10 January 1943 Part 2

10 January 1943 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to west force 3–4, fair to cloudy, visibility 8 nautical miles, sea 3, moderate south-westerly swell; winds freshening slightly in afternoon, storm warning in evening.

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey under item 1 of 9 January, with La France additionally to Jersey; (2) Hydra and Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney. Assigned: (1) V 711/22, V 207 and V 208/09, the latter to continue to Antwerp afterwards. I employed five patrol boats after learning that approximately 1,700 men on leave were aboard. (2) V 703/04.

Report to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 9 January: item 4 cancelled owing to weather. Escorted tonnage for 9 January: none. Situation for 10 January: (1) V 210 minor repairs at Cherbourg; (2) V 213 weapon calibration firing off Cherbourg; (3) V 703/04 ready at Cherbourg; (4) V 711/22 and V 207/08/09 night troop convoy from Malo, La France and Holland to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 and H 49 to Guernsey; (5) V 212, C Group of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla and M 4612 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 4,100 GRT. [Convoy subsequently recalled.]

Intentions for 11 January: (1) V 210 minor repairs at Cherbourg; (2) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy of 10/11 January Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, evening night troop convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (3) V 209/08/07 independently Guernsey–Cherbourg–Le Havre, V 207 detached off Cherbourg and V 213 joining; (4) V 703/04 with Hydra and Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney at 0530; (5) M 4600/01/06 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy to Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4602/04/05 with Corona and Meteor Malo–Jersey; (7) V 212 and M 4612/07 ready at Malo.

2115, Malo: V 711/22 and V 207/08/09 sailed with convoy for Jersey. 2130/2150, Malo [both times alongside entry]: on the order of the Chief of Sea Transport, St Malo, the convoy was recalled owing to weather. 0400 [following morning, entered within this day's record]: convoy returned. 2150, Cherbourg: V 703/04's convoy was also cancelled owing to weather. The combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey planned for the following day with three boats of C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla was also postponed. Signed on behalf, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0693–0694, original pages 19–20.