3 January 1943 Part 2

3 January 1943 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-east force 4–5, sea 4, visibility 2 nautical miles.

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy, RO 8, Holland and Schokland from Malo to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 and RO 45 to Guernsey; (2) V 210/13 Guernsey–Cherbourg for degaussing; (3) Nordplein and Comptoir 51 Jersey–Guernsey; (4) M 4613/11 Jersey–Brest under 3rd Security Division's order; (5) check Jersey roads with SSG. Assigned: (1) V 207/08 and V 210/13; four boats are employed because more than 1,500 men on leave are embarked. (2) Boats proceed independently after the troop convoy. (3) M 4600/01/06. (4) Departure 1300. (5) M 4602/04/05/07.

0940, Jersey: M 4602/04/05/07 sailed to check roads, Ida 5–Ida 11. 1000, Guernsey: FK 01/03 sailed for Jersey. 1115, Jersey: two FK sailed with Gabes for Granville. 1250, Jersey: FK 01/03 arrived from Guernsey. 1300, Jersey: FK 01/03 sailed with Pointe à Pitre for Granville; M 4613/11 sailed for Brest under 3rd Security Division's order. 1300, Guernsey: Nestor, Helma and Sperber sailed unescorted for Jersey. 1410, Jersey: M 4600/01/06 sailed with Nordplein and Comptoir 51 for Guernsey. 1445, Granville: two FK arrived with Gabes from Jersey. 1530, Granville: two FK sailed with Claus for Jersey. 1600, Granville: two FK arrived with Pointe à Pitre from Jersey. 1600, Jersey: Nestor, Helma and Sperber arrived from Guernsey. 1620, Jersey: M 4602/04/05/07 returned from route checking.

1745, Malo: V 210/13/07/08 sailed with troop convoy, RO 8, Schokland and Holland to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 and RO 45 to Guernsey. 1800, Malo: radio report from Roches Douvres lighthouse: “Two submarines westwards, surfaced.” Remark: these must be M 4613/11, whose estimated position on their Jersey–Brest passage was there. The radio report indicates that the lighthouse was unaware of the information supplied by the Convoy Control Office. The minesweepers' movement was secret, through the ship-reporting service.

1430, report to 3rd Security Division [placed on original page 6]: Situation: (1) V 703 ready at Cherbourg; (2) M 4611/13 Jersey–Brest passage; (3) M 4600/01/06 with Nordplein and Comptoir 51 Jersey–Guernsey; (4) M 4602/04/05/07 checking Jersey roads with SSG; (5) V 210/07/08/13 night troop convoy of 3/4 January from Malo, RO 8, Holland and Schokland to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 and RO 45 to Guernsey; (6) V 209/12, M 4612 and V 711/22 ready at Malo; (7) A Group of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla resting at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 7,600 GRT.

Intentions for 4 January: (1) V 703/04 with convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) M 4611/13 complete Jersey–Brest passage; (3) M 4600/01/06 with Chiemsee Guernsey–Jersey–Granville, joined at Jersey by Oost Vlandern for Malo; (4) M 4602/04/05/07 route checking with SSG Jersey–Granville–Malo; (5) V 207/08/10/13 complete night troop convoy of 3/4 January Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then (6) V 210/13 independently Guernsey–Cherbourg for degaussing; (7) V 207/08 return convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (8) V 209/12, M 4612 and V 711/22 ready at Malo; (9) A Group of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla ready at Malo.

1830, Guernsey: M 4600/01/06 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 1942, Jersey: two FK arrived with Claus from Granville. 2245, Jersey: V 210/13/07/08 detached RO 8, Schokland and Holland to St Helier. 2315, Aubin Bay: RO 8, Schokland and Holland anchored in roads. Draft signed Dr Diederichs; certified correct, Wunderlich, Lieutenant Commander.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0686–0687, original pages 5–6.