24 January 1943 Part 2

24 January 1943 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west force 2–3, cloudy, visibility about 5 nautical miles, sea 1–2, later freshening south to south-east force 4–5, sea 3–4. 0025, Malo: heightened alert lifted. 0200, Guernsey: V 722/11 sailed with Amethyste for Malo. Remark: Rheinland's departure had already been cancelled. H 49 grounded in harbour when sailing, so the boats proceeded to Malo with Amethyste alone. 0210, Malo: V 210/12 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 0330, Cherbourg: V 724/23 sailed with Franka and Weber for Alderney. 0600, Alderney: V 724/23 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 0715, Malo roads: V 722/11 arrived with Amethyste from Guernsey and anchored.

Tasks: (1) day convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) night troop convoy from Malo, La France to Jersey and Amethyste to Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy Rob. Müller 8 Alderney–Guernsey. Assigned: (1) M 4612/01/04/06; (2) V 210/12; (3) V 724/23. 0845, Malo: M 4602/01/04/06 [as typed; elsewhere M 4612] sailed with Kochelsee and Corona for Guernsey, Meteor and Spes Salutis for Jersey; convoy anchored in roads because of fog. 1135, Malo: M 4612/01/04/06 resumed convoy. All teletype lines to 3rd Security Division were disrupted by bomb damage, so the writer sent a wireless message: “Situation 24 January: (1) M 4612/01/04/06 day convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) V 210/12 night troop convoy of 24/25 January Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) V 724/23 night troop convoy of 24/25 January Alderney–Guernsey. Detailed situation direct to Commander, Security West.”

Detailed report direct to Commander, Security West. Corrections: to 3rd Security Division convoy situation 5.0, delete Rheinland and H 49; to convoy tonnage 23 January, 6,500 GRT. Situation for 24 January: (1) V 210/12 complete night troop convoy of 23/24 January Jersey–Malo, evening night troop convoy of 24/25 January from Malo with La France to Guernsey [changed destination relative to task list]; (2) V 206/11 ready at Cherbourg; (3) V 724/23 morning with Franka and Weber Cherbourg–Alderney, then readiness; (4) complete night troop convoy of 23/24 January Guernsey–Malo, then readiness [escort omitted]; (5) M 4612/01/04/06 from Malo, Meteor and Spes Salutis to Jersey, Corona and Kochelsee to Guernsey; (6) M 4600/02/05/07 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 3,100 GRT.

Following intentions [25 January inferred; heading omitted in source]: (1) V 210/12 complete night troop convoy of 24/25 January Malo–Guernsey, then readiness; (2) V 206/11 with convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) V 724/23 night troop convoy of 24/25 January Rob. Müller 8 Alderney–Guernsey; (4) V 722/11 and M 4600/05/07 ready at Malo; (5) M 4612/01/04/06 independent passage Guernsey–Cherbourg; (6) M 4602 and three Hummer boats in Malo Bay available to navigation course.

1400, Brest: A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla sailed for Malo with ORG. 1800, Jersey: M 4612/01/04/06 released Meteor and Spes Salutis and continued to Guernsey. 1900, Malo: V 210/12 sailed with La France for Guernsey. 2130, Guernsey: M 4612/01/04/06 arrived with remaining convoy from Malo. Signed Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0719, original pages 16–17.