2 December 1942 Part 4

2 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west force 4, overcast to cloudy, isolated showers; good visibility, patches of haze; sea 3.

0230, Malo: V 209/10 arrived from Alderney–Guernsey. 0500, Jersey: V 212/08 released Holland and continued to Guernsey with the rest. 0720, Guernsey: V 212/08 arrived with Minotaure and RO 21. 0800, Malo: Alert I cancelled.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (3) night troop convoy from Guernsey with Minotaure, from Jersey with Holland, to Malo; (4) Schwalbe, Weber and FK 05 Cherbourg–Alderney; (5) Tinda Alderney–Cherbourg. Orders: (1) V 207/13, proceeding independently Malo–Granville; (2) V 703/04; (3) V 212/08; (4–5) V 711/22.

1130, Malo: V 207/13 sailed for Granville. 1400, Granville: V 207/13 took Tourane, Mazagan and Guynemer with three barges for Jersey, and Nordplein, Helma, Rheinland and Maas for Guernsey, into convoy.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 1 December, item 8: anti-aircraft training detachment had not arrived. Situation for 2 December: (1) V 209/10 complete independent Guernsey–Malo passage, then V 210 unavailable for boiler cleaning; (2) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 2/3 December Guernsey–Alderney with Karel; (3) V 207/13 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 212/08 complete night troop convoy of 1/2 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 2/3 December from Guernsey with Minotaure, from Jersey with Holland, to Malo; (5) V 711/22 Cherbourg–Alderney with convoy; (6) M 4611/12 ready at Guernsey; (7) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla rest at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 6,000 GRT.

Intentions for 3 December: (1) V 209 ready at Malo; (2) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 3/4 December with Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (3) V 207/13 ready at Guernsey; (4) V 212/08 complete night troop convoy of 2/3 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then V 208 unavailable for repairs; (5) V 711/22 early convoy Alderney–Cherbourg, then protection for target tug off Cherbourg; (6) M 4611/12 Guernsey–Malo with convoy; (7) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla rest at Malo.

1600, Malo: Sea Transport Officer Cherbourg reported loading of the vessels for Alderney was not completed in time. Convoys in items 4 and 5 were therefore cancelled. 1745, St Aubin’s Bay: V 207/13 released part of the convoy and continued to Guernsey with the rest. 1830: I transmitted by radio on the coastal long-wave circuit the possibility of V 207/13 and V 212/08 encountering one another north-west of La Corbière. 1830, Guernsey: V 212/08 sailed with Minotaure for Jersey–Malo. 1945, Jersey: V 212/08 took Holland into convoy for Malo. 2020, Malo: departure notification received for 5th S-Boat Flotilla, sailing from Cherbourg at 2200 westwards south of Alderney. I transmitted possible encounters with V 703/04 by radio through the Naval Signals Officer. 2100, Guernsey: V 213/07 arrived with convoy from Granville. 2400, Guernsey: V 703/04 sailed with Karel for Alderney. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0644–0645, original pages 3–5.