13 November 1942 Part 4

13 November 1942 Alderney Harbour Commandant diary

Cloudy, NNW 6, visibility 1–2 nautical miles; sea recorded as “2, rough”. 0045: Vp 722 began drifting and passed over Xaver Dorsch’s port anchor cable. When trying to work clear with her engine, the cable caught in Vp 722’s propeller. She went alongside Xaver Dorsch; disconnecting the cable freed the propeller. 0535: Lena fired a distress signal. While getting under way she had caught the rope of a work buoy for the new bridge in her propeller. Unable to manoeuvre, she was driven by wind and sea against the head of the new bridge and then lay alongside its eastern side. 0650: Signal to all stations: transport task 13 cancelled because Lena collided with a bridge pier; service passengers put ashore. 0800: Superstructure damaged; pivot of the after 2 cm gun broken; hull watertight. 0804: FK 08/04 returned from patrol. 1300: Signal G 1206 to Sea Commander Channel Islands, maritime transport chief and escort office: Lena’s propeller fouled by a buoy rope; weather prevents repair. Vp 720’s steering gear fouled by Xaver Dorsch’s anchor cable while swinging at anchor; repairs as soon as weather permits. [The signal says Vp 720, whereas the surrounding entries say Vp 722.] 1821: While Vp 722 tried to turn into the wind, a collision damaged Xaver Dorsch’s stern on the starboard side: two plates pierced, frames bent and leakage at rivets. 1945: Vp 722 reported ready to proceed again.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37995, scan 0436.