22 December 1942 Part 2

22 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west to west force 6–7, sea 5, visibility 10 nautical miles, cloudy, squally.

0130, Jersey: V 208/13 took La France into convoy for Malo, also Midsland. 0530, Malo: V 208/13 arrived with convoy from Guernsey–Jersey. 0550, Jersey: V 210/12 sailed for Granville to collect convoy.

Tasks: (1) Weber Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (3) Welle, Otto and Wittekind Cherbourg–Guernsey [Jersey in subsequent situation and departure entries]; (4) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) Oost-Vlandern and Spes-Salutis Malo–Jersey; (6) RO 21 and H 49 Malo–Guernsey; (7) route sweep with ORG Malo–Brest; (8) route sweep with KFRG or SSG Malo–Ida 5–Granville–Malo. Assigned with corresponding orders: (1–2) V 703/04; (3) V 711/22, then independently to Malo; (4) V 210/12, first independently Jersey–Granville and returning to Jersey after convoy duty; (5) M 4613/12/07; (6) M 4605/02/04/06; (7) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, under 3rd Security Division's orders; (8) M 4600/01.

0830, Malo: M 4613/12/07 sailed with Oost Vlandern and Spes-Salutis for Jersey. 0830, Granville: V 210/12 sailed with Rheinland, Helma and Claus for Jersey–Guernsey. 0830, Granville: FK 01/03 sailed for Jersey–Guernsey. 1100, Jersey: FK 01/03 arrived from Granville. 1120, Guernsey: FK 18/20 sailed for Jersey. 1145, Jersey: V 210/12 released Rheinland to embark mail and personnel travelling on duty. 1215, Jersey: FK 01/03 sailed for Guernsey. 1240, Jersey: V 210/12 continued to Guernsey. 1430, Guernsey: Paul et Janine and Irène sailed for Jersey without escort.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 21 December: items 1, 2 and 5 cancelled owing to weather. Escorted tonnage on 21 December: 2,450 GRT. Situation for 22 December: (1) V 711/22 with convoy 3331 Cherbourg–Jersey, then independently Jersey–Malo; (2) V 703/04 with Weber Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 22/23 December Alderney–Guernsey with Karel; (3) V 208/13 complete night troop convoy of 21/22 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, Midsland joining at Jersey; then V 208 fitting out and V 213 boiler-leak repairs; (4) V 210/12 independently Jersey–Granville, then with Rheinland, Helma and Claus Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, with ORG Malo–Brest; (6) UJ 1402 and M 4245/46 ready at Jersey; (7) V 209 ready at Malo; (8) M 4604/05/06/02 evening Malo–Guernsey with H 49 and RO 21; (9) M 4600/01 equipment passage Malo–Granville–Ida 5–Malo; (10) M 4613/07/12 Malo–Jersey with Oost-Vlandern and Spes Salutis; (11) M 4611 at Malo, aKB [abbreviation retained]. Escorted tonnage: 7,800 GRT.

Intentions for 23 December: (1) V 711/22 complete convoy 3331 Cherbourg–Jersey–Malo, then rest; (2) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 22/23 December Alderney–Guernsey; (3) V 208/09 daytime navigation in Malo Bay with watch-officer course, then night troop convoy of 23/24 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 210/12 independently Guernsey–Jersey, then with commanding general Jersey–Granville, afterwards independently Granville–Malo; (5) UJ 1402 and M 4245/46 ready at Jersey; (6) V 213 repairs at Malo; (7) M 4604/05/06/02 complete night convoy Malo–Guernsey, then convoy Guernsey–Malo; (8) complete equipment passage Ida 5–Granville–Malo; (9) M 4613/07/12 with convoy Jersey–Malo.

1445, Jersey: FK 18/20 arrived from Guernsey. 1500, Jersey: FK 27/30 sailed for Granville. 1535, Malo: FC 42/44 sailed for Granville. 1535, Malo: adjutant of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla reported A Group's departure for Brest cancelled owing to weather. 1630, Jersey: M 4613/12/07 arrived with convoy from Malo. 1645, Malo: M 4600/01 sailed for route sweep with SSG. 1740, Jersey: Paul et Janine and Irène entered. 1745, Guernsey: FK 01/03 arrived from Jersey.

1800, Malo: since weather would not permit M 4605/02/04/06 to sail with convoy for Guernsey, I asked the commander of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla for two A Group boats, whose equipment passage to Brest had been cancelled. He provided M 4621/24. Sailing postponed one hour. 1830, Granville [entered later in source]: FK 27/30 arrived from Jersey. 1855, Guernsey [entered later in source]: V 210/12 arrived with convoy from Granville. 1900, Guernsey: V 210/12 returned towards Jersey. 1945, Granville: FC 42/44 arrived from Malo. 1945, Malo: M 4600/01 returned owing to weather. 2045, Malo: M 4621/24 sailed with H 49 and RO 21 for Guernsey. 2150, Jersey: V 210/12 arrived from Guernsey. 2200, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed with Welle, Otto and Wittekind for Jersey. 2200, Cherbourg: V 703/04 sailed with Spinell and Weber for Alderney. 2300, Malo: I radioed possible encounters between M 4621/24 with convoy and V 711/22 with convoy. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0669–0670 left, original pages 14–16.