11 November 1942

11 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: Easterly winds, light to gentle breeze; fair, hazy; visibility five nautical miles; strong morning haze, local fog; very smooth to smooth sea.

0030, Guernsey: V 209/10/12 and M 4611 sailed with Minotaure and RO 8 for Malo. 0200, Jersey: La France sailed for Noirmont Point to join convoy to Malo. 0330, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02 and V 712/22 sailed with bridge convoy for Alderney. V 711/29 took up protection three nautical miles north of convoy. 0630, Malo roads: V 209/10/12 and M 4611 anchored with convoy. 0715, Alderney: UJ 1411/02 and V 712/22 arrived with bridge convoy and anchored on the roads.

Remark: After long waiting, caused partly by weather and partly by consideration of expected enemy action, the second bridge convoy has now also been carried out. The understanding cooperation of all offices concerned and the bold, prudent leadership of the first convoy by Lieutenant Captain Sperber, V 713, and of the second by Lieutenant Wurmbach, UJ 1411, contributed substantially to solving this particularly difficult task.

0730, Alderney: V 711/29 entered. 0815, Malo: V 207 sailed for equipment trials. 0815, Malo: C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed into Malo Bay with navigation course.

Requests: (1) return convoy with bridge undercarriage Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) night troop convoy from Malo, La France for Jersey, Minotaure for Guernsey; (3) Lena and Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney. Further task: route sweeping with SSG Cherbourg–Jersey by C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla. Orders: (1) UJ 1411/02, V 711/29 and V 712/22; (2) V 207/13; (3) V 712/22 after returning from Alderney. UJ 1411/02 and V 711/29 ordered to Le Havre for convoy of tanker Sudetenland Le Havre–Cherbourg.

1130, Malo: C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla returned from training trip.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 11 November: (1) UJ 1411/02 and V 712/22 bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, evening return with bridge undercarriage; (2) V 711/29 protection for item 1, evening return with item 1; (3) V 207 [amended designation] running in mine-search equipment in Malo Bay, evening item 4; (4) V 207/13 night troop convoy of 11/12 November from Malo, La France for Jersey, Minotaure for Guernsey; (5) V 209/10/12 and M 4611 complete night troop convoy of 10/11 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (6) V 208 installation of anti-aircraft gun position at Malo; (7) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla complete route sweeping with SSG Guernsey–Cherbourg; (8) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla in Malo Bay with navigation course. Escorted tonnage: 3,700 GRT.

Intentions for 12 November: (1) UJ 1411/02 and V 711/29 Cherbourg–Le Havre passage for tanker Sudetenland convoy; (2) V 712/22 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, then night troop convoy of 11/12 November Alderney–Guernsey [overwritten date]; (3) V 207/13 complete night troop convoy of 11/12 November Malo–Guernsey, evening return convoy; (4) V 209/10/12 and M 4611 ready at Malo; (5) V 208 installation of anti-aircraft gun position at Malo; (6) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla at Cherbourg; (7) C group of 44th Minesweeping Flotilla at Malo for navigation course.

1730, Malo: V 207 returned from equipment trials. 1830, Malo: 2nd Security Division informs me by telephone that Sudetenland’s task is postponed 24 hours owing to fog. UJ 1411 group receives radio order to enter Cherbourg. 1900, Malo: Radio message received that seven E-boats are sailing Cherbourg westwards. Through Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg I report possible encounters by radio on KLW and E-boat wavelength. 1900, Alderney: UJ 1411/02, V 711/29 and V 712/22 sailed with Hydra for Cherbourg.

Remark: The bridge could not be lowered into position before the boats sailed. The bridge undercarriage therefore remains at Alderney for a later return convoy. 1900, Cherbourg: 5th E-boat Flotilla departs westwards, south of Alderney. 2030, Malo: V 207/13 sailed with La France for Jersey and Minotaure for Guernsey. 2235, Cherbourg: UJ 1411/02, V 711/29 and V 712/22 arrived with Hydra from Alderney.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0609–0611, original pages 18–20.