10 October 1942 Part 2

10 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to west, fresh breeze to strong wind, gusts to gale force, later veering north-west; overcast with rain, cloud breaking around midnight with showers; visibility 8–10 nautical miles, 2–3 in precipitation; fairly rough sea, strong south-west swell.

Requests: (1) Meteor and Holstein, Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy Spinel, Alderney–Guernsey. Orders: V 213/12 for (1); V 714/08 for (2), first independently Malo–Granville; V 713/02 for (3).

0630, Malo: V 714/08 sailed for Granville. 0830, Malo: V 213/12 sailed with Meteor and Holstein for Jersey–Guernsey. 0900, Granville: V 714/08 entered because of weather; convoy postponed. Remark: In light of recent experience, the Sea Transport Chief is asked to assign Morse names to transport vessels to facilitate night traffic.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 10 October: (1) V 713/02 at Alderney, did not sail because of weather; (2) UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (3) V 210 and M 4612 passage Cherbourg–Malo; (4) V 213/12 sailed from Malo with Nestor [as printed here; Meteor above] and Holstein for Jersey, then passage to Cherbourg; (5) V 714/08 passage Malo–Granville, entering there because of weather; (6) V 710/24/209 and M 4611/01/02/04/05 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 450 GRT.

Intentions for 11 October: (1) V 713/02 night troop convoy of 10/11 October Spinel, Alderney–Guernsey; (2) UJ 1407/01 and V 213/12 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (3) V 714/08 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 710/24 night troop convoy of 11/12 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) V 210/09 and M 4611/01/02/04/05 ready at Malo.

1500, Jersey: V 212/13 released convoy because of weather. I ordered the pair to Cherbourg to relieve V 210 and M 4612. Remark: I ordered this relief because Lieutenant zur See Schröder aboard V 210 had contracted diphtheria. Immediate medical inspection by Cherbourg’s harbour doctor and protective inoculation of individual men established that quarantine was unnecessary. However, I wish to bring the boat to Malo for continued observation by the flotilla doctor.

1510: V 213/12 continued to Cherbourg after releasing convoy. V 210 and M 4612 ordered to proceed Cherbourg–Malo. 1900, Guernsey: V 213/12 entered because of rough seas. 2000: I ordered V 210 and M 4612 not to commence their Malo passage until the weather improved.

2100, remark: Radio message received announcing V 713/02’s intention to sail with convoy Alderney–Guernsey. As a west force 8/9 warning was in effect, and Spinel is a slow vessel poorly suited to carrying troops, I attempted to send an urgent teletype to Harbour Commandant Alderney: “Examine weather conditions most carefully for the intended departure reported.” The teletype could not be sent: there is no naval teletype line to Alderney, and the army line has long been out of service. After several intermediate relays, telephone contact was established. Departure was prohibited. Once again the existing communications with Alderney proved wholly inadequate.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0544–0545, original pages 16–17.