3 December 1942 Part 4

3 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: East-south-east force 3–4, freshening, cloudy.

0200, Malo: V 212/08 arrived with night troop convoy from Guernsey–Jersey. 0335, Alderney: V 703/04 arrived with Karel from Guernsey.

Tasks and requests: (1) protection of a towed target for an anti-aircraft regiment’s firing at sea targets off Cherbourg; (2) night troop convoy from Malo, Holland to Jersey and Minotaure to Guernsey; (3) night troop convoy Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (4) Schwalbe, Weber and FK 05 Cherbourg–Alderney; (5) Tinda Alderney–Cherbourg; (6) escort steamer H 2 Malo–Cherbourg on 4 December; (7) route sweeping Malo–Brest with ORG. Orders: (1) V 711/22; (2) V 212/09; (3) V 703/04; (4–5) V 711/22; (6) M 4611/12 Malo–Guernsey, joined there by V 703/04 for Cherbourg; I therefore ordered M 4611/12 from Guernsey to Malo; (7) M 4621/22/23/24/25.

0915, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed to protect the target tug. 1100, Guernsey: M 4611/12 sailed for Malo.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 2 December, item 5: ready at Cherbourg. Situation for 3 December: (1) V 212/09 night troop convoy of 3/4 December from Malo with Holland for Jersey and Minotaure for Guernsey; (2) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 2/3 December Guernsey–Alderney with Karel, later night troop convoy of 3/4 December Alderney–Guernsey with Karel; (3) V 207/13 ready at Guernsey; (4) V 212/08 complete night troop convoy of 2/3 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then V 208 repairs, V 212 see item 1; (5) V 711/22 protect target tug off Cherbourg by day, later Cherbourg–Alderney with Schwalbe, Weber and FK 05; (6) M 4611/12 independently Guernsey–Malo; (7) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla evening route sweeping Malo–Brest with ORG; (8) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 2,200 GRT.

Intentions for 4 December: (1) V 212/09 complete night troop convoy of 3/4 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then ready; (2) V 703/04 ready at Guernsey for onward convoy H 2 to Cherbourg; (3) V 207/13 night troop convoy of 4/5 December from Guernsey with Minotaure, from Jersey with Holland, to Malo; (4) V 711/22 Alderney–Cherbourg with Tinda; (5) M 4611/12 Malo–Guernsey with H 2; (6) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla route sweeping according to weekly plan.

1630, Malo: I received the sailing intention for S 115/81, which had entered Guernsey, to Cherbourg. Through Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg I transmitted by radio possible encounters with V 711/22 and convoy, and with two FK boats on passage Alderney–Guernsey. 1700, Malo: because of dense fog in the St Malo sea area I cancelled the night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey and the sailing of A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla to Brest. 1830, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed with convoy for Alderney. 2000, Alderney: V 703/04 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. 2130, Alderney: V 711/22 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 2400, Guernsey: V 703/04 arrived with Karel from Alderney. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0645–0646, original pages 5–7.