21 December 1943 Part 3

21 December 1943 Convoy calls at Jersey and passes Alderney

Editorial note: The following convoy narrative identifies the merchant ship as Aalen. The later Dover Strait action and its maps concern a different area and are not reproduced here.

21 December, passage to Jersey: 0024 received extension of navigation-light measures by three hours. Ida-Sophie/Ida-Richard lights necessary for inner route among islands did not burn despite prior request. Signal 75 urgently requested switching on. Sept-Îles light requested by star cartridges, repeated after ten minutes; appeared only after over half hour. Expected additional radar position messages from division did not materialise. Passed Toni 0200, Paula 0250, Ida II 0745. ESE 2–3, sea two, good visibility.

At 0807 merchant reported blown packing requiring immediate stop. Ordered gear recovered and whole convoy anchored to avoid drifting off route. Report 0817: anchored Ida II–Ida III for expected half-hour engine repair, fighter cover requested. Merchant ready after one hour; weighed 0902, M 442/M 402/M 432 gear out. At Ida V 1025 gear in, entered St Helier roadstead through western passage and anchored. Security West asked whether merchant ready for direct Le Havre passage; affirmative reply led to order sail 1700, Cherbourg 0050, take Münsterland onward. Division signal 1555 ordered frequency change to 254 kHz, control Second Division. Weighed 1700 for Le Havre, M 442/M 452/M 402 ORG 15 metres. Second Division 1740 ordered Münsterland to join west-coming convoy, but its speed insufficient, returned Cherbourg on order. Security West instructed passage continue according to convoy plan. Enemy radar aircraft north Alderney and aircraft north Cap de la Hague apparently did not locate/recognise convoy; same east Barfleur. Points Ida V 1740, 332 at 1827, 326 at 2015.

T-1022 Roll 3252, 24th Minesweeping Flotilla and reviewing commands. Supplied English translation T1022_R3252_English_Translation.docx. 16 December 1943 | Entry 0424 | Source PDF pages 424–429. Selected island-related extract; the date above identifies the event or later report, while the source reference may identify the start of its diary period.