24 November 1942

24 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: East force 5–4, cloudy, visibility ten nautical miles, early haze, sea 3.

0130, Guernsey: V 208/13 arrived with Minotaure from Malo. 0530, Alderney: V 712/22 sailed with Antonius and Hydra for Cherbourg. Karel remained behind because orders had been poorly transmitted. 0830, Cherbourg: V 712/22 arrived with Antonius and Hydra.

Requests: (1) combined convoy Malo–Jersey; (2) combined convoy Jersey–Granville; (3) night troop convoy Holstein and Minotaure from Guernsey to Jersey, La France from Jersey to Malo [destinations as printed in request; later situation gives Minotaure to Malo]; (4) Schwalbe, Tinda and Gerfried Cherbourg–Alderney. Orders: (1–2) M 4611/12, afterwards independently to Malo; (3) V 208/13; (4) V 209/10.

0845, Malo: M 4611/12 sailed for Jersey with Irene, two tugs, four barges and one coastal motor sailing vessel.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 23 November: item 2, without Balidar.

Situation for 24 November: (1) V 209/10 evening convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (2) V 712/22 morning Hydra and Antonius Alderney–Cherbourg, then fitting out; (3) V 209/13 [as printed, otherwise V 208/13] complete night troop convoy of 23/24 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, then night troop convoy of 24/25 November Holstein from Guernsey for Jersey, Minotaure for Malo, La France joining at Jersey; (4) V 207 and V 711/29 ready at Malo; (5) M 4611/12 combined convoys Malo–Jersey, then Jersey–Granville, afterwards independently to Malo; (6) M 4600/01/02/04/05/06 fitting out at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 7,700 GRT.

Intentions for 25 November: (1) V 209/10 night troop convoy of 24/25 November Karel Alderney–Guernsey; (2) V 712/22 convoy Cherbourg–Alderney, evening tanker Mary Cherbourg–Jersey, St Aubin’s Bay; (3) V 208/13 complete night troop convoy of 24/25 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, ready; (4) V 711/29 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (5) V 207 ready at Malo; (6) M 4611/12 in Malo Bay with mine-warfare course; (7) M 4600/01/02/04/05/06 route sweeping with SSG Malo–Ida 1–Ida 2–point 334 and back.

1630, Jersey: M 4611/12 arrived with convoy from Malo.

1630, Jersey: M 4611/12 sailed with Saigon, Comptoir 66, Tourane, one barge and pilot boat Pilot for Granville. 2115, Granville: M 4611/12 released convoy and proceeded to Malo. 2315, Malo: M 4611/12 arrived from Granville. 2315, Malo: Urgent teletypes from Sea Commandant Normandy report location and engagement of naval targets north of Cap de la Hague by shore batteries.

Remark: At this time no friendly vessels or convoys were in the Cherbourg area, so the targets must unquestionably have been enemy vessels. Their turning away was reported at the same time, and no further radar detections were received during the night. The office therefore saw no reason to hold back V 209/10’s Cherbourg–Alderney convoy scheduled for 0400 on 25 November. Signed for the commander, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0631–0632, original pages 16–18.