28 October 1942 Part 3

28 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Light east wind; cloudy to overcast; visibility 12–15 nautical miles, morning haze; sea glassy to very smooth.

0045, Cherbourg: M 4611/12 arrived from Guernsey. 0050, Cherbourg: V 713/02 arrived from Alderney. 0150, Jersey: UJ 1411/02 released La France and continued to Guernsey. 0400, Guernsey: UJ 1411/02 arrived with the remaining convoy from Jersey.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) night troop convoy from Guernsey with Minotaure, Holland and RO 45, from Jersey with La France and RO 21, to Malo; (3) improving weather appears to permit bridge transport Cherbourg–Alderney; (4) two tugs, two barges and one French fishing cutter Malo–Brest. Orders: (1) M 4605/04/02/01; (2) V 714/210; (3) V 713/02/212/13, with V 711/29 protecting the northern flank; orders for 5th E-boat Flotilla requested from BSW; (4) M 4014/13. Coastal fog delays convoy departures until the afternoon.

Corrections to the situation for 27 October: item 2, return with Gerfried, Weber and Dorsch to Cherbourg; item 9, without convoy.

Situation for 28 October: (1) V 713/02/11/29/212/13 ready at Cherbourg for bridge transport; (2) V 714/210 night troop convoy of 28/29 October, Guernsey with Minotaure, Holland and RO 45, Jersey with La France and RO 21, to Malo; (3) M 4605/04/02/01 combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) M 4611/12 demagnetisation at Cherbourg; (5) V 209 bottom painting at Malo; (6) V 207/08/708 ready at Malo; (7) UJ 1411/02 complete the night convoy of 27/28 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then ready; (8) M 4013/14 evening combined convoy Malo–Lézardrieux by order of 3rd Security Division. Escorted tonnage: 13,500 GRT.

Intentions for 29 October: (1) V 713/02/212/13 Krupp bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 711/29 northern flank protection; (3) V 714/210 complete night convoy of 28/29 October Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then ready; (4) M 4611/12 demagnetisation at Cherbourg; (5) M 4605/04/02/01 ready at Guernsey; (6) V 209 bottom painting at Malo; (7) V 207/08 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (8) V 708 fitting out at Malo; (9) UJ 1411/02 ready at Guernsey.

1430, Malo: M 4605/04/02/01 sailed with Sable d’Or, Nordfels, Chiemsee, Corona, four tugs and eight barges for Jersey; Spes Salutes [as printed; elsewhere Spes Salutis], Oost Vlandern and Nordplein for Guernsey.

1600: Sea Transport Chief reports that the French crews of tugs Guepe 63 and 64 “must be arrested” on suspicion of sabotage; considerable damage had suddenly been found. After consultation with 3rd Security Division, M 4014/13 were ordered independently to Lézardrieux, to join the M 1201 group the following night for an equipment passage to Brest. The suspicion of sabotage was subsequently not confirmed. The tugs, 19 and 23 years old, are worn out and require continual repairs.

1653: Radio message reports departure of 5th E-boat Flotilla from Cherbourg; at 1815 south of Alderney, proceeding west; return between 0200 and daylight. Bridge convoy leaders ordered to report departure by radio through Naval Signals Officer, for the E-boats’ information.

1845, Guernsey: V 714/210 sailed with convoy for Jersey–Malo. 1900, Cherbourg: M 1201/05/06/07 sailed for a route sweep with ORG [abbreviation retained] to Lézardrieux. 2015, Jersey: M 4605/04/02/01 released part of convoy and continued with the rest to Guernsey.

2030, Jersey, Corbière: La France, leaving to join the convoy, rammed the entering tug B 122 S. The tug cut its towline and beached in St Brelade’s Bay. Crew rescued; barges salvaged. 2040, Jersey, Corbière: V 714/210 took over La France and RO 21 and continued to Malo. 2048, Malo: E-boats’ departure cancelled. 2100, Malo: Enhanced alert ordered.

2330, Malo: M 4014/13 sailed for Lézardrieux. 2350, Guernsey: M 4605/04/02/01 arrived with the remaining convoy from Jersey–Malo.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0581–0583, original pages 19–21.