2 October 1942

2 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: East to north-east, light air to light breeze; very smooth sea, fair to cloudy; visibility 20–30 nautical miles, patches of fog.

0200, Cherbourg: V 713/02/UJ 1407/01 arrived with convoy. 0240, Malo: M 4611/01/02 sailed on 3rd Security Division’s orders to recheck the firing area off Paimpol [“firing” inserted in handwriting]. 0330, Guernsey: M 4605/04 sailed with Corona and Tourane for Jersey. 0400, Cherbourg: Three boats of 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla arrived. 0415, Malo roadstead: V 707/05 anchored with convoy.

Remark: V 705’s commanding officer reports that, while taking in the convoy element coming from Jersey at Noirmont, he collided with Holland. The boat is badly damaged on the starboard bow. In the prevailing favourable weather it could continue its escort task, but temporary repairs are necessary to restore seaworthiness. [Additional marginal routing notes partly illegible.]

I conducted the investigation myself and forwarded it to Sea Transport Chief; it did not fully clarify responsibility for the collision.

0500, Alderney: V 710/24 sailed with RO 8 and Ostflandern for Guernsey. On departure RO 8 became caught in the net barrage and had to remain behind. 0810, off Jersey: M 4605/04 released Corona and continued with Tourane and Comptoir 51 to Granville. 0925, Guernsey: V 710/24 arrived with Ostflandern from Alderney. 1100, off Granville: M 4605/04 released the convoy and continued to Malo. 1330, Malo: M 4605/04 arrived from Granville.

Request: Night convoy Spinel and Iris Guernsey–Alderney. I assign V 710/24, afterwards to Cherbourg with any available convoy. Remark: Unfavourable tides mean the second bridge convoy cannot take place before 5 October. The boats are therefore available for other tasks for a few days.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Corrections to 1 October: Item 3, add Volkmar, Gerfried and Weber; item 8, evening passage Malo–Paimpol. Situation for 2 October: (1) V 713/02/UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 710/24 early convoy Alderney–Guernsey with Ostflandern, RO 8 left behind after becoming caught in the net barrage; later night passage of 2/3 October Guernsey–Alderney with Spinel and Iris; (3) V 707/05 complete night troop convoy of 1/2 October Guernsey–Jersey–Malo with Minotaure, Kurland, Holland and La France, then rest; (4) V 209 ready at Malo; (5) V 207 out of war readiness at Malo because of MES failure; (6) M 4605/04 combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Granville, then independently Granville–Malo, ready; (7) M 4611/01/02 daytime recheck of firing area off Paimpol. Escorted tonnage: 3,000 GRT.

Intentions for 3 October: (1) V 713/02/UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg; (2) V 710/24 complete night passage Guernsey–Alderney, then Alderney–Cherbourg with any convoy available; (3) V 707/05/209 ready at Malo, evening night troop convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) M 4605/04 daylight convoy Malo–Jersey–Guernsey with Sperber, Nordplain and Schokland; (5) M 4601/11/02 off Paimpol; (6) V 210/M 4612 Ouistreham–Cherbourg under 2nd Security Division’s orders, then at St Malo Convoy Control Office’s disposal.

1930, Lézardrieux: M 4611/01/02 anchored in the roadstead. 2300, Guernsey: V 710/24 sailed with Iris and Spinel for Alderney.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0531–0533, original pages 3–5.