28 December 1942 Part 2

28 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-east [direction faint], force 3–5, squally, overcast with occasional precipitation, visibility 2–6 nautical miles, morning haze, slight southerly swell.

0110, Jersey: V 711/22 released La France and continued with convoy to Guernsey. 0330, Guernsey: V 711/22 arrived from Malo with Minotaure and La France [La France printed here despite its release at Jersey; Holland in the other entries].

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy Minotaure and Holland from Guernsey, La France from Jersey, to Malo; (2) from Guernsey, Schokland to Granville and Corona to Malo; from Jersey, Spes-Salutis, Eken and Tourane to Granville; (3) night troop convoy Lena Guernsey–Alderney; (4) Franka and Weber Alderney–Cherbourg; (5) route sweep with SSG or KFRG Malo–Jersey; (6) route sweep with ORG Malo–Cherbourg. Assigned: (1) V 711/22; (2) V 212/09; (3–4) V 703/04; (5) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla; (6) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, under 3rd Security Division's order.

1100, Malo: C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, M 4600/01/02/05/06/07, sailed for route sweep with SSG and KFRG towards Jersey. 1110, Jersey: Paul et Janine sailed with Arques for Guernsey. 1325, Guernsey: V 212/09 sailed with convoy for Jersey. 1400, Guernsey: Paul et Janine arrived from Jersey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 27 December: item 2, Holland to Guernsey. Situation for 28 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 28/29 December Guernsey–Alderney with Lena, then with Franka and Weber Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 28/29 December with Minotaure and Holland from Guernsey and La France from Jersey to Malo; (3) V 212/09 combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Granville–Malo; (4) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep Malo–Jersey with SSG; (5) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep Malo–Cherbourg with ORG; (6) V 208/10/07/13 and B Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,400 GRT.

Intentions for 29 December: (1) V 703/04 complete night convoy of 28/29 December Alderney–Cherbourg, later convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy of 28/29 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (3) V 212/09/07/13 and B Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Malo; (4) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep in Jersey roads between Ida 5 and Ida 11; (5) M 4620/22/24/25 route sweep Cherbourg–Malo with ORG; (6) M 4621/23 night convoy of 29/30 December Cherbourg–Malo with steamers Flensburg, Sundowitt and Uddebo [names as read].

1725, Jersey: V 212/09 took Eken, Tourane and Spes-Salutis into convoy for Granville. 1730, Guernsey: V 711/22 sailed with Minotaure and Holland for Malo. 1830, Malo: A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, six boats, sailed for Cherbourg, first with ORG. 1930, Jersey: V 711/22 also took La France into convoy for Malo. 1930, Guernsey: V 703/04 sailed with Lena for Alderney. 2000, Jersey: C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, arrived from Malo and anchored in the roads. 2320, Alderney: V 703/04 arrived with Lena from Guernsey. The boats did not continue to Cherbourg owing to bad weather and entered Alderney. 2335, Île Vieux Bank: V 711/22 anchored with convoy owing to bad weather and poor visibility. 2345, Granville: V 212/09 arrived with convoy from Guernsey–Jersey; onward convoy passage abandoned owing to weather. V 212/09 anchored off Granville with Corona and Spes-Salutis. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0674, original pages 24–25.