15 November 1942 Part 5

15 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-east to east, fresh to moderate breeze; cloudy to fair; visibility ten nautical miles, light coastal haze in the morning; smooth to slight sea, moderate north-east swell.

0100, Cherbourg: V 712/22 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 0325, Guernsey: M 4605/04/01 sailed with Ostflandern for Malo. 0410, Jersey: V 208/13 released Rob. Müller 8 and Holland, continuing with La France to Guernsey. 0415, Alderney: V 207/12 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. 0515, Guernsey: V 208/13 arrived with La France from Malo. 0640, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02, V 711/29 and V 1804 arrived with tanker Sudetenland from Le Havre. 0730, Guernsey: V 207/12 arrived with Karel from Alderney. 0900, Malo: Alert Level I cancelled.

Remark: 3rd Security Division orders the onward passage to Brest with UJ 1411/02, V 712/22 and V 207/12. I therefore order V 207/12 at Guernsey to proceed immediately to Cherbourg, to be available for the convoy at 1800. In exchange, 3rd Security Division places C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla and UJ 1405/01/06, after their arrival, at the Convoy Control Office’s disposal for its tasks. Leesee’s convoy is now cancelled altogether after two postponements.

1100, Malo: M 4605/04/01 arrived with Ostflandern from Guernsey.

Tasks: (1) V 207/12 passage Guernsey–Cherbourg; (2) night troop convoy La France from Guernsey, Holland from Jersey to Malo; (3) combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (4) Sudetenland convoy Cherbourg–Brest. Orders: (1) departure 1300; (2) V 208/13; (3) M 4600/06/11; (4) UJ 1411/02, V 712/22 and V 207/12.

1100, Malo: 3rd Security Division telephones that the intention to send Sudetenland to Brest is abandoned and the convoy with UJ 1411/02 and two pairs from 7th Patrol-boat Flotilla will initially proceed only to Guernsey. I then order V 207/12 to escort Karel in night convoy Guernsey–Alderney. 1110, Malo: M 4600/11/06 sailed with Holstein, Irene, Sable d’Or, three tugs and five barges for Jersey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 14 November: item 1, add Dorsch, Weber and bridge undercarriage.

Situation for 15 November: (1) UJ 1411/02, V 711/29 and V 1804 arrive Cherbourg with Sudetenland; (2) UJ 1411/02, V 711/29 and V 712/22 evening convoy Sudetenland and two tugs Cherbourg–Guernsey; (3) V 207/12 night troop convoy of 14/15 November Karel Alderney–Guernsey, evening return convoy; (4) V 208/13 complete night troop convoy of 14/15 November Malo–Guernsey, then night convoy of 15/16 November La France from Guernsey, Holland from Jersey to Malo; (5) V 209 fumigation at Malo; (6) V 210 ready at Malo; (7) M 4605/06/11 [as printed, timed departure M 4600/11/06] Malo–Jersey with three barges, three tugs and five lighters; (8) M 4605/04/01 Guernsey–Malo with Ostflandern; (9) M 4602 minor repairs at Malo; (10) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course. Escorted tonnage: 5,350 GRT.

Intentions for 16 November: (1) UJ 1411/02/05/01/06 Sudetenland convoy Guernsey–Brest; (2) V 711/29 Guernsey–Alderney with Karel after completion of item 4; (3) V 712/22 independently Guernsey–Cherbourg; (4) V 207/12 Alderney–Guernsey with Karel; (5) V 208/13 complete night troop convoy of 15/16 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (6) V 209 fumigation at Malo; (7) V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course; (8) M 4602 minor repairs at Malo; (9) M 4600/06/11 Jersey–Malo with three barges, two tugs and four lighters; (10) M 4605/04/01 resting and fitting out at Malo.

1630, Malo: Secret command teletype from 3rd Security Division gives orders for Sudetenland convoy. I now realise that I misunderstood the earlier telephone call: the convoy is to go to Jersey, St Aubin’s Bay, rather than Guernsey. UJ 1411/02 and UJ 1405/01/06, coming there, are to escort it onward. V 711/29 and V 712/22 will again be at the Convoy Control Office’s disposal after this convoy.

1730, Guernsey: V 208/13 sailed with La France for Jersey–Malo. 1830, Malo: Alert I. 1900, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02 and V 711/29/12/22 sailed with Sudetenland and five tugs for Jersey. 1915, Jersey: M 4600/11/06 arrived with convoy from Malo. 2010, Jersey: V 208/13 took over Holland and continued to Malo. 2300, Guernsey: V 207/12 sailed with Karel for Alderney. 2400, Malo: V 208/13 arrived with night troop convoy from Guernsey–Jersey.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0615–0617, original pages 24–26.