10 November 1942 Part 3

10 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Light easterly winds; fair; visibility 8–10 nautical miles, strong coastal haze in the morning; very smooth to smooth sea, slight swell.

0120, Noirmont Point: V 212 and M 4611 released La France for St Helier and proceeded with the rest of convoy to Guernsey. 0430, Guernsey: V 212 and M 4611 arrived with night troop convoy from Malo. 0830, Granville: V 209/10 sailed with Rabat, Pte à Pitre, Tourane, G. Guynemer with two barges, and Mazagan for Jersey, Nordfels for Guernsey. 0905, Malo: Alert Level I cancelled.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey, item 3 of 9 November; (2) night troop convoy Minotaure from Guernsey and La France from Jersey to Malo; (3) bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney. Orders: (1) V 209/10; (2) V 209/10/12 and M 4611; (3) UJ 1411/02 and V 712/22, protected by V 712/22 [as printed; situation below gives V 711/29].

Remark: With the weather remaining good, bridge transport is possible. The tide allows departure in the early morning hours when experience indicates the least enemy interference. I again instruct Harbour Commandant Cherbourg by secret command teletype to ensure that no preparations for the convoy’s departure are visible during the day, so as to give enemy espionage no clues. Departure is ordered for 0330 on 11 November.

1145, Jersey: V 209/10 released part of convoy and anchored on the roads.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 9 November: items 1–2, bridge convoy cancelled because enemy units were off Cherbourg at the intended departure time; item 6, evening passage Malo–Granville.

Situation for 10 November: (1) UJ 1411/02, V 712/22 and V 711/29 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 212 and M 4611 complete night troop convoy of 9/10 November, then return convoy with item 3; (3) V 209/10 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 10/11 November Minotaure from Guernsey, La France from Jersey to Malo; (4) V 207/08/13 ready at Malo, minor repairs; (5) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla route sweeping with SSG Guernsey–Cherbourg; (6) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course.

Escorted tonnage: 6,800 GRT.

Intentions for 11 November: (1) UJ 1411/02 and V 712/22 bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney at 0100 [as printed in intentions; departure order and actual sailing 0330]; (2) V 711/29 protection for item 1; (3) V 207/08 running in mine-search equipment at Malo; (4) V 209/10/12 and M 4611 complete night troop convoy of 10/11 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (5) V 213 minor repairs at Malo; (6) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla continue task of 10 November; (7) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course.

1610, Guernsey: M 4600/01/03/04/05/06 [03 as printed] sailed for Cherbourg for route sweeping with SSG. 1700, Jersey: V 209/10 sailed with Nordfels for Guernsey. 1815, Malo: Alert Level I ordered. 2040, Guernsey: V 209/10 arrived with Nordfels from Jersey. 2355, Cherbourg: C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla arrived from equipment passage.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0608–0609, original pages 17–18.