6 October 1942 Part 3

6 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-east to east, moderate to fresh breeze, occasionally strong wind; mostly overcast, light precipitation, clearing in the evening; daytime visibility below 5 nautical miles; widespread strong haze and patchy fog in the morning; slight to moderate disturbed sea.

0115, Malo: V 707/10/24 arrived with convoy from Jersey. Requests: (1) combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (2) combined convoy Granville–Jersey; (3) night troop convoy RO 8, Jersey–Guernsey. I assign V 713/710 to (1) [as printed; subsequent entries give V 213/710], M 4605/04 to (2), and V 213/710 to (3).

0700, Malo: M 4605/04 sailed for Granville. 0718: Radio message 0707/1 from V 713: “Entering Cherbourg.” [Amended time unclear], Malo: V 213/710 sailed with Spes Salutis, two tugs and four barges for Jersey. 0900, Cherbourg: V 713/02/210, M 4612 and UJ 1407/01 returned with bridge convoy.

During the day the Cherbourg naval weather service forecast continued widespread fog there during the coming night. I therefore did not schedule the bridge convoy. 0905: Short teletype from Sea Commandant Normandy: bridge position, via air-reporting centre, BF 3558; subchasers providing protection in BF 3528. Remark: The convoy was thus not at Herz 326, as assumed, but close to Cherbourg. In the very bad weather it was appropriate for the convoy leader to bring all escort boats close to the convoy and offset the subchasers for protection.

1100, Granville: M 4605/04 arrived. Corrections to 5 October: Items 1–3: bridge convoy postponed because of weather. Item 6: night 5/6 October Jersey–Malo convoy without RO 8. Items 8 and 9: M 4611/01/02 and V 714/08 remain at Lézardrieux for the Paimpol task.

Situation for 6 October: (1) V 713/02/210, M 4612 and UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 213/710 daylight Malo–Jersey convoy with Spes Salutis, tugs H 6 S and B 122 S and four barges; night 6/7 October RO 8 convoy Jersey–Guernsey; (3) M 4605/04 independently Malo–Granville, then daylight convoy Tourane, Nestor, Gabes, G. Guynemer, H 16, H 39 and H 38, Granville–Jersey; (4) V 710/07/24 complete 5/6 October Jersey–Malo convoy and stand ready; V 710 subsequently as in (2).

(5) M 4611/01/02 and V 714/08 control firing area off Paimpol; (6) V 209 minor repairs at Malo; (7) M 4430 and seven lobster boats ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 4,900 GRT.

Intentions for 7 October: (1) V 713/02/210, M 4612 and UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (2) V 213/710 night troop convoy of 7/8 October with RO 8, Guernsey–Jersey; (3) M 4605/04 ready at Jersey; (4) V 707/24 evening Planet, tug and target, Malo–Lézardrieux; (5) V 714/08 night troop convoy of 7/8 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4611/01/02 resting at Malo; (7) V 209 minor repairs at Malo; (8) M 4430 and lobster boats at Malo available for navigation course.

1400, Jersey: V 213/710 arrived with combined convoy from Malo. 1630, Granville: M 4605/04 sailed with Tourane, Nestor, Gabes, Comptoir 66, G. Guynemer and three barges for Jersey. 2020, Jersey: V 213/710 sailed with RO 8 for Guernsey. 2040, Jersey: M 4605/04 arrived with combined convoy. 2300, Guernsey: V 213/710 arrived with night troop convoy RO 8 from Jersey. 2300, Malo: Alert 1 ordered.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0539–0540, original pages 11–12.