20 October 1942 Part 3

20 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to west, moderate to fresh breeze, gusty; overcast; visibility outside showers 10 nautical miles.

0545, Granville: M 4601 sailed to Jersey to rejoin the group [typed number M 4606 amended to “group”]. 0700, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02 arrived from Guernsey. 0735, Malo: V 714/08 sailed to shadow hospital ship Huxter.

Tasks: (1) shadow Huxter, Malo–Guernsey–Jersey; (2) night convoy from Malo, RO 21 and Karel to Jersey, RO 45 to Guernsey; (3) Hydra and Schwalbe, Alderney–Cherbourg; (4) route sweep Granville–Jersey; (5) bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney. Orders: V 714/08 for (1); V 710/24 for (2); V 212/13 for (3); M 4605/04/02/01 for (4); V 713/02/212/13 for (5), protected by UJ 1411/02.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 19 October: Item 2: V 212/13 evening Gerfried and Lena convoy Cherbourg–Alderney. Situation for 20 October: (1) V 712/13 [as printed; V 713/02 in the assignments] ready at Cherbourg, evening bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney with V 212/13; (2) V 212/13 independently Alderney–Cherbourg, then as in (1); (3) UJ 1411/02 passage Guernsey–Cherbourg, evening protection for bridge convoy; (4) V 210/07/09 and M 4612 ready at Malo; (5) V 714/08 shadow Huxter, Malo–Guernsey–Jersey; (6) V 710/24 night convoy of 10/21 October [sic; 20/21 intended] from Malo with RO 21 and Karel to Jersey, RO 45 to Guernsey; (7) M 4605/04/02/01 repeated SSG sweeps Jersey–Guernsey [as printed; Granville in the task above]. Escorted tonnage: 7,200 GRT.

Intentions for 21 October: (1) V 713/02/212/13 finish bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, evening return to Cherbourg; (2) UJ 1411/02 protection for (1), then patrol off Alderney until daylight, evening Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) V 210/07/09 and C Group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla off Malo available for navigation course, towing and being towed; (4) V 714/08 shadow Huxter, Jersey–Malo; (5) V 710/24 finish night convoy Malo–Guernsey, then proceed to Brest under 3rd Security Division’s order; (6) M 4611 resting at Malo; (7) M 4605/04/02/01 repeated SSG sweeps Jersey–Guernsey; (8) M 4612 resting at Malo.

1415, Guernsey: V 714/08 arrived with Huxter from Malo. 1600, Guernsey: V 714/08 and hospital ship Huxter sailed for Jersey. 1730, Alderney: V 212/13 sailed with Hydra and Schwalbe for Cherbourg. 1830, Malo: V 710/24 sailed with night convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 1830, Malo: Report received that freshening wind and increasing seas require another postponement of the bridge convoy. I inform the offices concerned. 2000, Jersey: V 714/08 arrived with Huxter from Guernsey. 2000, Cherbourg: V 212/13 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 2015, Jersey: M 4605/04/02/01 returned from route sweeping without result. 2030, Malo: Urgent teletype from 3rd Security Division reports that two torpedo boats of 5th Torpedo-boat Flotilla are entering Cherbourg. V 713/02/212/13 accordingly placed at immediate readiness. 2115, Malo: Alert 1 ordered.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0568–0569, original pages 7–8.