27 November 1942 Part 3

27 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: East force 4, mostly overcast, hazy, light rain, visibility 5–8 nautical miles, sea 3–4.

0340, Jersey: V 711/29 sailed with Rheinland, Sperber and Elfriede for Granville.

0430, Cherbourg: V 712/22 sailed with Franka and two HS-boats for Alderney. 0700, Granville: V 711/29 arrived with convoy from Jersey, then independently to Malo. 0740, Alderney: V 712/22 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 0800, Malo: M 4621/22/23/24/25 arrived from route sweeping with ORG at deepest setting from Brest [similar arrival also entered on 26 November].

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy Irene Jersey–Guernsey; (2) night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney and back; (3) Weber and Xaver Dorsch Alderney–Cherbourg; (4) Mary and Antonius Cherbourg–Jersey; (5) route sweeping with SSG Jersey–Ida 5–4–11–4–3–2–1–Malo. Orders: (1) M 4611/12; (2) V 207/08; (3–4) V 712/22; (5) M 4600/01/05/06.

Remark: 3rd Security Division orders tank lighter Mary to be sent to Brest by the quickest route. V 712/29 are to escort her, thereby leaving Convoy Control Office’s area. The office receives the pair V 703/04 from Brest in exchange. Since V 711 and V 729 are at Malo, and V 712 and V 722 at Cherbourg, I send both pairs to Jersey early on 28 November, so the newly formed pair V 712/29 can take Mary onward to Brest.

0815, Jersey: M 4600/01/05/06 sailed for route sweeping towards Malo as ordered. 0900, Malo: V 711/29 arrived from Granville. 1315, Malo: Alert I ordered.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 26 November: item 3 cancelled owing to high seas.

Situation for 27 November: (1) V 209/10 ready at Malo; (2) V 712/22 morning Franka and two HS-boats Cherbourg–Alderney, evening Weber and Dorsch Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) V 207/08 night troop convoy of 27/28 November Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (4) V 711/29 combined convoy Jersey–Granville, then independently to Malo, coaling, magnetic-treatment passage and compass adjustment; (5) M 4611/12 independently Malo–Jersey, then night troop convoy of 27/28 November Irene Jersey–Guernsey; (6) V 213 ready at Malo; (7) M 4602/04 minor repairs at Malo; (8) M 4600/01/05/06 route sweeping with SSG Jersey–Ida 5–4–11–4–2–1, then Malo [Ida 3 omitted in this list]. Escorted tonnage: 3,100 GRT.

Intentions for 28 November: (1) V 209/10 night troop convoy of 28/29 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) V 712/22 morning with Mary and Antonius Cherbourg–Jersey, then items 4–5; (3) V 711/29 morning independently Malo–Jersey, then items 4–5; (4) V 712/29 evening Mary, 3,325 GRT, Jersey–Brest; (5) V 711/22 ready at Jersey; (6) V 207/08 night troop convoy of 27/28 November Karel Alderney–Guernsey, ready; (7) M 4611/12 complete night troop convoy of 27/28 November Jersey–Guernsey, ready; (8) V 213 and M 4602/04 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (9) M 4600/01/05/06 fitting out at Malo.

1840, Malo: M 4600/01/05/06 arrived from route sweeping from Jersey. 1900, Malo: M 4611/12 sailed for Jersey. 1900, Alderney: V 712/22 sailed for Cherbourg with Xaver Dorsch; Weber stayed behind. 1940, Guernsey: V 207/08 sailed with Karel for Alderney. 2230, Cherbourg: V 712/22 arrived with Dorsch from Alderney. 2320, Alderney: V 207/08 arrived with Karel from Guernsey. Signed for the commander, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0633–0634, original pages 21–23.