7 December 1942 Part 2

7 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west force 5–6, overcast, sea 3–4, visibility 8 nautical miles.

0615, Alderney: V 711/22 sailed with Hydra, Schwalbe and Weber for Cherbourg. 0830, Cherbourg: V 711/22 arrived with convoy from Alderney. Requests: (1) night troop convoy from Guernsey with Minotaure, from Jersey with Holland, to Malo; (2) night troop convoy Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (3) route sweeping with SSG Malo–Granville. Orders: (1) V 212/09; (2) V 703/04, first proceeding independently Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla.

0915, Malo: M 4600/02/04/05 sailed for route sweeping with SSG towards Ida 8. 1500, Malo: first brief report received of a hostile air attack south of Jersey against eight vessels proceeding without escort.

1600, Malo: supplementary report from Harbour Commandant Jersey received: at 1400, 16–20 Spitfires attacked with bombs and aircraft guns three coastal motor vessels, two tugs, two barges and one tank lighter proceeding unescorted on an easterly course into Jersey, off St Brelade’s Bay. Coastal motor vessel Kromwyk [spelling as read] sank after a bomb hit. Coastal motor vessel Derfflinger was beached after a bomb hit forward. Four dead, nine injured. Derfflinger probably shot down one aircraft. Shore anti-aircraft artillery intervened. Escort had been requested but could not be provided owing to a shortage of boats. Each coastal motor vessel carried one 2-cm gun, in accordance with regulations. Those regulations allowed vessels not carrying essential goods to proceed without escort protection. This was the first daylight attack of this kind in the Channel Islands area. [The aircraft count, losses and assessment are the contemporary report reproduced in this diary; compare the separate Channel Islands command entry under this date.]

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 7 December: (1) V 212/09 complete night troop convoy of 6/7 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 7/8 December from Guernsey with Minotaure, from Jersey with Holland, to Malo; (2) V 703/04 independently Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 7/8 December with Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (3) M 4611/12 ready at Cherbourg; (4) V 207/08/13 ready at Malo; (5) V 711/22 early convoy with Hydra, Dor. Weber and Schwalbe Alderney–Cherbourg, then ready; (6) M 4600/02/04/05 route sweeping with SSG Malo–Ida 8; (7) M 4601/06 minor repairs at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 2,500 GRT.

Intentions for 8 December: (1) V 212/09 complete night troop convoy of 7/8 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (2) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 7/8 December Alderney–Guernsey; (3) V 207/08 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 711/22 Cherbourg–Alderney with convoy; (5) M 4600/02/04/05 route sweeping with SSG Ida 8–Malo; (6) M 4601/05 [as printed; elsewhere 4601/06] minor repairs at Malo; (7) M 4611/12 Cherbourg–Malo after M 4607’s arrival; (8) V 213 ready at Malo.

1800, Îles Chausey: M 4600/02/04/05 anchored. 2130, Cherbourg: V 703/04 sailed for Alderney. 2230, Guernsey: V 212/09 sailed with Minotaure for Jersey–Malo. 2345, Alderney: V 703/04 arrived from Cherbourg. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0649–0650, original pages 13–14.