17 October 1942 Part 5

17 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to south-west, weak to moderate breeze, gusts force 5; slight sea; overcast to cloudy, visibility 12 nautical miles.

0130, Cherbourg: V 212/13 arrived from Alderney. 0400, Cherbourg: UJ 1405/16 sailed for St Malo. 0835, Malo: Alert readiness cancelled. 0845, Malo: UJ 1411/02 arrived at the Convoy Control Office’s disposal.

Requests: (1) Schwalbe and Weber, Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) night troop convoy Spinel, Alderney–Guernsey; (3) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey. Orders: V 713/02 for (1) and (2); V 714/08 for (3), first independently to Granville. 1100, Malo: V 714/08 passage to Granville.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 17 October: (1) V 713/02 Schwalbe and Weber convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 17/18 October Spinel to Guernsey; (2) V 212/13 finish night passage Alderney–Cherbourg, ready; (3) V 207/09/10 ready at Malo; (4) V 714/08 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy of 1,370 GRT to Jersey–Guernsey; (5) V 710/24 ready at Guernsey; (6) UJ 1405/16 independently Cherbourg–Malo, later continue to Lorient under 3rd Security Division’s order; (7) M 4605/04/02/01/12 resting at Malo; (8) UJ 1411/02 arrived at Malo from Brest, ready. Escorted tonnage: 2,520 GRT.

Intentions for 18 October: (1) V 713/02 night troop convoy of 18/19 October Spinel, Guernsey–Alderney [Guernsey inserted by hand]; (2) V 212/13 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (3) V 210/07/09 and UJ 1411/02 ready at Malo; (4) V 714/08 ready at Guernsey; (5) V 710/24 Guernsey–Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (6) M 4605/04/02/01 passage Malo–Jersey; (7) M 4612 ready at Malo.

1315, Granville: V 714/08 sailed with Klaus Wilhelm, H 321, Kochelsee and Tourane for Jersey–Guernsey. 1800, Malo: UJ 1405/16 sailed for Lorient. 1930, Cherbourg: V 713/02 sailed with Weber and Schwalbe for Alderney. 1940, Jersey: V 714/08 entered with convoy because of weather. 2100, Malo: Increased alert readiness ordered. 2240, Alderney: V 713/02 arrived with Weber and Schwalbe from Cherbourg.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0564–0565, original pages 3–4.