8 November 1942 Part 3

8 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west to west, moderate to fresh breeze, backing to south-west and decreasing; visibility 8–10 nautical miles; smooth sea, medium-height and medium-length north-west swell.

0300, Alderney: UJ 1411/02 sailed with Elfriede, Lena, Spinel and Schwalbe for Cherbourg [Elfriede replaces Georgi in this timed entry]. 0530, Malo: V 212/13 arrived from Alderney. 0745, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02 arrived with convoy from Alderney.

Tasks: (1) continue route sweeping with SSG for group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla; (2) escort hospital ship Huxter Malo–Jersey, returning on 9 November; (3) V 714/08 Guernsey–Brest passage.

I order V 207/08 to go to the roads with Huxter on the evening of 8 November, to proceed to Jersey at 0400 on 9 November. 0915, Jersey: M 4604/02/05/06 sailed on equipment passage Jersey–Ida 4–Ida 5–Ida 11, then return St Helier.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 7 November: item 5, V 714/08 Guernsey–Brest passage postponed owing to weather; item 7, C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla entered Jersey owing to weather.

Situation for 8 November: (1) UJ 1411/02 Alderney–Cherbourg with Lena, Spinel, Schwalbe and Elfriede; (2) V 711/29/12/22 ready at Cherbourg; (3) V 212/13 complete Alderney–Malo passage; (4) V 207/08 ready at Malo, evening to roads with hospital ship Huxter; (5) V 209/10 ready at Guernsey; (6) M 4611 ready at Malo; (7) M 4604/01/02/05/06 route sweeping with SSG Jersey–Ida 4–Ida 5–Ida 11, evening enter St Helier; (8) M 4600 minor repairs at Jersey; (9) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course; (10) V 714/08 Guernsey–Brest passage at 3rd Security Division’s disposal. Escorted tonnage: 1,600 GRT.

Intentions for 9 November: (1) UJ 1411/02 and V 711/29/12/22 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy if weather improves; (2) V 212/13 and M 4611 ready at Malo; (3) V 207/08 shadow Huxter Malo–Jersey and back; (4) V 209/10 ready at Guernsey; (5) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla route sweeping with SSG Jersey–Guernsey; (6) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course.

1400, Guernsey: V 714/08 sailed for Brest. 1700, Malo: Teletype received: eight E-boats sail Cherbourg westwards at 1700, returning about 0200. 1810, Malo: War-priority secret command teletype from Sea Transport Officer Cherbourg states bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney planned for 2300, as weather appears to permit it. I notify all interested offices with war priority and radio possible encounters between bridge convoy and E-boats on the KLW E-boat wavelength.

1820, Malo: Alert Level I ordered. 1830, Jersey: C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla entered. 2115, Malo: V 207/08 sailed to roads with Huxter. 2300, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02 and V 712/22, protected by V 711/29, sailed with bridge convoy for Alderney.

2313: Commander E-boats warns 5th E-boat Flotilla, at sea, of enemy vessels intending to intercept the returning German E-boats near Cap de la Hague. I call Commander Security West’s operations staff officer. Commander Security West orders the departing bridge convoy through MSS [abbreviation retained] to return to Cherbourg. 2330, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02, V 712/22 and V 711/29 returned with bridge convoy.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0604–0606, original pages 13–15.