30 November 1942 Part 3

30 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west force 4, overcast, visibility 8–10 nautical miles, sea 2, low north-west swell.

0015, Cherbourg: V 711/22 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 0100, Malo: V 207/08 arrived with night troop convoy from Jersey–Guernsey. 0115, Malo: V 213 and M 4602/04 arrived from Granville. 0220, Guernsey: V 703/04 arrived with Nordplein from Jersey. 0320, Guernsey: V 703/04 sailed with Nordplein for Jersey. 0720, Jersey: V 703/04 arrived with Nordplein from Guernsey. 0730, Malo: M 4621/23/24/25 anchored in roads. 0800, Malo: Alert I cancelled. 0830, Malo: M 4600/01/06 sailed for route sweeping towards Jersey.

Tasks: (1) night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (2) route sweeping with SSG Malo–Ida 1–8–Îles Chausey–Ida 11–St Helier. Orders: (1) V 209/10; (2) M 4600/01/06.

1715, Jersey: M 4600/01/06 arrived from route sweeping without success. 1800, Malo: Alert I ordered. 2200, Guernsey: V 209/10 sailed with Karel for Alderney. 2230, Malo: Radio report received of eight boats of 5th S-boat Flotilla sailing west from Cherbourg south of Alderney. Through Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg by urgent radio I report possible encounters with V 209/10 and, from 0600 on 1 December, with two FK boats proceeding Alderney–Guernsey.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 29 November: item 2, Cherbourg–Alderney with Hydra and return with Schwalbe, Weber, Spinel and Gerfried; item 3, add RO 45 Guernsey–Malo; item 5, add Comptoir 66 and Tourane [end partly at fold]. Corrected escorted tonnage: 10,100 GRT.

Situation for 30 November: (1) V 209/10 night troop convoy of 30 November/1 December Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (2) V 711/22 ready at Cherbourg; (3) V 207/08 complete night troop convoy of 29/30 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, rest; (4) V 212/13 ready at Malo; (5) V 703/04 early convoy Nordplein Guernsey–Jersey, ready; (6) M 4600/01/06 route sweeping with SSG Ida 1–8–Îles Chausey–Ida 11–Jersey; (7) A and B groups of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla available for anti-aircraft course; (8) M 4602/04/05 minor repairs at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 1,100 GRT.

Intentions for 1 December: (1) V 209/10 night troop convoy of 1/2 December Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (2) V 711/22 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) V 208/12 night troop convoy of 1/2 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 207/13 and M 4602/04/05 ready at Malo; (5) V 703/04 ready at Jersey; (6) M 4600/01/06 route sweeping with SSG Jersey–Granville–Malo; (7) A and B groups of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla available for anti-aircraft course. Signed for the commander, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0637–0638, original pages 29–30.