25 October 1942 Part 2

25 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South to south-west, strong wind to near gale, gusts force 8; moderate to fairly rough sea; overcast, rain; visibility outside rain 10–12 nautical miles, falling to 5; cloud breaking and visibility improving towards evening.

0030, Malo: Cherbourg reports cancellation of the scheduled convoy because of increasing wind and sea. The Alderney–Guernsey night troop convoy must consequently also be cancelled. 0530, Jersey: M 4611/12 entered because of worsening weather. 0645, Malo: I cancel the intended combined convoy to Jersey–Guernsey because the barges are insufficiently seaworthy. 0915, Malo: Increased defensive readiness ended.

Requests: (1) five coasters Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey. Both depend on weather, with no immediate prospect of proceeding. (3) Combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey postponed as above at 0645; (4) night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, assigned to V 207/708; (5) M 4611/12 onward passage Jersey–Cherbourg.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 24 October: Item 2 cancelled because of weather; item 7 independent passage only as far as Jersey because of weather. Escorted tonnage: 1,200 GRT less.

Situation for 25 October: (1) V 713/02/11/29 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 212/13 five-coaster convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) V 714/210 Karel convoy Guernsey–Alderney; (4) V 207/708 night troop convoy of 25/26 October from Malo with La France for Jersey, Minotaure [typed “Minorauk”] and Holland for Guernsey; (5) V 209 boiler cleaning at Malo; (6) M 4605/04/02/01 ready at Malo; (7) UJ 1411/02 fitting out at Malo; (8) M 4611/12 combined convoy Jersey–Guernsey, then independently to Cherbourg for demagnetisation under 3rd Security Division’s order. Escorted tonnage: 2,200 GRT.

Intentions for 26 October: (1) V 713/02/11/29 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 212/13 finish night convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, ready; (3) V 714/210 night troop convoy of 25/26 October Georgi, Alderney–Guernsey; (4) V 207/708 finish night troop convoy of 25/26 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) V 209 boiler cleaning at Malo.

(6) M 4605/04/02/01 and UJ 1411/02 ready at Malo; (7) M 4611/12 demagnetisation at Cherbourg.

1430, Malo: Sea Transport Office Cherbourg reports that near-gale to gale-force wind and rough seas prevent convoys (1) and (2). 1435, Malo: Harbour Commandant Guernsey reports that Karel’s passage Guernsey–Alderney is cancelled because of weather. Escort had only been requested by telephone at 1300 and agreed with V 714/210. 1430 [as entered], Malo: 12th Minesweeping Flotilla reports intention to sail with four boats at 1900 from Malo to Cherbourg under 3rd Security Division’s order. 1445, Malo: M 4611/12 report abandonment of onward passage because of weather; remaining at Jersey.

1515, Malo: Harbour Commandant Alderney telephones that a patrol-boat pair must urgently be provided to take a general, who has been waiting on Alderney for five days, to Guernsey. I undertake to examine whether boats can be sent from Cherbourg in the prevailing weather. Remark: It had not previously been reported that a general—apparently the divisional commander from Guernsey—had been waiting for days on Alderney for passage to Guernsey. Sea Commandant Channel Islands, who telephoned about this at approximately 1800, also knew nothing of it until today. The Cherbourg–Alderney–Guernsey convoys planned for days had been cancelled because of the weather and the vessels requiring escort. Two patrol boats, however, could have made the trip there and back more easily earlier than is possible today.

1615, Malo: Telephone discussion with V 713’s commander, Lieutenant Commander Sperberg. V 713/02 then ordered to sail at 1800 from Cherbourg to Alderney, intending to sail from Alderney to Guernsey with the general at 0330. 1730: 12th Minesweeping Flotilla reports postponement of its task, above at 1430, by 24 hours because of weather. 1800, Cherbourg: V 713/02 sailed for Alderney. 1920, Malo: Aircraft report of several enemy aircraft near Alderney.

Remark: Again I cannot dismiss the suspicion that enemy agents in Cherbourg can send information rapidly to England. In the prevailing weather, enemy aircraft would not be expected on reconnaissance flights. As on various earlier occasions, enemy aircraft are sighted in the Cherbourg–Alderney area one or two hours after the boats leave Cherbourg. Especially in today’s weather this cannot be regarded as coincidence, since encounters with the enemy since 15 May 1942 have always occurred on westbound passages from Cherbourg, with only one in the opposite direction in weather very favourable for patrol flying. [The suspicion is the diary writer’s assessment, not an established finding.]

2220, Malo: Arrival report received for V 713/02 at Alderney. Remark: Despite a following current, stormy wind and rough seas made their Cherbourg–Alderney passage take over four hours. I consider it inappropriate to send the boats with a senior commander from Alderney to Guernsey, directly into wind and sea. I therefore radio V 713: “Continue passage with general only if weather improves.” Departure is postponed.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0576–0577, original pages 14–15.