13 November 1942 Part 2

13 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-east to east, fresh breeze to strong wind, isolated gusts force 8; overcast, isolated showers; visibility outside showers 5–8 nautical miles; moderate to rather rough sea; high, short north-east swell, strong coastal haze in the morning.

Malo [time omitted]: V 207/13 arrived with convoy from Guernsey–Jersey.

Remark: Night troop convoy Lena Alderney–Guernsey cannot sail because Lena drifts against the new bridge pier while leaving, and V 722 gets Xaver Dorsch’s anchor chain in her propeller in a squall.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) owing to V 722’s failure, whose propeller can only be cleared by a diver when the weather improves, and the assignment of UJ 1411/02 and V 711/29 to 2nd Security Division, no boats remain available in the Cherbourg area for the tasks accumulated through bridge transport and bad weather. I therefore order V 207/12 to proceed Malo–Cherbourg.

For the combined convoy I order C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla to send three boats to Granville and carry out their route-sweeping task with SSG Jersey–Malo with the other three boats.

0700, Jersey: M 4605/04/01 sailed for Granville. 0815, Malo: V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed into Malo Bay for navigation exercises for watch officers’ course. 1030, Granville: M 4605/04/01 took Saigon, Gabes, FK 23 [designation uncertain in this line; later FK 23], Tourane, Rheinland and Comptoir 51 into convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 1130, Jersey: M 4600/02/06 sailed for route sweeping with SSG to Malo. 1230, Malo: C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla returned from training trip with navigation course.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 12 November: item 2, night troop convoy omitted because V 722 and Lena have chains in their propellers [the preceding narrative describes Lena drifting against the bridge pier]; item 3, add H 49 Guernsey–Malo, tonnage included on 13 November.

Situation for 13 November: (1) V 712/22 at Alderney; (2) V 207/13 complete night troop convoy of 12/13 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (3) V 207/12 evening Malo–Cherbourg for tasks there; (4) V 209 preparing for fumigation at Malo; (5) M 4611 and V 208 minor repairs at Malo; (6) M 4605/04/01 independently Jersey–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (7) M 4600/02/06 route sweeping with SSG Jersey–Malo; (8) V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla in Malo Bay with navigation course. Escorted tonnage: 4,500 GRT.

Intentions for 14 November: (1) V 712/22 at Alderney; (2) V 207/12 Cherbourg–Alderney with Karel; (3) V 208/13 and M 4611 ready at Malo; (4) V 209 fumigation at Malo; (5) M 4605/04/01 ready at Guernsey; (6) M 4600/02/06 ready at Malo; (7) V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course.

1400, Jersey: M 4605/04/01 released Saigon, Gabes and FK 23, continuing with the remaining convoy to Guernsey. 1910, Guernsey: M 4605/04/01 arrived with the remaining convoy from Jersey. 2030, Malo: V 207/12 proceeded to Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0612–0613, original pages 21–22.