24 September 1942

24 September 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South-west to west, fresh breeze to strong wind, gusting to near gale; variable cloud with occasional heavy showers; visibility outside showers 10–15 nautical miles; towards morning [handwritten insertion] decreasing to a light to moderate breeze; moderate to rather rough sea with high south-westerly swell.

0300, Guernsey: V 209/08 arrived with convoy from Malo. Requests: (1) troop convoy Guernsey–Malo with RO 21 and RO 8; (2) Spinel Cherbourg–Alderney, then with troops to Guernsey. I assign V 212/08 to (1) [as printed, although the situation below gives V 209/08/M 4611], and V 710/24 to (2). Convoy (2) subsequently has to be cancelled again because of the weather.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Situation for 24 September: (1) V 713/02/UJ 1407/01 ready at Cherbourg because of the weather; (2) V 710/24 night convoy of 24/25 September, Spinel Cherbourg–Alderney, then Spinel with troops to Guernsey; (3) V 209/08 complete the night troop convoy of 23/24 September, Minotaure Malo–Guernsey, then with M 4611 night troop convoy of 24/25 September, RO 8 and RO 21 Guernsey–Malo; (4) V 707 under repair at Guernsey; (5) V 705 ready at Guernsey; (6) V 207 MES repairs at Malo; (7) V 212/M 4604/05/01/02 ready at Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,800 GRT [corrected on 25 September to 900].

Intentions for 25 September, if the weather improves: (1) V 710/24 with Spinel Guernsey–Cherbourg, then task (2); (2) V 713/02/710/24/UJ 1407/01 evening bridge convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) V 209/08/M 4611 complete night troop convoy of 24/25 September Guernsey–Malo, ready; (4) V 707/05 night evacuee convoy of 25/26 September with Minotaure, La France and Robert Müller 8, Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (5) V 212/07 ready at Malo; (6) M 4605/04 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (7) M 4611/01/02 ready to protect firing practice at Paimpol.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scan 0521, original pages 15–16. The source contains inconsistent escort pairings; these are retained.