 207 with Paul et Janine Granville–Malo; (6) UJ 1401/02/14 and V 210/12 complete convoy 3354, then submarine-chaser group available to 2nd Security Division, V 210/12 coaling, then item 10; (7) V 213/09 complete night troop convoy, then night troop convoy of 10/11 December from Guernsey with Minotaure and RO 21, from Jersey with Holland, to Malo [Holland here, La France in task list]; (8) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla, six boats, morning route checking Malo roads, then three boats with Paul et Janine Malo–Jersey; (9) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla evening route sweeping Malo–Cherbourg; (10) V 212/08/10 night convoy Cherbourg–Alderney with Tinda and Franka, then independently Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,400 GRT.

Intentions for 11 December: (1) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 10/11 December Guernsey–Alderney with Karel, then ready; (2) V 711/22 ready at Cherbourg; (3) M 4611/22 [printed thus] night convoy Rob. Müller 8 Guernsey–Jersey, then independently Malo; (4) V 210/12/08 complete independent Alderney–Malo passage; (5) V 213/09 complete night troop convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (6) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla: three boats check Jersey roads with SSG, three independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (7) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla complete route sweeping Malo–Cherbourg; (8) V 207 fitting out at Malo.

1500, Malo: all convoys and A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla’s sailing Malo–Cherbourg cancelled owing to weather. 1830, Malo: C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla returned from checking the roads and manoeuvring exercises there. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0652–0653, original pages 19–21.