8 October 1942 Part 4

8 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: West to north-west, moderate breeze, fresh in gusts; cloudy, showers; visibility 10–12 nautical miles; calm to slight sea, medium-height short swell from the west.

0015, Alderney: UJ 1407/01 arrived with convoy from Cherbourg. 0055, Jersey: V 710/213 arrived with RO 8 from Guernsey; La France arrived from Malo. 0145, Jersey: V 209/724 continued with convoy to Guernsey. 0315, Jersey: V 710/213 sailed with RO 8 for Granville. 0500, Alderney: UJ 1407/01 sailed with Dorsch, Hydra, Schwalbe and Iris for Cherbourg. 0540, Guernsey: V 209/724 arrived with convoy from Malo–Jersey. 0800, Cherbourg: UJ 1407/01 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 0900, Malo: V 213/710 arrived after releasing RO 8 off Granville. Alert 1 ended. The night convoys were carried out as planned.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Jersey–Granville; (2) night troop convoy from Guernsey with Minotaure and Holland, from Jersey with La France, to Malo; (3) Spinel, Cherbourg–Alderney; (4) night troop convoy Spinel, Alderney–Guernsey. Orders: M 4605/04 for (1), afterwards to Malo; V 209/724 for (2); V 713/02 for (3) and (4). The Cherbourg–Alderney bridge convoy again cannot be carried out today because of the weather.

1010, Malo: Harbour Commandant reports that the lock is unserviceable until evening high water. Convoy tasks are not affected. 1425, Jersey: M 4605/04 sailed with Paul et Janine, Arques, Rheinland, G. Guynemer, Naphta II, four lighters and two barges for Granville.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 7 October: Item 1: UJ 1407/01 Cherbourg–Alderney with Gerfried and Antonius. Item 5: passage Paimpol–Malo. Tonnage: 400 GRT more. Situation for 8 October: (1) V 713/02 Cherbourg–Alderney with Spinel; (2) V 210 and M 4612 ready at Cherbourg; (3) V 213/710 night troop convoy of 8 October RO 8, Jersey–Granville, then independently Granville–Malo; (4) V 209/724 finish night troop convoy of 7/8 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey with RO 21, Minotaure, Holland and La France, then ready for return convoy; (5) V 707/05 at Lézardrieux, released for Brest under 3rd Security Division’s order; (6) UJ 1407/01 early convoy Alderney–Cherbourg with Dorsch, Schwalbe, Hydra and Iris, then ready; (7) M 4605/04 combined convoy Jersey–Granville, then independently Granville–Malo; (8) V 714/08 and M 4611/01/02 ready at Malo; (9) V 212 operational again, ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 6,400 GRT.

Intentions for 9 October: (1) V 713/02 night troop convoy of 8/9 October Spinel, Alderney–Guernsey, then convoy Guernsey–Alderney–Cherbourg; ready for bridge convoy if weather improves; (2) V 210, M 4612 and UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (3) V 212/13 combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 209/724 night troop convoy of 9/10 October from Guernsey with Minotaure and Holland and from Jersey with La France to Malo; (5) V 710 ready at Malo; (6) V 714/08 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy to Jersey; (7) M 4611/05/04/01/02 resting at Malo.

The sailing of a group of 12th Minesweeping Flotilla on a task ordered by 3rd Security Division must be cancelled because the lock is unserviceable. 1845, Granville: M 4605/04 released convoy and continued to Malo. 2200, Cherbourg: V 713/02 sailed with Spinel for Alderney. 2215, Malo: M 4605/04 arrived from Jersey [as entered; via Granville above].

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0542–0543, original pages 14–15.