8 December 1942 Part 2

8 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west force 5–4, occasionally easing to 3; mostly overcast, patches of rain; visibility 8 nautical miles, sea 3.

0020, Alderney: V 703/04 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. 0100, Jersey: V 212/09 took Holland into convoy for Malo. 0330, Guernsey: V 703/04 arrived with Karel from Alderney. 0545, Malo: V 212/09 arrived with night troop convoy from Guernsey–Jersey. 0645, Malo: V 207/08 sailed for Granville.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) route sweeping with SSG Granville–Jersey; (3) combined convoy Jersey–Malo; (4) night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney. Orders: (1) V 207/08, proceeding independently Malo–Granville; (2–3) M 4600/02/04/05; (4) V 703/04 and V 208, which was to go to Cherbourg for demagnetisation.

I also ordered the pair M 4611/12 at Cherbourg to proceed independently Cherbourg–Guernsey, since 2nd Security Division reported that M 4607 could not be expected at Cherbourg within the next few days. 3rd Security Division ordered that the escort of steamer Nordvard, protected by three boats of 14th Submarine Chaser Flotilla on the Lorient–Cherbourg passage and due to anchor in Malo roads on the morning of 9 December, be reinforced from Malo by two fast boats of Convoy Control Office. I earmarked V 210/12.

0835, Îles Chausey: M 4600/02/04/05 proceeded with equipment to Jersey. 0835, Granville: V 207/08 sailed for Jersey–Guernsey with Saigon, Tourane, Nestor, Comptoir 66, Rabat, Chiemsee, tug G. Guynemer with Naphta II, and one FK boat. 1055, Jersey: M 4600/02/05/04 arrived from Îles Chausey and took Holstein, Sable d’Or, Irene, one tug and two barges into convoy for Malo. 1135, Jersey: V 207/08 released part of the convoy, continued with Guynemer and Naphta II, and additionally took tug Quatrième with Vinotra and tug Gueppe 58 with two barges into convoy for Guernsey. [French vessel names transcribed from the German typing.]

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 8 December: (1) V 212/09 complete night troop convoy of 7/8 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then ready; (2) V 207/08 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; V 208 subsequently see item 3; (3) V 703/04 complete night troop convoy of 7/8 December Alderney–Guernsey, later night troop convoy of 8/9 December Guernsey–Alderney with V 208 and Karel; (4) M 4611/12 minor repairs at Cherbourg until M 4607 arrives, then Cherbourg–Malo [superseded by the order above]; (5) V 711/22 ready at Cherbourg; (6) M 4600/02/04/05 route sweeping with SSG Ida 8–Jersey, then combined convoy Jersey–Malo; (7) M 4601/06 repairs at Malo; (8) V 213 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,100 GRT.

Intentions for 9 December: (1) V 212/09 night troop convoy of 9/10 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (2) V 703/04 and V 208 complete night troop convoy of 8/9 December Guernsey–Alderney; later return convoy V 208, see item 4; (3) V 207 ready at Guernsey; (4) V 711/22 Cherbourg–Alderney with convoy, later return convoy with V 208; (5) M 4611/12 ready at Cherbourg until M 4607 arrives, then Cherbourg–Malo; (6) M 4600/02/04/05/01/06 fitting out and repairs at Malo; (7) V 210/13 equipment trials in Malo Bay.

1530, Malo: A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla arrived from route sweeping with ORG from Brest. 1630, Guernsey: V 207/08 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 1630, Malo: M 4600/02/04/05 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 2200, Cherbourg: M 4611/12 sailed for Guernsey. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0650–0651, original pages 15–16.