27 December 1942 Part 4

27 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-east to east force 3–4, mostly overcast, visibility 3–5 nautical miles decreasing, morning haze and fog banks, sea 2–3.

0210, Cherbourg: FK 08/21 arrived from Alderney. 0300, Cherbourg: FK 08/21 sailed for Alderney. Remark: notice of the FK boats' return passage also arrived only around 0300. This again shows the harbour-defence flotillas have no discipline in the M.-Dienst and are not following orders. [Contemporary writer's assessment; M.-Dienst abbreviation in source.]

0430, Cherbourg: V 703/04 sailed with Lena for Alderney. 0515, Guernsey: FK 07/20 sailed for Malo. 0530, Alderney: FK 08/21 arrived from Cherbourg. 0620, Alderney: V 703/04 arrived with Lena from Cherbourg. 0800, Malo: V 212/09 sailed with Midsland for Granville. 0930, Malo [time faint]: M 4606/01/05 returned from route sweep.

Requests: (1) Midsland Malo–Granville; (2) combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy from Malo, La France to Jersey, Minotaure and Holland to Guernsey; (4) Lena Cherbourg–Alderney; (5) night troop convoy Lena Alderney–Guernsey. 1050, Malo: V 210/08 returned from position. 1100, Granville: V 212/09 released Midsland and took Comptoir 51, Tourane, Gabes, Sperber, Helma, Comptoir 66 and Nestor into convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 1100, Granville: FK 01/03 sailed for Jersey–Guernsey. 1330, Jersey: V 212/09 released Comptoir 51, Tourane and Gabes and continued with the remainder for Guernsey. 1330, Jersey: FK 01/03 arrived from Granville.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 26 December: item 3, C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep Ida 1–Ida 8 and return; delete V 208. Situation for 27 December: (1) V 703/04 morning with Lena Cherbourg–Alderney, later night troop convoy of 27/28 December Alderney–Guernsey with Lena; (2) V 711/22 night troop convoy of 27/28 December from Malo with La France and Holland to Jersey, Minotaure to Guernsey [Holland's destination corrected on 28 December]; (3) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, complete route sweep Ida 1–Ida 8 and return, then ready at Malo; (4) A and B Groups, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Malo; (5) V 208/10 night ending 27 December at Terminus, then return to Malo; (6) V 212/09 with Midsland Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (7) V 207/13 rest at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 7,500 GRT.

Intentions for 28 December: (1) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 27/28 December Alderney–Guernsey, evening return via Alderney to Cherbourg with convoy; (2) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy of 27/28 December, evening return convoy to Malo; (3) B and C Groups, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Malo; (4) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep Malo–Cherbourg with ORG; (5) V 208/10/07/09 ready at Malo [09 also in item 6]; (6) V 212/09 with convoy Guernsey–Granville.

1340, Malo: FK 07/20 arrived from Guernsey. 1425, Jersey: FK 01/03 sailed for Guernsey. 1620, Guernsey: V 212/09 arrived with remainder of convoy from Jersey. 1700, Alderney: V 703/04 sailed with Lena for Guernsey. 1755, Guernsey: FK 01/03 arrived from Jersey. 2000, Guernsey: V 703/04 arrived with Lena from Alderney. 2010, Malo: V 711/22 sailed with night troop convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 2400, Malo: increased alert readiness ended. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0673, original pages 22–23.