13 December 1942 Part 2

13 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South to south-west force 7–8, sea 6, overcast, visibility 9 nautical miles, occasional haze and rain.

0030, Guernsey: V 703/04 secured, after having remained almost stationary off the harbour for some time. 0150, off Jersey: V 207/13 released Holstein to enter harbour. 0315, Guernsey: V 207/13 arrived with convoy from Malo. 0415, Malo: V 212/10/08, arriving from Cherbourg, anchored in the roads. 0500, Guernsey: report received that FK 34 had sprung a leak at the outer mole and sunk. Attempts to keep the boat afloat failed. Crew, classified material and guns recovered. Remark: further details of the causes of this renewed loss of a harbour-protection boat had not yet been established. 0850, Malo: exercise alarm.

Tasks: (1) combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) combined convoy Jersey–Guernsey; (3) paddle steamers Cherbourg–Jersey. All three were cancelled because of stormy weather.

1000, Malo: A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla arrived from passage with sweeping gear Cherbourg–Malo. 1030, Malo: V 212/10/08 entered from the roads. 1110, Malo: exercise alarm ended. 1200, Malo: I ordered M 4605/02 to be at Jersey at 0730 on 14 December for a combined convoy Jersey–Granville, and off Granville at 1200 to take over a combined convoy via Jersey to Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 12 December, item 9: cancelled owing to weather. Situation for 13 December: (1) V 703/04 and M 4602/05 ready at Guernsey; (2) V 207/13 complete night troop convoy of 12/13 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then ready; (3) M 4611/12 fitting out and repairs at Malo; (4) M 4600/01/06 and V 209 ready at Malo; (5) V 212/10/08 complete night passage Cherbourg–Malo, then ready; (6) V 711/22 and M 4607/13 ready at Cherbourg; (7) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla complete route sweeping Cherbourg–Malo with ORG; (8) M 4604 repairs at Malo. Escorted tonnage: — GRT.

Intentions for 14 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 14/15 December Guernsey–Alderney with Karel; (2) M 4602/05 independently Guernsey–Jersey, then combined convoy Jersey–Granville, followed by combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) V 207/13 night troop convoy of 14/15 December from Guernsey with Minotaure, from Jersey with Holstein, to Malo; (4) M 4604/12 repairs at Malo; (5) M 4611/06 combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) V 212/10, M 4600/01 and M 4623/25 available in Malo roads for mine-warfare course; (7) V 208/09 fitting out at Malo; (8) V 711/22 and M 4607/13 ready at Cherbourg. The stormy weather, with fairly heavy to heavy seas unfavourable for convoys, continued. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0656–0657, original pages 25–26.