17 November 1942 Part 4

17 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North force 4–3, cloudy, visibility eight nautical miles, early haze, sea 3–2, slight northerly swell.

0030, Jersey: V 712/22 sailed with Holstein for Guernsey. 0235, Jersey: R 104 entered owing to weather. 0400, Guernsey: V 712/22 released Holstein and continued to Cherbourg. 0645, Cherbourg: M 4620/21/22/24/25 arrived from Malo. 0815, Malo: Alert I cancelled. 0900, Malo: V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed into Malo Bay for Admiral Ruge’s inspection of navigation course. 1045, Malo Bay: V 210 air alarm; 32 enemy four-engined aircraft sighted at very great height, heading south. Aircraft report transmitted. They remained out of weapon range. 1050, Malo Bay: Air alarm ended. 1145, Cherbourg: V 712/22 arrived from Guernsey–Jersey. 1130, Malo Bay [entered after 1145]: I release five Hummer boats to Malo after completion of navigation exercises owing to weather.

Convoy requests: (1) Le Cerf Malo–Granville–Jersey and combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) Spinel, Derfflinger, Anton and H 3 Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) Antonius and Lena Alderney–Cherbourg. Orders: (1) M 4605/04/02; (2–3) V 712/22.

1200, Malo: M 4605/04/02 sailed with Le Cerf for Granville–Jersey. 1300, Malo: V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla arrived with Commander Security West and navigation course. 1500, Granville: M 4605/04/02 took Nordplein, Nestor and Rabat into convoy for Jersey; Comptoir 66, water boat Elfriede, steamer Maas and lighter Pt. à Pitre for Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 16 November: item 4, replace Themse with Ch. Nungesser.

Situation for 17 November: (1) V 712/22 night troop convoy of 16/17 November Holstein Jersey–Guernsey, then independently Guernsey–Cherbourg, evening with Gerfried, Henka and Spinel Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 207/12 ready at Guernsey; (3) V 711/29, V 213 and M 4601 ready at Malo; (4) V 208 preparing for fumigation at Malo; (5) V 209 and M 4600/06 fitting out at Malo; (6) V 210 and C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla in Malo Bay, inspection by Commander Security West; (7) M 4605/04/02 with Le Cerf Malo–Granville, then combined convoy to Jersey–Guernsey; (8) M 4611 out of war readiness at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,100 GRT.

Intentions for 18 November: (1) V 712/22 with Antonius, Lena and Schwalbe Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) V 207/12 night troop convoy of 18/19 November Rheinland from Guernsey and Claus Wilhelm from Jersey to Granville, then independently to Malo; (3) V 711/29 night troop convoy of 18/19 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 209/10 with Ad. le Prince in tow of Balidar and Nungesser Malo–Cherbourg; (5) V 208 fumigation at Malo; (6) V 213 ready at Malo; (7) M 4605/04/02 independently Guernsey–Jersey; (8) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla resting at Malo; (9) M 4600/01/06 route sweeping with SSG Malo–Ida 7–Ida 8–bar at Îles Chausey–Ida 11, then enter Jersey.

1600, Malo: Alert I ordered. 1715, Malo: M 4600/01/06 sailed to roads. 1800, Jersey: M 4605/04/02 released Nordplein, Nestor, Rabat and Le Cerf, continued to Guernsey. 1800, Cherbourg: M 4620/21/22/24/25 sailed with equipment for Malo. 1900, Cherbourg: V 712/22 sailed with convoy for Alderney. 2130, Alderney: V 712/22 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 2230, Guernsey: M 4605/04/02 arrived with remaining convoy from Jersey–Granville. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0624–0625, original pages 3–5.