29 September 1942 Part 2

29 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to north-west, fresh breeze to strong wind, gusting to near gale; isolated showers; visibility 15 nautical miles, temporarily 5–8 at night; moderate to rather rough sea. [Handwritten weather amendment partly unclear.]

0045, Jersey: V 212/07 returned with convoy because of rough seas. 0200: I speak with Cherbourg, where, despite rain beginning and the wind freshening, the weather is still described as favourable for the bridge convoy. 0300: The weather worsens further; rough seas off Alderney prevent the harbour-protection boats there from holding position. I therefore decide to cancel the bridge convoy again. Instead I send the two submarine chasers with two coastal motor vessels from Cherbourg to Alderney.

0325, off Jersey: V 209/707 released Minotaure and La France and continued with the remainder to Guernsey. 0330, Cherbourg: UJ 1407/01 sailed with Weber and Schwalbe for Alderney. 0500, Cherbourg: 5th E-boat Flotilla entered with seven boats [numeral amended]. 0605, Guernsey: V 707/209 arrived with convoy from Malo. 0630, Alderney: UJ 1407/01 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 0700, Jersey: M 4605/04 sailed with Spes-Salutis, Sable d’Or, Klaus and one tug for Malo.

Requests: (1) three coastal motor vessels and one tug Jersey–Malo; (2) shadow Hüxter Jersey–Malo; (3) night troop convoy Spinel Alderney–Guernsey; (4) night convoy RO 8 Guernsey–Alderney; (5) night troop convoy Robert Müller 8 Guernsey–Malo, taking in Minotaure and La France with evacuees at Jersey. I assign M 4605/04 to (1), V 212/07 to (2), UJ 1407/01 to (3) and (4), V 707/209 to (5). 0830, Jersey: V 212/07 sailed for Malo to shadow Hüxter.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 28 September: Item 5, V 212/07 returned to Jersey with Corona, Iris and Karel because of the weather; item 7, M 4611/01/02 returned to Malo in the evening.

Situation for 29 September: (1) UJ 1407/01 at 0330 Cherbourg–Alderney with Weber and Schwalbe, later night troop convoy of 29/30 September Alderney–Guernsey with Spinel; (2) V 713/02/10/24 ready at Cherbourg, no bridge convoy because of the weather; (3) V 707/209 complete night troop convoy of 28/29 September with Minotaure, La France, Robert Müller 8 and RO 8 Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 29/30 September, Robert Müller 8 from Guernsey and La France and Minotaure from Jersey to Malo; (4) V 705 ready at Malo; (5) V 212/07 shadow Hüxter Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (6) M 4605/04 daylight convoy Jersey–Malo with Spes-Salutis, Sable d’Or, Claus and one tug; (7) M 4611/01/02 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,300 GRT.

Intentions for 30 September: (1) V 713/02/10/24 ready at Cherbourg for the bridge convoy if weather improves; (2) UJ 1407/01 night troop convoy of 29/30 September Guernsey–Alderney with RO 8, then Alderney–Cherbourg with Xaver Dorsch, later task (1); (3) V 707/209 complete night troop convoy of 29/30 September Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (4) V 705/212/07 ready at Malo; (5) M 4605/04 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4611/01/02 ready at Malo.

1400, Malo: V 212/07 arrived with Hüxter from Jersey. 1545, Malo roadstead: M 4605/04 anchored with convoy. Remark: The weather has improved a little again, but still does not permit the bridge convoy. I arrange for the required escort vessels to be available at Cherbourg for the night of 30 September/1 October. 2000, Alderney: UJ 1407/01 sailed with Spinel for Guernsey. 2030, Guernsey: V 707/209 sailed with Robert Müller 8 for Jersey–Malo. 2310, off Jersey: V 707/209 took Minotaure and La France into the convoy.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0525, original pages 23–24.