3 October 1942 Part 4

3 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-east, light to weak breeze, fair to cloudy; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; patches of high and ground fog in the morning; very smooth to smooth sea [amended wording].

Alderney: V 710/24 released the convoy and continued independently to Cherbourg, as no vessels needing escort were ready. 0545, Cherbourg: V 710/24 arrived from Alderney.

Requests: (1) from Malo, Sperber and Nordplain to Jersey, Schokland to Guernsey; (2) evening convoy of two coastal motor vessels Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) night troop convoy RO 8 and Spinel Alderney–Guernsey; (4) night troop convoy from Malo, La France to Jersey and Minotaure to Guernsey; (5) night troop convoy Rheinland Granville–Jersey. I assign M 4605/04 to (1); V 713/02 and M 4612, newly placed at the office’s disposal, to (2) and (3); V 707/209 to (4); V 710/24 to (5), ordered to proceed Cherbourg–Granville so as to be there at 0200 on 4 October.

1320, Malo: M 4605/04 sailed with convoy for Jersey–Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 3 October: (1) V 713/02/M 4612 evening convoy with two coastal motor vessels Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 3/4 October Alderney–Guernsey with RO 8 and Spinel; (2) UJ 1407/01 with convoy eastward to collect V 210 at Ouistreham; (3) V 710/24 complete night convoy Guernsey–Alderney, then independently Alderney–Cherbourg; midday passage Cherbourg–Granville for the night troop convoy; (4) M 4605/04 daylight convoy from Malo, Sperber and Nordplain to Jersey, Schokland to Guernsey; (5) V 707/209 ready at Malo; (6) V 705 out of war readiness at Malo until 6 October because of collision damage; (7) M 4611/01/02 daytime recheck of firing area off Paimpol; (8) V 210 grounded while leaving Ouistreham [“entering” corrected to “leaving”]; (9) V 213 approaching from Brest. Escorted tonnage: 3,800 GRT.

Intentions for 4 October: (1) V 713/02/M 4612 complete night troop convoy of 3/4 October, then ready at Guernsey; M 4612 as in (4); (2) UJ 1407/01 on the night leading into 5 October [date amended] Ouistreham–Cherbourg with V 210; (3) V 710/24 night troop convoy of 3/4 October with Rheinland Granville–Jersey; (4) M 4605/04/12 daylight convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (5) V 707/209 night troop convoy of 3/4 October from Malo, La France to Jersey, Minotaure and Holland to Guernsey; (6) M 4611/01/02 off Paimpol.

1900, Morlaix: V 213, M 4430 and seven lobster boats of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed for Malo, respectively for the Convoy Control Office and a barrage-training course. 1900, Jersey: M 4605/04 released Sperber and Nordplain and continued with Schokland to Guernsey. 1900, Malo: Short teletype reports 5th E-boat Flotilla’s intended departure at 0200 and return at 0700 on 4 October. 1930, Cherbourg: V 710/24 sailed for Jersey [as printed; the assigned rendezvous was off Granville]. 2000, Cherbourg: V 713/02 sailed with Weber and Schwalbe for Alderney; M 4612 remained behind because its engine was unready. 2100, Guernsey: M 4605/04 arrived with Schokland from Malo. 2130, Cherbourg: UJ 1407/01 sailed for Ouistreham to collect V 210. 2215, Malo: 5th E-boat Flotilla’s sailing was cancelled by short teletype. 2245, Alderney: V 713/02 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0533–0534, original pages 5–6.