12 December 1942

12 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South to south-west force 7–8, sea 5, overcast, visibility 10 nautical miles, occasional rain.

0120, Malo: operational teleprinter message from Naval Radio Intercept Station Brest (MPHS) received concerning detection of a British unit in BF 3516, sixteen nautical miles north of Cap de la Hague. Remark: since no Convoy Control Office units were in the Cherbourg sea area at this time, I took no action on this report.

0145, Guernsey: V 213/09 sailed with RO 21 and Minotaure for Malo via Jersey. 0200, Guernsey: M 4611/12 sailed with Ostvlandern, Rob. Müller 8 and Nordplein for Jersey–Malo. 0430, Jersey: V 213/09 took Holland into convoy for Malo. 0540, Jersey: M 4611/12 arrived with convoy from Guernsey; onward passage not begun owing to weather. 0710, Malo: M 4600/01/06 sailed with Paul et Janine for Granville. 0900, Malo: V 213/09 arrived with convoy from Jersey–Guernsey. 0900, Cherbourg: A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla arrived from route sweeping.

Requests: (1) night troop convoy from Malo with Holstein to Jersey, Minotaure to Guernsey; (2) combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) Paul et Janine Malo–Jersey; (4) Derfflinger, Corona and Ostvlandern Jersey–Malo; (5) night troop convoy Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (6) Hydra, Schwalbe, Tinda and Franka Cherbourg–Alderney; (7) Gerfried and Spinel Alderney–Cherbourg; (8) escort paddle steamers M 4245/46 Cherbourg–Jersey; (9) return passage V 212/08/10 Cherbourg–Malo; (10) route sweeping with ORG Cherbourg–Malo by A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla.

Orders: (1) V 207/13; (2) M 4602/05 — M 4604 had machinery damage and was to be brought to Malo by M 4600/01/06; (3) M 4600/01/06 take Paul et Janine to Granville to join convoy item 2; (4) M 4611/12; (5) V 703/04; (6–7) V 711/22; (8) M 4613/07, which had arrived at Cherbourg at Convoy Control Office’s disposal; (9) sailing set for 1730; (10) sailing intended at 1800.

1030, Granville: M 4600/01/06 arrived with Paul et Janine from Malo. 1100, Granville: M 4602/05 sailed with Mazagan, Maas, Paul et Janine, Sperber, Rheinland, Helma, Elfriede and Comptoir 51 for Jersey–Guernsey. 1115, Granville: M 4600/01/06 sailed with M 4604 for Malo. 1117, Malo: head of Ozet Cherbourg reported, on Luftwaffe detection information, that a British reconnaissance aircraft had sighted M 4602’s convoy and radioed its position to British fighters. 1120, Malo: I passed the report to Fighter Command 3, which said its fighters were already engaged elsewhere. 1130, Malo: on enquiry, Ozet reported no further immediate danger.

1400, off Jersey: M 4602/05 released Maas, Mazagan and Paul et Janine to enter harbour and added Nestor to the convoy for Guernsey. 1430, Jersey: M 4611/12 sailed with Derfflinger, Corona and Ostvlandern for Malo. 1700, Malo: M 4600/01/06 arrived from Granville with damaged M 4604. Despite a warning of deteriorating weather, an effort was made to complete all outstanding tasks. 1730, Guernsey: M 4602/05 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 1730, Cherbourg: V 212/10/08 sailed independently for Malo. In view of the weather, M 4613/07’s passage with paddle steamers M 4245/46 Cherbourg–Jersey was cancelled. 1730, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed with Franka, Hydra, Tinda, Schwalbe and Weber for Alderney. 1800, Alderney: V 703/04 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. 1800, Cherbourg: A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla sailed towards Malo with sweeping gear. 2000, Alderney: V 711/22 released the convoy to enter harbour and began the return passage to Cherbourg with Spinel and Gerfried.

2025, Malo: by radio through Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg I notified the groups under way of possible encounters. I deliberately gave no times, since delays were to be expected in the prevailing weather. 2030, Malo: V 207/13 sailed with Holstein for Jersey and Minotaure for Guernsey. 2030, Malo: M 4611/12 arrived with convoy from Jersey. 2300, Cherbourg: V 711/22 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 2315, Malo: operational radio message 2231/94 from Sea Commander Channel Islands to Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg received, asking V 703/04’s position because they had not yet reached Guernsey. Remark: this radio message caused unnecessary anxiety. Apart from the fact that monitoring convoys under way was exclusively Convoy Control Office’s responsibility, there was no factual reason for such an alarming message. [Writer’s assessment.]

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 12 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 12/13 December Alderney–Guernsey with Karel; (2) V 213/09 complete night troop convoy of 11/12 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then ready; (3) V 207/13 night troop convoy of 12/13 December from Malo with Holstein [corrected from Holland] for Jersey and Minotaure for Guernsey; (4) M 4611/12 complete night troop convoy of 11/12 December Guernsey–Jersey, later Jersey–Malo with Derfflinger, Ostvlandern and Corona; (5) M 4602/05 combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4600/01/06 Malo–Granville with Paul et Janine, then Granville–Malo with M 4604; (7) V 212/10/08 independently Cherbourg–Malo; (8) V 711/22 Cherbourg–Alderney with Tinda, Franka, Hydra and Schwalbe, return with Gerfried and Spinel to Cherbourg; (9) M 4607/13/4245/46 independently Cherbourg–Jersey [planned passage, cancelled in timed entry]; (10) six boats of A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla route sweeping with ORG Cherbourg–Malo. Escorted tonnage: 8,000 GRT.

Intentions for 13 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 13/14 December Guernsey–Alderney with Karel; (2) V 207/13 complete night troop convoy of 12/13 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, later return convoy; (3) M 4611/12 ready at Malo; (4) M 4602/05 combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Granville, then independently Malo; (5) M 4600/01/06 combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) M 4604 repairs at Malo; (7) V 212/10/08 complete Cherbourg–Malo passage, then ready; (8) V 711/22 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (9) M 4613/07 Jersey–Malo; (10) V 209 fitting out at Malo.

12 December, continued, original page 25 (scan 0656 right): Convoy Control Office had expected V 703/04 with Karel at about 2230. Increasing wind and sea, directly against the boats, led to an allowance for reduction from their 7.5-knot passage speed. A telephone enquiry to Guernsey at about 2350 established that the boats were off the harbour and would shortly enter. Signed Dr Diederichs. Scan 0656 left is a blank ruled diary page.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0654–0656, original pages 23–25.