28 November 1942 Part 4

28 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-east force 4–5, overcast, isolated precipitation, visibility 8–10 nautical miles outside precipitation, sea 3–4.

0100, Jersey [location inferred from preceding passage]: M 4611/12 arrived from Malo.

Remark: As wind and sea had increased considerably, the convoy commander declined to carry out the night troop convoy Irene Jersey–Guernsey. Irene, 200 GRT, carrying empty containers and deck cargo, would not withstand the sea. The convoy was therefore cancelled. The refusal under the existing weather conditions was approved as proper. Irene is a slow vessel with poor passage performance.

0200, Cherbourg: V 712/22 sailed with Mary and Antonius for Jersey. 0500, Alderney: Karel’s return convoy had to be postponed because embarkation of troops was not completed in time despite timely notification of Harbour Commandant Alderney.

Tasks: (1) V 711/29 Malo–Jersey; (2) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy Irene Jersey–Guernsey; (4) Rob. Müller 8, Nestor and Irene Guernsey–Malo; (5–6, numbering altered) Karel Alderney–Guernsey and Mary Jersey–Brest; (7) return convoy of empty vessels Alderney–Cherbourg; (8) night troop convoy Holland from Malo to Jersey, Minotaure and Schokland without troops to Guernsey; (9) route sweeping with ORG at deepest setting Malo–Cherbourg. Orders: (2) V 213 and M 4602/04; (3–4) M 4611/12; Mary convoy V 712/29, Karel convoy V 207/08; (7) V 711/22, independently Jersey–Alderney first; (8) V 209/10; (9) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla.

0730, Malo: V 711/29 sailed independently for Jersey. 0730, Malo: V 213 and M 4602/04 sailed independently for Granville. 0930, Jersey: V 712/22 arrived from Cherbourg with Mary and Antonius. 1030, Granville: V 213 and M 4602/04 took Saigon, Paul et Janine and Arques into convoy for Jersey, Helma, Elfriede and Comptoir 66 for Guernsey. 1145, Jersey: V 711/29 arrived from Malo. 1350, Jersey: V 213 and M 4602/04 released Saigon, Paul et Janine and Arques, continued with remaining convoy to Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 27 November: item 2, without Weber; item 5, night troop convoy Irene of 27/28 November cancelled owing to high seas.

Situation for 28 November: (1) V 209/10 night troop convoy of 28/29 November Holland Malo–Jersey, Minotaure and Schokland to Guernsey; (2) V 712/22 morning 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 Mary, 3,325 GRT, Jersey–Brest; (5) V 711/22 independently Jersey–Alderney; (6) V 207/08 night troop convoy on 28/29 November Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (7) M 4611/12 night troop convoy of 28/29 November Irene Jersey–Guernsey; (8) V 213 and M 4602/04 independently Malo–Granville, then Paul et Janine, Saigon and Arques to Jersey, Elfriede, Tourane and Comptoir 66 to Guernsey [Tourane here, Helma in timed convoy list]; (9) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla, four boats, route sweeping with ORG at deepest setting Malo–Cherbourg; (10) M 4600/01/05/06 rest at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 6,000 GRT.

Intentions for 29 November: (1) V 209/10 complete night troop convoy of 28/29 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 29/30 November Guernsey–Alderney; (2) V 711/22 convoy Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) V 703/04 complete Brest–Jersey passage; (4) V 207/08 night troop convoy of 29/30 November Guernsey–Malo; (5) M 4611/12 convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (6) V 213 and M 4602/04 ready at Guernsey; (7) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla Cherbourg–Malo with ORG at deepest setting; (8) M 4600/01/05/06 route sweeping with SSG Malo–Granville and back.

1400, Jersey: V 712/29 sailed west with Mary.

Remark: During the Cherbourg–Jersey passage Mary proved capable of only five knots. I therefore set departure earlier than originally intended and leave it to the convoy commander to call at intermediate ports if progress is too slow, so as to avoid a daylight passage at all costs.

1600, Jersey: V 711/22 proceeded to Alderney. 1700, Guernsey: V 213 and M 4602/04 arrived with remaining convoy from Granville–Jersey. 1945, Malo: A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed for route sweeping with ORG at deepest setting to Cherbourg. 2100, Malo: V 209/10 sailed with night troop convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 2200, Jersey: Commanding officer M 4611 reports that Irene’s departure again cannot be justified owing to weather. I order the pair to proceed independently to Guernsey to bring the convoy waiting there to Malo.

Remark: Troop convoys in a vessel such as coastal motor sailing vessel Irene will always depend on the weather and be difficult at this season. I therefore ask Sea Transport Chief St Malo to transfer the troops to a more suitable vessel; this is agreed.

2230, Jersey: M 4611/12 sailed independently for Guernsey. 2300, Cherbourg: V 711/22 arrived from Jersey.

Remark: V 711/22 had been ordered to Alderney. During passage the prevailing north-easterly wind made a stay there appear inadvisable, so the commander decided to proceed to Cherbourg. This decision is approved, but should have been reported as quickly as possible, preferably while still within the inner Channel Islands, by radio if necessary. Ship-reporting service had announced Jersey–Alderney passage, whereas the boats now rounded Cap de la Hague towards Cherbourg. Radar therefore detected an unreported target at what experience showed to be the most dangerous point of this Channel area. Only a telephone enquiry to Convoy Control Office, where this change of destination could be conjectured as a possibility, prevented the coastal batteries firing; permission had already been requested. The commanding officer of V 711 has been warned of the serious consequences that nearly resulted from his failure to report. Signed for the commander, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0634–0636, original pages 23–26.