13 January 1943 Part 3

13 January 1943 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South to south-east force 6–7, sea 5–6, visibility 3–5 nautical miles; wind warning in evening. Today's weather again makes completion of some tasks seem unlikely.

Tasks: (1) M 4601/06 Malo–Jersey to check roads; (2) shadow Hüxter Malo–Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy Malo–Guernsey, Rob. Müller 8, H 49 and La France; (4) night troop convoy RO 45, Rob. Müller 8 and La France Guernsey–Malo after item 3; (5) convoy of five empty coasters Alderney–Cherbourg; (6) Spinell Cherbourg–Alderney; (7) WO course exercises in Malo Bay; (8) check St Helier's southern entrance. Assigned: (1) as above; (2) V 212 and M 4600; (3) V 711/22 and V 207; (4) V 711/22; (5) V 703/04; (6) V 210 and V 424, afterwards to Guernsey for Tinda's Guernsey–Alderney convoy; (7) M 4602 with five Hummer boats.

1030, Malo: M 4602 sailed with five Hummer boats to the roads. 1030, Jersey: M 4604/05/07 sailed to check roads. 1030, Malo: M 4601/06 sailed for Jersey. 1115, Jersey: M 4604/05/07 returned owing to weather. 1200, Malo: V 212 and M 4600 sailed with Hüxter for Guernsey. 1350, Malo: Naval Commandant Guernsey reported eight to ten British aircraft circling in grids BF 2698/99 and 3577, with suspected minelaying. 1357: I radioed V 212 to pass east of BF 3577.

Report to 3rd Security Division. Situation: (1) V 212 and M 4600 shadow Hüxter Malo–Guernsey; (2) M 4601/06 independently Malo–Jersey to check roads; (3) M 4602 with five Hummer boats and WO course in Malo roads; (4) V 210/424 and M 4047 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney–Guernsey; (5) M 4612 ready at Malo; (6) M 4604/05/07 check Jersey roads with SSG; (7) V 703/04 convoy Alderney–Cherbourg; (8) V 711/22 and V 207 night troop convoy of 13/14 January Malo–Guernsey with H 49, Rob. Müller 8 and La France. Escorted tonnage: 6,200 GRT.

Intentions for 14 January: (1) V 212/10 and M 4600 shadow Hüxter Guernsey–Malo, M 4600 detached off Jersey to join M 4601/06; (2) M 4601/06/00 check Jersey roads; (3) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy of 13/14 January, then night troop convoy of 14/15 January Guernsey–Malo; (4) V 424 and M 4047 complete night convoy of 13/14 January Cherbourg–Alderney–Guernsey, then with V 207 Guernsey–Alderney–Cherbourg; (5) V 703/04 complete night convoy of 13/14 January Alderney–Cherbourg, then return convoy; (6) M 4612/02 ready at Malo; (7) M 4604/05/07 convoy Jersey–Granville, then independently to Malo.

1715, Malo: V 711/22 and V 207 sailed with troop convoy for Guernsey. 1800, Guernsey: V 212 and M 4600 arrived with Hüxter from Malo. Remark: as weather was steadily worsening I radioed V 711: “Return to St Malo left to your discretion owing to weather”, leaving assessment and decision to the convoy commander. 1815, Cherbourg: V 210/424 sailed with Spinell for Alderney–Guernsey. 1820, Jersey: M 4601/06 entered “after completing their task”. Remark: on reaching St Helier they had immediately begun checking the south-eastern entrance.

1910, Malo: radio message from V 711, “Continuing to St Peter Port.” 1930, Malo: M 4602 and five Hummer boats returned from roads with WO course. 2000, remark: wind had further freshened to storm and veered from south-west to south-east, making entry to Guernsey harbour impossible according to Naval Commandant Channel Islands. 2030: I radioed V 711 to return to Malo and V 210 to proceed to Cherbourg after completing convoy. 2050, Alderney: V 210/424 detached Spinell and continued to Guernsey, the radio order not yet having arrived. 2345, Guernsey: V 210/424 arrived from Alderney. The radio order reached V 210 too late owing to unserviceable FTG [abbreviation retained]. Signed on behalf, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0695–0696, original pages 23–25.