28 September 1942 Part 3

28 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: By day, south to south-west, light to weak breeze; cloudy to overcast, patches of rain; visibility 5–8 nautical miles; very smooth to calm sea. Second half of the night: veering west, moderate to fresh breeze; cloud breaking, visibility 10–12 nautical miles, slight sea.

0110, Malo: V 212/07 arrived with Robert Müller 8 from Jersey. 0115, Malo: M 4611/01/02 sailed to recheck the firing area off Paimpol. 0315, Cherbourg: V 710/24 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 0600, Malo: V 212/07 sailed for Jersey to shadow hospital ship Hüxter. 0620, Malo: V 705/209 arrived with convoy from Guernsey. 0600: Heightened alert readiness ordered until 0800. 0800: Heightened readiness ended.

Requests: (1) shadow Hüxter Malo–Jersey and return on 29 September, see also 27 September; (2) Corona carrying 175 “Red Spaniards” [the diary’s political designation], Iris and Karel, Jersey–Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy from Malo, Minotaure and La France to Jersey, Robert Müller 8 and RO 8 to Guernsey; (4) bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney. I assign V 212/07 to (1) and (2): while Hüxter lies at Jersey until 29 September, they are to undertake (2) and immediately return to Jersey. V 707/209 undertake (3). V 713/02/10/24 and UJ 1407/01 undertake (4) under secret teletype 775 of 20 September and supplementary secret teletype 804.

Supplement to order 775, secret teletype 804: To Commander, Security Forces West, Sea Commandants Normandy and Channel Islands; information to 3rd Security Division, Harbour Commandants Cherbourg and Alderney [routing abbreviations retained in the source]. For the bridge convoy intended for 29 September, amend order 775: item 1, V 713/02/10/24 escort under V 713’s commanding officer, Kapitänleutnant Sperber; item 2, substitute V 713 for V 209; item 3, departure 0200 on 29 September; item 7, Commander, Security Forces West orders as agreed; item 8, V 713 reports arrival at Alderney by short radio message, “Sperber in the nest”; item 10, substitute V 713 for V 209. Addition for Harbour Commandant Alderney: keep the boom sufficiently wide open and provide a harbour-protection boat as pilot boat. Final decision on execution at 1700. Convoy Control Office Malo, secret command matter 804.

1200, Jersey: V 212/07 arrived with Hüxter from Malo.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 28 September: (1) V 713/02/UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg for the bridge convoy; (2) V 710/24 morning escort Hydra and Schwalbe Alderney–Cherbourg, then readiness; (3) V 705/209 night evacuee convoy of 27/28 September with Minotaure and La France Guernsey–Malo, then V 705 rest and V 209 as in (4); (4) V 707 ready at Malo, then with V 209 night troop convoy from Malo, Minotaure and La France to Jersey, RO 8 and Robert Müller 8 to Guernsey; (5) V 212/07 shadow Hüxter Malo–Jersey, evening Corona with 175 “Red Spaniards” Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4605/04 rest at Jersey; (7) M 4611/01/02 morning passage westward from Malo, daytime recheck of Paimpol firing area. Escorted tonnage: 7,000 GRT.

Intentions for 29 September: (1) V 713/02/10/24/UJ 1407/01 at 0200, bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney under secret teletypes 775 and 804; (2) V 707/209 complete night troop convoy of 28/29 September Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) V 705 ready at Malo; (4) V 212/07 independently Guernsey–Jersey, then shadow Hüxter Jersey–Malo; (5) M 4605/04 daylight convoy Jersey–Malo with Spes-Salutis, Sable d’Or and Klaus; (6) M 4611/01/02 at 46th Minesweeping Flotilla’s disposal off Paimpol.

2015, Cherbourg: Seven E-boats of 5th E-boat Flotilla sailed west [flotilla numeral amended in the typescript]. 2135, Jersey: V 212/07 sailed with Corona, Iris and Karel for Guernsey. 2200, Malo: V 707/209 sailed with convoy for Jersey–Guernsey. 2305, Malo: M 4611/01/02 arrived from Paimpol. 2330, Malo: In a telephone conversation with V 713’s commanding officer, the weather is still described as favourable for the bridge convoy.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0524–0525, original pages 21–23.