25 September 1942 Part 2

25 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to north-west, light to moderate breeze, gusting to fresh; overcast to cloudy, showery rain; visibility 12–15 nautical miles, 5–8 in precipitation; slight sea.

0200, Guernsey: RO 21 grounded in the harbour while sailing and did not refloat on the rising water until about 0400. As the convoy would now enter Malo only in daylight, I approved its leader’s decision to remain in Guernsey.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) night convoy Spinel, Franka, Gerfried and Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) night troop convoy Spinel Alderney–Guernsey; (4) night convoy Weber and Tinda Alderney–Cherbourg; (5) night convoy Nordplain Guernsey–Malo; (6) night convoy RO 8, RO 21, Minotaure and La France with troops and evacuees Guernsey–Malo, joined at Corbière by Robert Müller 8; (7) night troop convoy H 49 Malo–Jersey.

I assign M 4605/04 to (1), first independently Malo–Granville; V 713/02/10/24 to (2); V 710/24 to (3); V 713/02 to (4), after (2); M 4611 to (5). Remark: I send M 4611 with Nordplain so that convoy (6) is not burdened with the very slow Nordplain, which is armed. I assign V 707/05/209/08 to (6). Remark: Four boats protect this convoy because a large number of soldiers and evacuees are aboard. V 212/07 undertake (7).

0645, Malo: M 4605/04 sailed for Granville. 0940, off Granville: The convoy had already sailed, but had to lock back into harbour because of the weather; M 4605/04 therefore also entered Granville.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 24 September: Item 2 cancelled because of strong wind. Item 3: RO 21 grounded in Guernsey harbour on departure, so no convoy “Malo–Guernsey” [direction as printed; the planned convoy was Guernsey–Malo]. Corrected tonnage: 900 GRT.

Situation for 25 September: (1) V 713/02/710/24 Cherbourg–Alderney with four coastal motor vessels; (2) V 707/05/209/08 night convoy of 25/26 September with Minotaure, La France, RO 8 and RO 21, troops and evacuees Guernsey–Malo; (3) M 4611 with Nordplain Guernsey–Malo; (4) V 212/07 daytime MES loop, then night troop convoy H 49 Malo–Jersey; (5) M 4605/04 independently Malo–Granville; convoy there did not sail because of the weather, ready; (6) M 4602/01 ready at Malo to protect firing practice at Paimpol; (7) UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 2,900 GRT.

Intentions for 26 September: (1) V 713/02 early night troop convoy with Spinel Alderney–Guernsey; (2) V 710/24 combined convoy Alderney–Cherbourg [these pair assignments differ from the actual movements on 26 September]; (3) V 707/05/209/08 continue the night troop convoy of 25/26 September, taking in Robert Müller 8 at Jersey, to Malo, then readiness; (4) V 212/07 complete night troop convoy of 25/26 September, ready at Jersey; (5) M 4605/04 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4611/01/02 ready at Malo; (7) UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg.

2130, Malo: V 207/12 sailed with H 49 for Jersey. 2145, Guernsey: M 4611 sailed with Nordplain for Malo. 2300, Cherbourg: V 713/02/10/24 sailed with four coastal motor vessels for Alderney.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0521–0522, original pages 16–17.