26 September 1942 Part 2

26 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Northerly, fresh breeze to strong wind, gusting to near gale; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; the typescript then repeats “light to moderate breeze” before its sea description; powerful northerly swell.

[Early morning, time ending 115], Guernsey: V 707/05/V 209/08 sailed for Malo with RO 8, RO 21, Minotaure and La France. [Time ending 220], Alderney: V 713/02/10/24 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. [Time ending 230], Jersey: V 207/12 arrived with H 49 from Malo. [Time ending 330], Pointe de Corbière: V 707/05/209/08 took Robert Müller 8 into the convoy. [Time ending 355], Alderney: V 710/24 sailed with Spinel for Guernsey. 0530, Alderney: V 713/02 sailed with Weber and Tinda for Cherbourg. 0645, Malo: M 4611 arrived with Nordplain from Guernsey. 0650, Malo: V 707/05/208/09 arrived with convoy from Guernsey–Jersey. 0805, Guernsey: V 710/24 arrived with Spinel from Alderney. 0830, Cherbourg: V 713/02 arrived with convoy from Alderney.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey, as item 1 of 25 September; (2) night troop convoy Spinel Guernsey–Alderney; (3) night convoy Alderney–Cherbourg; (4) night troop convoy La France, Minotaure, Kurland and Robert Müller 8, Malo–Jersey–Guernsey. I assign M 4605/04 to (1), V 710/24 to (2) and (3), and V 705/209 to (4).

0930, Granville: M 4605/04 sailed with Tourane, Comptoir 51, Mazagan and Pondicherry for Jersey–Guernsey. 1240, Jersey: M 4605/04 released Tourane, Comptoir 51 and Mazagan and continued with Pondicherry, Nestor and Gabes to Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 26 September: (1) V 713/02 at 0530 Alderney–Cherbourg with Weber and Tinda, then readiness; (2) V 710/24 complete night convoy Alderney–Guernsey with Spinel; later night troop convoy of 26/27 September Guernsey–Alderney–Cherbourg with Spinel; (3) V 707/05/209/08 complete the night troop and evacuee convoy of 25/26 September Guernsey–Malo with Minotaure, La France, RO 8, RO 21 and Robert Müller 8 from Jersey, then readiness; V 209/705 as in (4); (4) V 705/209 night troop convoy of 26/27 September from Malo, with Minotaure, Kurland and La France to Guernsey and Robert Müller 8 as far as Jersey; (5) V 212/07 ready at Jersey; (6) M 4605/04 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey, then readiness; (7) M 4611 complete night passage Guernsey–Malo with Nordplain; (8) M 4611/01/02 ready at Malo to protect firing practice at Paimpol; (9) UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 15,700 GRT [corrected next day to 14,000].

Intentions for 27 September: (1) V 710/24 complete the night troop convoy of 26/27 September Guernsey–Cherbourg, then task (2); (2) V 713/02/UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg, evening bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney with V 710/24; (3) V 705/209 complete night troop convoy of 26/27 September Malo–Guernsey, return convoy in the evening; (4) V 707 minor repairs at Malo; (5) V 208 ready at Malo; (6) V 212/07 ready at Jersey; (7) M 4604/05 ready at Guernsey; (8) M 4611/01/02 at 46th Minesweeping Flotilla’s disposal to protect firing at Paimpol.

1610, Guernsey: M 4605/04 arrived with convoy from Jersey–Granville. 2200, Malo: V 705/209 sailed with the night troop convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. Convoys requested under (2) and (3) were cancelled because of the weather.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0522–0523, original pages 18–19. Some leading time digits are hidden in the binding; uncertain hours are indicated.