23 October 1942 Part 2

23 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to west, moderate to fresh breeze, gusts to force 7; rain in places; lightly overcast; visibility outside precipitation 5–8 nautical miles; moderate sea.

0100, Guernsey: V 711/29 sailed for Cherbourg. 0110, Guernsey [as printed; Jersey implied by the convoy’s route]: V 714/210 released La France to enter and continued with convoy to Guernsey. 0350, Guernsey: V 714/210 arrived with convoy from Malo–Jersey. 0200, Cherbourg [entered after 0350]: V 711/29 arrived from Guernsey. Weather hampered fulfilment of convoy requests and other tasks.

Tasks: (1) five coasters Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) Georgi, Alderney–Guernsey; (3) UJ 1411/02 independently Cherbourg–Malo; (4) V 714/210 independently Guernsey–Granville; (5) Minotaure, Holland and Kurland from Guernsey, La France from Jersey, to Malo; (6) V 710/24 independently Malo–Brest. The boats under (3), (4) and (6) receive corresponding orders; V 212/13 for (1) and (2); V 207/09 for (5). 1430, Guernsey: V 714/210 sailed for Granville. 1730: Sea Transport Office Cherbourg reports cancellation of convoy (1) because of weather.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 22 October: Item 2 cancelled because of weather, ready at Cherbourg. Situation for 23 October: (1) V 713/02 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 212/13 evening five-coaster convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) V 210/714 finish night troop convoy of 22/23 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, later independently Guernsey–Granville; (4) V 207/09 night troop convoy of 23/24 October Minotaure, Kurland and Holland from Guernsey, La France from Jersey, to Malo; (5) M 4611/12/05/04/02/01 ready and fitting out at Malo; (6) V 710/24 independently Malo–Brest under 3rd Security Division’s order; (7) V 711/29 morning independently Guernsey–Cherbourg, ready for bridge convoys; (8) UJ 1411/02 independently Cherbourg–Malo. Escorted tonnage: 4,700 GRT.

Intentions for 24 October: (1) V 713/02/11/29 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (2) V 212/13 convoy Alderney–Cherbourg, then as in (1); (3) V 210/714 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 207/09 finish night troop convoy of 23/24 October Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, ready; (5) M 4611/12 combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then independently to Cherbourg for demagnetisation under 3rd Security Division’s order; (6) M 4605/04/02/01 ready at Malo; (7) UJ 1411/02 ready at Malo.

1915, Granville: V 714/210 arrived from Guernsey. 1920, Malo: V 710/24 sailed for Brest under 3rd Security Division’s order. 1930, Malo: V 212 reports that a condenser leak will probably make her non-operational for two days. 2200, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02 sailed for Malo; motor vessel Amethyst is sent with them under escort to Malo.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0573–0574, original pages 11–12.