16 September 1942 Part 4

16 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Fair to cloudy; south-west to west, fresh to strong wind; visibility 15–20 nautical miles, coastal haze in the morning; slight to moderate sea with a strong westerly swell.

0100, Malo: M 4601/04 arrived from Granville. 0130, Cherbourg: V 710/24 arrived from Guernsey. 0200: On learning that mines were suspected off Cherbourg (radio messages 2338/36 of 15 September and 0044/44 and 0144/47 of 16 September), I cancelled V 212/08’s 0300 sailing with Schwalbe to Alderney through the Harbour Commandant. 0300, Jersey: V 707/05 arrived with the night troop convoy.

0800: No news yet of the mine situation. I informed Sea Transport Chief and asked whether Penthievre, formerly H 2, which was to be towed because of engine damage, had an operational MES [magnetic protection/degaussing installation]. Its auxiliary motor was defective, so the installation could not run. Postpone the convoy for three days, the estimated repair time. Inform 2nd and 3rd Security Divisions.

Requests: (1) Minotaure and La France, with evacuees, Jersey–Malo; (2) Spinell, Cherbourg–Guernsey; (3) Karel, Alderney–Guernsey; (4) Schwalbe, Cherbourg–Alderney. I assign V 707/05 to (1), V 710/24 to (2), V 209/M 1207 to (3), and V 212/08 to (4), then onward to Malo with any convoy available.

0900, Malo: M 4601/04 sailed for minesweeping training in the bay. 1220: Returned from training.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 16 September: (1) V 209/M 1207 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 212/08 did not sail because of suspected mines, ready at Cherbourg; (3) V 710/24 completed independent Guernsey–Cherbourg passage, ready; (4) V 707/05 completed the night troop convoy of 15/16 September, Malo–Jersey, with Minotaure and La France; night convoy of 16/17 September with 500 evacuees, Jersey–Malo; (5) V 713/02 did not sail because H 2’s MES was unready, at Malo; (6) M 4611/05 ready at Jersey; (7) M 4604/01 on minesweeping training at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 3,300 GRT.

Intentions for 17 September: (1) V 209/M 1207 with three coastal motor vessels, 0400 Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 212/08 independently at 0400 Cherbourg–Guernsey, then escort Guernsey–Malo; (3) V 710/24 with Spinel at 0400 Cherbourg–Guernsey, then the night convoy of 17/18 September with Spinel Guernsey–Alderney; (4) V 707/05 complete the evacuee convoy of 16/17 September, then night troop convoy of 17/18 September Malo–Guernsey; (5) V 713/02 combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (6) M 4611/05 combined convoy Jersey–Granville–Malo; (7) M 4604/01 rest at Malo.

1700: 3rd Security Division, secret message 2976, reports five M-boats sailing from Cherbourg at 2100 and returning at 0100. I tell 8th Minesweeping Flotilla by short radio message 762 that no island shipping movements are taking place in that interval. 2100, Jersey: V 707/05 sailed with La France and Minotaure for Malo with 500 evacuees.

Signed: Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0513 title; scan 0514, original pages 1–2. Secret command matter. Volume for 16–30 September 1942; head of the office: Frigattenkapitän Dr Diederichs, commander of 2nd Patrol Flotilla. The diary uses “evacuees” for islanders being removed; this is the source’s terminology.