22 October 1942

22 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west, moderate to fresh breeze, easing to weak to moderate; early morning backing to south-west–south; cloudy, isolated showers; visibility 12–15 nautical miles; moderate sea; decreasing, medium-height and medium-length west-north-west swell.

0420, Malo: V 710/24 arrived with night troop convoy. 0430, Malo: V 207/09 sailed for Granville. 0800, Granville: Some intended convoy vessels remained behind because of weather; V 207/09 took Maas, Bizon and Rabat for Jersey.

Requests: (1) one coaster and Georgi from Cherbourg for Alderney and Guernsey respectively; (2) Karel, Jersey–Guernsey; (3) combined convoy Granville–Jersey; (4) night troop convoy La France for Jersey, Minotaure and Holland for Guernsey; (5) V 710/24 to Brest under 3rd Security Division’s order; (6) M 4611/12 to Cherbourg for demagnetisation under 3rd Security Division’s order. The weather deteriorates during the day, so some convoy tasks may have to be cancelled. Orders: UJ 1411/02 for (1), to Malo after releasing Georgi off Guernsey; V 207/09 for (2) and (3); V 210/714 for (4). Tasks (5) and (6) postponed because of weather.

1220, Jersey: V 207/09 arrived with convoy from Granville. 1240, Jersey: V 207/09 sailed with Karel for Guernsey. 1430, Guernsey: V 711/29 arrived from Brest. 1615, Guernsey: V 207/09 arrived with Karel from Jersey. 1700, Malo: Secret teletype from 3rd Security Division advances the departure of two torpedo boats, ordered by teletype G 16060, by one hour. I consequently order V 207/09/711/29 at Guernsey to immediate readiness from 2000 to 2400. V 711/29 simultaneously receive orders to proceed Guernsey–Cherbourg at 0030 on 23 October. No encounters with the two torpedo boats are possible within the Channel Islands area, which I communicate by urgent teletype.

1700, Guernsey: Hoek [name uncertain] and Holstein arrived after sailing without escort from Malo via Jersey. Meteor, accompanying them, fell behind because of weather and did not enter until 2000. Remark: It was wrong for the two vessels to leave Meteor alone when she was hampered by weather. The Sea Transport Chief is asked to instruct captains to remain together with such impaired vessels in future.

2000, Malo: Report that the two torpedo boats proceeding west can make only about 12 knots. Encounters are now possible, and I notify the boats concerned by urgent radio message through Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 21 October: Item 5, night troop convoy without Kurland. Situation for 22 October: (1) V 702/13/212/13 ready at Cherbourg; (2) UJ 1411/02 evening Georgi and one-coaster convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) night troop convoy of 22/23 October Minotaure and Holland for Guernsey, La France for Jersey; (4) V 207/09 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey, immediate readiness from 2100; (5) no Malo–Cherbourg passage because of weather, ready at Malo [boats omitted in this item; task list identifies M 4611/12]; (6) V 708 non-operational at Malo; (7) V 710/24 remain ready at Malo instead of proceeding Malo–Brest because of weather; (8) V 711/29 immediate readiness from 2100 after reaching Guernsey; (9) M 4605/04/02/01 resting at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,300 GRT.

Intentions for 23 October: (1) V 702/13/212/13 ready at Cherbourg for bridge convoy; (2) UJ 1411/02 night troop convoy of 23/24 October Georgi, Alderney–Guernsey, then passage to Malo; (3) V 210/714 finish night troop convoy of 22/23 October Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, return convoy in the evening; (4) V 207/09 ready at Guernsey; (5) M 4611/12 complete Malo–Cherbourg passage; (6) V 711/29 independently Guernsey–Cherbourg; (7) M 4605/04/02/01 resting at Malo.

2230, Malo: The sailing of the Cherbourg–Alderney–Guernsey convoy is cancelled by telephone.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0571–0573, original pages 10, 10a and 11.