19 October 1942 Part 2

19 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to west, weak to moderate breeze; cloudy, very smooth sea; light rain, visibility 8–10 nautical miles.

0100, Guernsey: V 713/02 sailed with Spinel for Alderney. 0355, Alderney: V 713/02 arrived with convoy from Guernsey. 0650, Alderney: V 713/02 sailed with Spinel, Antonius and Tinda for Cherbourg. 0730, Jersey: M 4605/04/02/01 sailed for Jersey–Granville route sweeping. 0845, Cherbourg: V 713/02 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 0900, Malo: Alert readiness ended.

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy of 19/20 October from Malo, La France for Jersey, Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 for Guernsey; (2) Gerfried and Lenn, Cherbourg–Alderney.

(3) Route sweep Granville–Jersey. Orders: UJ 1411/02 for (1); while en route they receive radio orders to proceed to Cherbourg after completing the night troop convoy, since weather appears to permit the bridge convoy. V 212/13 for (2), to return immediately to Cherbourg, with convoy if available. M 4605/04/02/01 for (3).

Also scheduled for 20 October are a night convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey and shadowing hospital ship Huxter. I order V 714/08 and V 710/24 independently from Guernsey to Malo for these tasks. Remark: I make this disposition because major firing exercises are scheduled off Malo on 20 October and high-water timing is unfavourable for boats to sail from Malo in time. V 710/24 are also to be released westward under 3rd Security Division’s order.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 19 October: (1) V 713/02 night troop convoy to 19 October Spinel, Guernsey–Alderney, then Spinel and Antonius convoy Alderney–Cherbourg, ready; (2) V 212/13 ready at Cherbourg; (3) V 210/07/09 ready at Malo; (4) UJ 1411/02 night troop convoy of 19/20 October from Malo, La France to Jersey, Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 to Guernsey; (5) V 714/08/10/24 passage Guernsey–Malo; (6) M 4605/04/02/01 repeated SSG sweeps Jersey–Granville; (7) M 4612 fitting out at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 4,200 GRT.

Intentions for 20 October: (1) V 713/02/212/13 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 210/07/09 at Malo available for navigation course; (3) UJ 1411/02 finish night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, possible return convoy in the evening; (4) V 714/08 shadow Huxter, Malo–Guernsey–Jersey; (5) V 710/24 evening convoy Malo–Guernsey, thereafter at 3rd Security Division’s disposal; (6) M 4605/04/02/01 repeated SSG sweeps Jersey–Granville, then enter Jersey; (7) M 4612 resting at Malo.

1400, Guernsey: V 710/24/14/08 sailed for Malo. 1540, Granville: M 4601 entered with generator damage. 1945, Jersey: M 4605/04/02 returned from task; no mines swept. 2000, Malo: UJ 1411/02 sailed with convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 2000, Cherbourg: V 212/13 sailed with convoy for Alderney. 2150, Malo: V 710/24/14/08 arrived from Guernsey. 2245, Alderney: V 212/13 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 2300: Increased alert readiness ordered from 0000.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0566–0568, original pages 5–7.