17 December 1942

17 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west force 4–5, overcast, light precipitation, visibility 10 nautical miles, sea 2–3.

After wind and sea eased, tasks were: (1) hospital ship Hüxter Guernsey–Malo; (2) night troop convoy Rob. Müller 8 and Minotaure Malo–Guernsey, La France to Jersey; (3) Sperber, Chiemsee, Helma and Rheinland Guernsey–Jersey–Granville; (4) night troop convoy Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (5) Cherbourg–Alderney and return.

Assigned with corresponding orders: (1) V 208/09; (2) V 210/12; (3) M 4611/06 to Jersey, where Sperber and Chiemsee enter harbour; M 4613/07 take Helma and Rheinland onward to Granville. M 4611/06 return independently to Guernsey for a combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Granville on 18 December; M 4613/07 independently Granville–Malo after releasing convoy. (4) V 703/04; (5) V 711/22 Cherbourg–Alderney, remaining there for Karel’s return convoy to Guernsey on 18 December; V 703/04 Alderney–Cherbourg, independently if necessary, for MES check.

For 19–23 December, 84th Corps headquarters requested two boats for General von Behlendorff. For 20 December, two boats were requested for Ministerial Director Dorsch of Organisation Todt for Guernsey–Alderney. I earmarked V 210/12.

0800, Guernsey: V 208/09 sailed with hospital ship Hüxter for Malo. Task 3 was cancelled owing to weather. Remark: since all other convoy tasks were carried out and the coastal motor vessels concerned were sufficiently seaworthy, this cancellation is incomprehensible. M 4611’s commanding officer will be heard on this after M 4611/06 return.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 16 December, item 8: independent Jersey–Malo passage cancelled owing to weather. Situation for 17 December: (1) V 703/04 night troop convoy of 17/18 December with Karel Guernsey–Alderney, then onward convoy to Cherbourg for MES check; (2) M 4602/04/00/12/01/05 and V 213 ready at Malo; (3) V 207 boiler cleaning; (4) V 208/09 shadow hospital ship Hüxter Guernsey–Malo, then ready; (5) M 4611/06 with Sperber, Chiemsee, Rheinland and Helma Guernsey–Jersey, then back to Guernsey [planned movement, cancelled above]; (6) V 210/12 night troop convoy of 17/18 December from Malo with La France to Jersey, Rob. Müller 8 and Minotaure to Guernsey; (7) V 711/22 with convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (8) M 4607/13 with Rheinland and Helma Jersey–Granville, then Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,800 GRT.

Intentions for 18 December: (1) V 703/04 complete night convoy Alderney–Cherbourg, then MES check; (2) M 4605/04 combined convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (3) M 4602/00/01/12 and V 213 ready at Malo; (4) V 209/08 shadow hospital ship Hüxter Malo–Jersey; (5) M 4611/06 combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (6) V 210/12 complete night troop convoy of 17/18 December Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, evening return; (7) V 711/22 night troop convoy Alderney–Guernsey with Karel; (8) M 4607/13 complete night passage Jersey–Granville–Malo, then rest; (9) V 207 boiler cleaning at Malo.

1400, Malo: V 209/08 arrived with hospital ship Hüxter from Guernsey. 1810, Jersey: M 4613/07 sailed for Malo. 1815, Malo: V 210/12 sailed with La France for Jersey, Minotaure and Rob. Müller 8 for Guernsey. 1830, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed with Gerfried for Alderney. 1930, Malo: V 209 reported leaks in the air pump and condenser. For tomorrow’s shadowing of hospital ship Hüxter I assigned V 213 instead. 2120, Alderney: V 711/22 arrived from Cherbourg. 2215, off Jersey: V 210/12 released La France to enter St Helier. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0664, original pages 4–5.