8 January 1943 Part 2

8 January 1943 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to north-west force 3–4, visibility 3–5 nautical miles, long low swell from west-north-west. 0600, Malo: V 711/22 arrived with convoy from Guernsey. 0820, Granville: FK 01/03 sailed for Jersey. 0840, Cherbourg: six boats of 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla arrived from west.

Convoy requests: (1) Claus and Spes Salutis Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (2) Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) Lena Alderney–Cherbourg; (4) night troop convoy Holland Jersey–Malo [item 4 of 7 January]. Assigned: (1) M 4612/02/04/05; (2–3) V 703/04; (4) V 212/09, proceeding independently Malo–Jersey beforehand. 0900, Guernsey: M 4612/02/04/05 sailed with Claus and Spes Salutis for Jersey–Malo. Escort request received for RO 8 and Midsland Jersey–Granville. I radioed M 4612's group to detach Claus and Spes Salutis at Jersey and escort RO 8 and Midsland to Granville. 1110, Jersey: FK 01/03 arrived from Granville. 1130, Jersey: FK 01/03 sailed with Comptoir 66 for Guernsey.

Report to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 7 January: item 8 without Holland. Escorted tonnage for 7 January reduced by 850 GRT. Situation for 8 January: (1) V 210 minor repairs at Cherbourg; (2) V 213 rest at Cherbourg; (3) V 703/04 rest at Cherbourg; (4) M 4612/02/04/05 with Claus and Spes Salutis Guernsey–Jersey, then RO 8 and Midsland Jersey–Granville, afterwards independently to Malo; (5) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy of 7/8 January Guernsey–Malo, then readiness; (6) V 209/12 independently Malo–Jersey, then night troop convoy of 8/9 January Jersey–Malo with Holland; (7) M 4600/01/06/07 and V 207/08 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 3,000 GRT.

Intentions for 9 January: (1) V 210 repairs at Cherbourg; (2) V 213 degaussing at Cherbourg; (3) V 703/04 morning convoy with Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney, returning with Lena; (4) C Group of 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, M 4612 and V 711/22 ready at Malo; (5) V 212/09 complete night troop convoy of 8/9 January Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (6) V 208/07 night troop convoy of 9/10 January Malo–Jersey–Guernsey.

1400, Jersey: M 4612/02/04/05 sailed with Midsland and RO 8 for Granville after detaching Claus and Spes Salutis. 1415, Guernsey: FK 01/03 arrived with Comptoir 66 from Jersey. 1430, Alderney: FK 08/22 sailed for Casquets. 1445, Jersey: Claus and Spes Salutis entered. 1650, Malo: secret-command teletype received from 3rd Security Division concerning departure of five boats of 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla from Cherbourg after dark for special operation, returning about midnight. 1810, Malo: V 212/09 sailed for Jersey. 1845, Alderney: FK 08/22 arrived from Casquets. 1900, Granville: M 4612/02/04/05 detached RO 8 and Midsland to enter harbour, proceeding to Malo. 2240, Jersey: V 212/09 arrived from Malo, took Holland into convoy and returned towards Malo. Draft signed Dr Diederichs; certified correct, Wunderlich, Lieutenant Commander.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0692–0693, original pages 16–18.