30 December 1942 Part 3

30 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: East-north-east to east force 6–7, sea 4, visibility 6 nautical miles.

Continuing bad easterly weather again made completion of all tasks seem unlikely. Tasks: (1) Franka, Weber and Spinel Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) Meteor and RO 8 Malo–Jersey; (3) night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) Flensburg, Uddebo and Sundowitt Cherbourg–Malo; (5) route sweep with ORG Cherbourg–Malo; (6) check Jersey roads with SSG; (7) passage with watch-officer trainees in Malo Bay. Tasks 2–5 were carried over from the previous day. For task 1, V 703/04 were ordered, especially because of poor mooring conditions at Alderney in a north-east wind, to carry out the convoy if possible. For task 6 [number as printed; wording concerns A Group's onward passage], A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, was to sail in any case, possibly without sweeping gear, since its Malo–Brest passage was planned for the next few days. V 210/13 received orders for task 7. 0930, Malo: V 210/13 sailed with the watch-officer course.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 29 December: items 1, 6 and 7 cancelled owing to weather. Escorted tonnage on 29 December: 1,400 GRT. Situation for 30 December: (1) V 703/04 with Franka, Weber and Spinel Alderney–Cherbourg, weather permitting; (2) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Jersey; (3) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep with ORG Cherbourg–Malo, possibly without sweeping gear; (4) V 210/13 in Malo Bay with trainees; (5) B Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Malo, no convoys owing to weather; likewise V 711/22 and V 212/09/07/08. Escorted tonnage: figure to follow.

Intentions for 31 December: (1) V 703/04 with convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, Jersey–Malo, possibly without sweeping gear; (3) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, complete route sweep with ORG Cherbourg–Malo; (4) M 4613/11/12 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) V 711/22 night of 31 December/1 January at Terminus with sweep to Titus; (6) V 207/08/09/10/12/13 ready at Malo.

1400, Malo: V 210/13 returned from the roads with watch-officer trainees. 1430, Malo: radio message from 3rd Security Division ordering C Group of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, when next opportunity permits, to make a check [specific station/designation faint] on the western side of [place indistinct], including the 30-metre depth; otherwise to be used primarily at the disposal of the convoy office and mine-clearance office. [This portion of the scan is too faint for a secure full translation.]

1800, Cherbourg: M 4620/21/22/23/24/25 sailed with sweeping gear for Malo [“mit Gerät” corrected by hand]. 2144, Cherbourg: M 4623 returned with unserviceable propeller. 2200, Cherbourg: M 4625 entered to assist M 4623. 2230, Alderney: V 703/04 sailed with convoy for Cherbourg. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0675–0676, original pages 27–29.