21 November 1942 Part 3

21 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North force 2–3, sea 1–2; cloudy to overcast with isolated precipitation; visibility 10–12 nautical miles, 5–8 in precipitation; early haze.

0010, Malo: Through Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg I report possible encounters between S-boats and V 209/10’s convoy. 0030, Cherbourg: Eight S-boats sailed west. 0150, Guernsey: V 711/29 arrived with Minotaure from Malo. 0530, Alderney: V 209/10 sailed with convoy for Cherbourg. 0730, Cherbourg: Eight S-boats returned from west. All convoy tasks were carried out as planned.

0815, Jersey: M 4605/04/02 sailed with Rob. Müller 8 and Guynemer with floating crane for Guernsey.

Requests: (1) Rob. Müller 8, tug G. Guynemer and floating crane Jersey–Guernsey; (2) Balidar with one lighter Cherbourg–Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy Minotaure, Kurland and Midsland from Guernsey, La France from Jersey to Malo; (4) night troop convoy Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (5) Nordfels west from Malo, item 9 of 20 November. Orders: (1) M 4605/04/02; (2) V 207/12/13; (3) V 711/29; (4) V 712/22; (5) UJ 1405/01/06, convoy by order of 3rd Security Division.

1125, Guernsey: M 4605/04/02 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 1130, Malo: UJ 1405/01/06 sailed west with Nordfels.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 21 November: (1) V 209/10 morning with two HS-boats, R 104, Schwalbe, Gerfried and Derfflinger Alderney–Cherbourg, then rest; (2) V 712/22 night troop convoy of 21/22 November Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (3) V 207/12/13 evening with tug Balidar and one barge Cherbourg–Alderney [destination as printed; requests Guernsey], then independently to Malo; (4) V 711/29 complete night troop convoy of 20/21 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 21/22 November Minotaure, Kurland and Midsland from Guernsey, La France from Jersey to Malo; (5) M 4605/04/02 with Rob. Müller 8, G. Guynemer and one floating crane Jersey–Guernsey, then ready; (6) M 4600/01/06 rest at Malo; (7) V 208 fitting out at Malo; (8) UJ 1405/01/06 with Nordfels west from Malo by order of 3rd Security Division. Escorted tonnage: 6,800 GRT.

Intentions for 22 November, items 1–2: (1) V 209/10 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 712/22 complete night troop convoy of 21/22 November Alderney–Guernsey, then rest.

Intentions, continued, items 3–7: (3) V 207/12/13 complete independent passage Guernsey–Malo, then rest; (4) V 711/29 complete night troop convoy of 21/22 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, rest; (5) M 4605/04/02 ready at Guernsey; (6) M 4600/01/06 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (7) V 208 ready at Malo.

1830, Cherbourg: V 207/12/13 sailed for Guernsey with tug Balidar and tank lighter Vinotra [name as read]. 2200, Alderney: V 712/22 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. Signed for the commander, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0629–0630, original pages 12–14.