15 September 1942 Part 2

15 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west, weak to moderate breeze; visibility 20 nautical miles; cloudy to fair; slightly to moderately disturbed sea.

0230, Guernsey: V 707/05/M 1204 sailed with Minotaure and RO 21 via Jersey to Malo. Departure had been set for 0200, allowing for the current. The half-hour delay meant that the troop convoy reached Malo only in daylight. Thus fast troop convoys must not set their sailing time solely by the current; a short passage against it must be accepted. 0510, Jersey: V 707/05/M 1204 took La France and G. Guynemer into convoy. 0530, Cherbourg: V 209/M 1207 sailed with Weber and Antonius for Alderney. 0645, Cherbourg: V 212/08 arrived, released by 2nd Security Division. 0815, Alderney: V 209/M 1207 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg.

Requests: (1) Weber and Antonius Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) Franka Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) from Guernsey, Corona and Irene for Jersey, Gabes for Granville, and from Jersey, Claus-Wilhelm for Granville; (4) Nestor and Kochelsee Malo–Jersey; (5) night troop convoy Minotaure and La France Malo–Jersey; (6) transfer steamer H 2, Peuthlièvre [source spelling], to the dockyard, Malo–Cherbourg, towed by Vollmar and Georges Guynemer; (7) Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney.

0800: Sea Transport Chief Channel Islands reports the intended “evacuation” of about 2,000 people from the islands. RO 21, Robert Müller, Minotaure and La France are allocated. After requesting reinforcements from 3rd Security Division, the Convoy Control Office assigns V 707/05 and V 713/02 as escorts. Transport and escort vessels are directed to Jersey and Guernsey. 1600: Sea Transport Chief reports that only 500 people are to be carried every 24 hours. Minotaure and La France are therefore sent first to Jersey with only one patrol pair, given here as V 707/04 [the subsequent sailing entry is V 705/07].

I issue orders assigning V 209/M 1207 to requests (1) and (2); M 4604/01 to (3); M 4605/11 to (4); V 707/05 to (5); V 710/24 to (6); V 212/08 to (7).

As H 2 locks out, the freshening wind makes her scarcely manoeuvrable even in harbour. With the wind increasing further, I postpone the convoy 24 hours. V 710/24, already locked out, proceed independently to Guernsey carrying an officer from the Führer's command staff on an urgent inspection trip; his aircraft cannot take off because of the weather. The prohibition of daylight Cherbourg–Alderney passage, coupled with tidal restrictions—passage against the current is impossible—also greatly reduces the capacity of the Cherbourg escort service. At least two pairs must now be maintained to perform what one pair previously accomplished. I therefore send V 710/24 onward to reinforce Cherbourg.

1100, Malo: V 710/24 independently to Guernsey. 1220, Guernsey: M 4601/04 sailed with convoy to Jersey–Granville. 1230, Malo: M 4611/05 sailed with convoy to Jersey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 14 September, item 1: V 209/M 1207 proceeded directly Guernsey–Cherbourg owing to fog. Situation for 15 September: (1) V 209/M 1207 morning escort Weber and Antonius Cherbourg–Alderney, evening escort Franka Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) V 707/05/M 1204 completing the night troop convoy with Minotaure and RO 21 from Guernsey and La France and G. Guynemer from Jersey to Malo, then M 1204 at 12th Minesweeping Flotilla's disposal and V 707/05 as item 6; (3) V 212/08 arrived at Cherbourg, then readiness; (4) V 710/24, H 2 convoy postponed owing to weather, independently Malo–Guernsey with an officer from the Führer's command staff; (5) V 713/02 arrived at Malo from Lézardrieux in the morning, then readiness; (6) V 707/05 night convoy of 15/16 September with La France carrying troops and Minotaure, Malo–Jersey, for the “evacuation” of the Channel Islands; (7) M 4611/05 with Nestor and Kochelsee Malo–Jersey; (8) M 4604/01 from Guernsey with Corona and Irene for Jersey, Gabes and Tourane for Granville, taking Claus-Wilhelm from Jersey for Granville, then independently to Malo. Escorted tonnage: 8,500 GRT.

Intentions for 16 September: (1) V 209/M 1207 convoys Cherbourg–Alderney and return; (2) V 212/08 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney at 0300, then Karel to Jersey, then as item 3; (3) V 707/05 and V 212/08 night convoy Jersey–Malo with evacuees; (4) V 713/02 escort H 2 Guernsey–Cherbourg; (5) V 710/24 Guernsey–Cherbourg with possible convoy, for local tasks there; (6) M 4611/05 Jersey–Malo with Karel and others; (7) M 4604/01 at the mine-warfare school's disposal at Malo.

1705, Jersey: M 4601/04 released Corona and Irene, continuing with the remainder and Klaus-Wilhelm to Granville. 1730, Guernsey: V 710/24 arrived from Malo. 1915, Jersey: M 4611/05 arrived with convoy from Malo.

1930: I receive 3rd Security Division's secret teletype 2965 of 15 September, addressed KR to Convoy Control Office Malo: “Five minesweepers of 8th Minesweeping Flotilla sail Cherbourg this evening for a special operation 16 nautical miles north of la Hague; return to Cherbourg towards morning. Timings from chief 8th Minesweeping Flotilla, Cherbourg. Avoid Cherbourg–Alderney convoy traffic if possible; otherwise advise of possible encounters.” The three scheduled convoys in the Cherbourg area cannot be avoided. Not knowing the flotilla's departure time, I intend to send its chief the three convoys' ship-reporting positions by KR teletype. My message is at the teletype office by 2015, but congestion with KR messages prevents transmission to Cherbourg until 2135. The regular evening ship-reporting service, requiring eleven KR teletypes each time, contributes to the congestion. The message therefore misses the flotilla chief, who sailed at 2100. The Naval Signals Officer consequently transmits the long message by radio, 2140/37—124 groups.

1950, Granville: M 4601/04 released the convoy and continued independently to Malo. 2100, Granville: convoy locked in. 2100, Alderney: V 209/M 1207 sailed with Franka for Cherbourg. 2100, Guernsey: V 710/24 independently to Alderney. 2215, Malo: V 705/07 sailed with Minotaure and La France carrying troops for Jersey. 2310, Cherbourg: V 209/M 1207 arrived with Franka from Alderney.

Signed: Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0500–0502, original pages 24–26. The diary calls the planned removal of islanders an “evacuation”; this is the source's terminology.