12 September 1942 Part 2

12 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Sea breeze; fair; visibility 5–8 nautical miles; morning coastal fog; very calm to calm sea.

0630, Alderney: V 705/22 released RO 21 and Robert Müller and continued to Cherbourg. Since the convoy took 7½ hours for the 30-nautical-mile leg, I assume fog delayed it.

Requests: (1) night troop convoy of 12/13 September, La France and Minotaure Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, as item 4 of 11 September; (2) tug Vollmar, barge, Spes-Salutis and one fishing cutter Guernsey–Malo; (3) convoy Cherbourg–Alderney and return; (4) convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, followed by night troop convoy of 12/13 September Alderney–Guernsey. I assign V 707/04, M 4611/05, V 705/22/209, and M 1204 with V 212/08 respectively.

0800: Short teletype G 14301 from 3rd Security Division places V 209 at 2nd Security Division's disposal for a task at Barfleur. After completing this task, the boat is again available to me at 1400. 1000, Guernsey: M 4611/05 sailed with convoy for Malo. Contrary to the agreement, Harbour Commandant Guernsey adds tugs and barges destined for Lézardrieux–Brest: Group 64, Group 65, A 253 PM, H 320 PM, H 288 PM and A 75 PM, plus Paul et Janine and Diamant. The convoy must therefore now be collected at Malo for onward passage [the source reads “für Jersey” here, despite the stated western destinations].

1015: 3rd Security Division telephones, asking whether convoy 3322, held off Cherbourg by fog, can be piloted into harbour using radio locating equipment. The Sea Commander says the convoy is immediately outside the entrance and the locating points are unfavourably placed for this. In the circumstances—dense fog and calm sea—the convoy is in no danger, particularly from the air. I inform the division. 1130, Cherbourg: V 705/22 arrived independently from Alderney. 1130, Cherbourg: M 21, M 1204/07 and V 212/08 arrived with convoy 3322 from Lézardrieux. 1445, Jersey: M 4611/05 released Paul et Janine and Diamant and continued to Malo.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 11 September, item 2: convoy delayed 24 hours because of La France's collision with V 707. Situation for 12 September: (1) V 209 at 2nd Security Division's disposal; (2) V 707/04 minor repairs by day, then night troop convoy of 12/13 September La France for Jersey and Minotaure for Guernsey; (3) M 1207/04, M 21 and V 212/08 completing convoy 3322 Lézardrieux–Cherbourg at 1130, then M 1204 and V 212/08 daylight convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, followed by Spinel's night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey; (4) M 4611/05 daylight escort Vollmar, one barge and Spes-Salutis Guernsey–Malo, then readiness; (5) M 4601 hull cleaning at Malo; (6) V 705/22 completing the night troop convoy Jersey–Guernsey–Alderney, then independently Alderney–Cherbourg, followed by daylight escort Cherbourg–Alderney and return. Escorted tonnage: 10,600 GRT.

Intentions for 13 September: (1) V 209 and M 1207 escort Cherbourg–Alderney–Guernsey; (2) V 707/04 completing the night troop convoy of 12/13 September, then Minotaure from Guernsey and La France from Jersey to Malo on 13/14 September; (3) M 1204 and V 212/08 completing the night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey, then daylight convoy to Malo; (4) M 4611/05 daylight escort from Malo with Chiemsee for Jersey, RO 8, Sperber and Irne [spelling varies; later Irene] for Guernsey; (5) V 705/22 Cherbourg–Alderney convoys and return; (6) M 4601/04 ready at Malo.

By 3rd Security Division's telephone order, V 212/08 are placed at 2nd Security Division's disposal for Monbaldo's escort as far as Le Havre, with immediate return Le Havre–Cherbourg promised. 1730, Cherbourg: V 705/22/209 sailed with Lena and Ostfriesland [source spelling indistinct] for Alderney. 1900, Malo: M 4611/05 arrived with convoy from Guernsey. 2045, Alderney: V 705/22/209 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 2100, Malo: V 707/04 sailed with La France and Minotaure for Jersey–Guernsey. 2205, Alderney: V 705/22/209 sailed with Schwalbe and Spinel for Cherbourg.

2300: The chief of Commander, Security Forces West explains orally that secret teletype 5576's prohibition of daylight Cherbourg–Alderney passages must not be interpreted rigidly. If prevailing weather makes enemy air attack unlikely, that opportunity must be used, given the strained convoy situation and the inferiority of the German fighter forces.

Signed: Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0494 (original page 19) and scans 0495–0496 (duplicate photographs of page 20). Page 20 is included once.