15 December 1942 Part 2

15 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South to south-south-east force 5–6, overcast, cloudy, occasional drizzle, sea 6.

Tasks expected to become practicable after the improvement in weather: (1) combined convoy Jersey–Guernsey, assembled from the two combined convoys from Malo and Granville which entered Jersey on 14 December; (2) Rob. Müller 8 Jersey–Malo; (3) training passages for the Malo mine-warfare school; (4) night troop convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (5) night troop convoy Guernsey–Alderney; (6) Cherbourg–Alderney and possibly return; (7) paddle steamers Cherbourg–Jersey, weather permitting; (8) hospital ship Hüxter Malo–Guernsey.

Orders: (1) M 4611/06; (2) join night troop convoy item 4; (3) V 210/12, M 4621/24 and M 4600/01; (4) V 207/13; (5) V 703/04, thereafter to carry out any return convoy in item 6 to Cherbourg, otherwise independently to Cherbourg for MES check; (6) V 711/22, to remain at Alderney for the night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey on 16/17 December; (7) M 4613/07; (8) V 208/09.

0800, Jersey: M 4605/02 sailed independently for Malo. 0900, Malo: V 210/12, M 4621/24 and M 4600/01 sailed for training. 1000, Malo: V 208/09 sailed with hospital ship Hüxter for Guernsey. 1315, Jersey: M 4611/06 sailed with Claus Wilhelm and Tourane for Guernsey. 1415, Malo: M 4605/02 arrived from Jersey. 1415, Malo: V 210/12, M 4621/24 and M 4600/01 returned from training.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 14 December: situation items 1 and 3 cancelled; items 2 and 5 convoy only as far as Jersey owing to weather; reduce escorted tonnage by 1,900 GRT. Situation for 15 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 15/16 December Guernsey–Alderney with Karel; (2) M 4602/05 independently Jersey–Malo; (3) V 207/13 night troop convoy of 15/16 December with Minotaure from Guernsey, Rob. Müller 8 from Jersey, to Malo; (4) M 4604/12 fitting out at Malo; (5) M 4611/06 convoy Jersey–Guernsey with Claus Wilhelm and Tourane; (6) V 208/09 shadowing hospital ship Hüxter Malo–Guernsey; (7) V 212/10 and M 4621/24/00/01 available in Malo Bay for mine-warfare course; (8) V 711/22 and M 4607/13 ready at Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 3,900 GRT.

Intentions for 16 December: (1) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 15/16 December Guernsey–Alderney, evening with convoy to Cherbourg; (2) M 4602/04/12/00/01 ready at Malo; (3) V 207/13 complete night troop convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, V 207 boiler cleaning and V 213 ready; (4) M 4611/06 ready at Guernsey; (5) V 208/09 shadow hospital ship Hüxter Guernsey–Malo; (6) V 212/10 night troop convoy of 16/17 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (7) M 4430 and M 4620 navigation instruction passages off Malo for watch officers’ course; (8) V 711/22 Cherbourg–Alderney with convoy; (9) M 4607/13 Cherbourg–Jersey with paddle-steamer convoy, weather permitting.

1545, Guernsey: V 209/08 arrived with hospital ship Hüxter from Malo. 1630, Guernsey: M 4611/06 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 1700, Cherbourg: M 4613/07 sailed with paddle steamers M 4245/46 for Jersey or Malo respectively. 1800, Guernsey: V 207/13 sailed with Minotaure carrying troops for Jersey and Malo. 2000, off Jersey: V 207/13 took Rob. Müller 8 into convoy for Malo. 2355, Malo: radio message from V 703/04 received: sailing with Karel Guernsey–Alderney would not take place owing to weather. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0658–0659, original pages 28–31.