21 October 1942 Part 3

21 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west, moderate to fresh breeze, easing slightly at night; early morning backing to south-west, weak to moderate breeze; cloudy, increasingly clear at night; visibility 12–15 nautical miles; medium-height short north-west swell, moderate sea.

0030, Jersey: V 710/24 released RO 21 and Karel and continued with RO 45 for Guernsey. 0415, Guernsey: V 710/24 arrived with RO 45. Requests: (1) shadow Huxter, Jersey–Malo; (2) night troop convoy from Guernsey, Minotaure, Rob. Müller 8 and Kurland, joined by La France from Jersey, to Malo. Orders: V 714/08 for (1); V 710/24 for (2). The latter had orders to proceed to Brest, at 3rd Security Division’s disposal, after the Malo–Guernsey night convoy, but must now first bring the leave ships back to Malo.

0700, Jersey: M 4605/04/02/01 sailed for Malo. 0820, Jersey: V 714/08 sailed with Huxter for Malo. 0830, Malo: V 210/07/09 and C Group, 44th Minesweeping Flotilla, sailed on training passage with navigation course. 0900, Malo: Alert 1 ended. 0930, Malo: C Group returned because of weather.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 20 October: Item 1: bridge convoy not carried out because of weather. Situation for 21 October: (1) V 712/13/212/13 [as printed; intentions below give V 713/02/212/13] and UJ 1411/02 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 210/07/09 off Malo available for navigation course; C Group returned because of weather; (3) M 4611/12 ready at Malo; (4) V 714/08 shadow Huxter, Jersey–Malo; (5) V 710/24 night troop convoy of 21/22 October from Guernsey with Minotaure, Rob. Müller 8 and Kurland [handwritten addition], from Jersey with La France, to Malo; (6) M 4605/04/02/01 passage Jersey–Malo; (7) V 711/29 sailed from Brest to Guernsey. Escorted tonnage: 4,750 GRT.

Intentions for 22 October: (1) V 713/02/212/13 and UJ 1411/02 ready at Cherbourg under 3rd Security Division’s secret order 3492, evening bridge convoy [handwritten addition]; (2) V 210/714/08 ready at Malo; (3) V 710/24 finish night troop convoy of 21/22 October, then Malo–Brest at 3rd Security Division’s disposal; (4) V 207/209 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) M 4605/04/02/01 resting at Malo.

1400, Malo: V 714/08 arrived with Huxter from Jersey. 1415, Malo: Secret teletype from 3rd Security Division reports postponement of the arrival of two boats of 5th Torpedo-boat Flotilla at Cherbourg; immediate readiness ordered accordingly. 1545, Malo: M 4605/04/02/01 arrived from Jersey. 1645, Malo: V 210/07/09 returned from training passage. 2140: Increased defensive readiness. 2200, Guernsey: V 710/24 sailed with Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 for Jersey–Malo. Steamer Kurland fouled her propeller with a line on departure and remained behind. 2345, Jersey: V 710/24 took La France into convoy.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0569–0570, original pages 8–9.