20 December 1942 Part 2

20 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to south force 4–5, sea increasing to 5, visibility improving to 10 nautical miles, overcast.

0210, Guernsey: V 208/13 arrived with Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 from Malo. 0910, Guernsey: seven French fishing steamers sailed for Lézardrieux. Tasks: (1) night troop convoy Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (2) combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey; (3) night troop convoy Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 from Guernsey, La France from Jersey, to Malo; (4) combined convoy Jersey–Malo; (5) equipment passage of A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, under orders of 3rd Security Division. Assigned: (1) V 703/04, first independently Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 210/12, then independently Jersey–Guernsey; (3) V 208/13; (4) M 4604/05/06; (5) as above.

1000, Jersey: M 4604/05/06 sailed with Spes Salutis, Quatrieme, Panama, Surinama and Vouloir for Malo. 1300, Jersey: UJ 1401/02/14 sailed with M 4245/46 and Ronwyn for St Nazaire under 3rd Security Division's orders. 1600, Jersey: UJ 1401/02/14 returned with convoy owing to weather after UJ 1401 fouled a rope in its propeller. 1630, Malo: all tasks cancelled and postponed owing to heavy seas.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Special occurrence: concerning item 4, Naphta from the combined convoy grounded north of Corbière at La Rocco; crew of four rescued by UJ 1401/02. Correction to 19 December: items 2 and 8 cancelled owing to weather; concerning item 4, Jersey–Malo portion cancelled, M 4604/05/06 entered Jersey owing to weather, M 4611 independently via Granville to Malo. Reduce escorted tonnage by 1,250 GRT.

Situation for 20 December: (1) V 711/22 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 703/04 independently Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 20/21 December with Karel to Guernsey; (3) M 4605/04/06 with convoy Jersey–Malo; (4) M 4600/01/02/07/11/12/13 ready at Malo; (5) V 208/13 complete night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 20/21 December with Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 from Guernsey and La France from Jersey to Malo; (6) V 210/12 ready at Guernsey; (7) V 209 ready at Malo; (8) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, with ORG Malo–Brest; (9) UJ 1401/02/14 with Ronwyn and two paddle steamers Jersey–Brest. Escorted tonnage: 3,850 GRT. [The situation records planned movements despite the cancellations above; Brest here differs from St Nazaire in the departure entry.]

Intentions for 21 December: (1) V 711/22 with convoy 3331 and Flensburg, two barges and one tug Cherbourg–Malo; (2) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy Karel Alderney–Guernsey, then return Guernsey–Alderney with Karel; (3) C and B Groups, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, rest and readiness at Malo; (4) V 208/13 complete night troop convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then readiness, V 213 minor repairs; (5) V 210/12 night passage Guernsey–Jersey with a senior officer, then readiness; (6) V 209 ready at Malo.

1700, Malo: M 4604/05/06 arrived with convoy from Jersey. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0667–0668 left, original pages 10–12.