29 December 1942

29 December 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-east to east force 6–7, gusting 8, visibility decreasing then 10 nautical miles, cloudy, isolated rain showers, sea 4–5, moderate and conspicuous swell.

0030, Jersey: C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, entered from the roads owing to weather. 0330, Malo: V 711/22 anchored with night troop convoy in the roads. Remark: sudden deterioration in the weather impaired convoy operations.

Tasks: (1) RO 8 and Meteor Malo–Jersey; (2) V 210/13 passage to Cherbourg for degaussing; (3) complete Corona and Spes-Salutis convoy Granville–Malo; (4) route sweep with ORG, first Cherbourg–Malo; (5) steamers Flensburg, Sundowitt and Uddebo Cherbourg–Malo; (6) Franka and Weber Alderney–Cherbourg, as task 4 of 28 December; (7) convoy Cherbourg–Alderney. Assigned: (1) V 208 and M 4613/11; (2) sailing refused because the degaussing loop at Cherbourg was not operational; (3) V 212/09; (4) M 4620/22/24/25; (5) M 4621/23; (6–7) V 703/04.

0345, Cherbourg: A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, arrived from Malo. 0800, Guernsey: Paul et Janine and Arques sailed for Jersey. 0930, Malo: V 711/22 entered from Malo roads with Minotaure, Holland and La France. 0940, Granville: V 212/09 sailed with Corona and Spes-Salutis for Malo. 1110, Jersey: Paul et Janine and Arques arrived from Guernsey. 1350, Malo: V 212/09 arrived with convoy from Granville.

Remark: after completing the convoy, its leader, the commanding officer of V 212, reported that Corona, lying at Jersey with a cargo for Malo, had been sent to Guernsey on 23 December with combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey under M 4613/12/07. Correct notification could have enabled the 46th Minesweeper Flotilla boats, subsequently returning, to escort Jersey–Malo. Corona was then carried with V 212/09 on 28 December Guernsey–Jersey–Granville and on 29 December Granville–Malo. Thus poor arrangements by the harbour commandant at Jersey caused this vessel to burden three convoys through unnecessary passages, reducing their speed and hindering their freedom of manoeuvre. [Contemporary writer's criticism; the original sentence concerning the available return escort is faint.]

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 28 December: item 1 only as far as Alderney; item 3 only as far as Granville owing to weather. Escorted tonnage on 28 December: 6,350 GRT. Situation for 29 December: (1) V 703/04 with Franka and Weber Alderney–Cherbourg; (2) V 711/22 complete night troop convoy of 28/29 December Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, then readiness; (3) V 212/09 with Spes-Salutis and Corona only Granville–Malo; (4) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, route sweep in Jersey roads between Ida 5 and Ida 11; (5) A Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, complete route sweep with ORG Malo–Cherbourg, then (6) M 4620/22/24/25 route sweep with ORG Cherbourg–Malo; (7) M 4621/23 night convoy Cherbourg–Malo with Flensburg, Uddebo and Sundowitt; (8) V 208/10/07/13 and B Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, ready at Malo; no convoys owing to heavy seas. Escorted tonnage: 3,400 GRT.

Intentions for 30 December: (1) V 703/04 Cherbourg–Alderney with convoy; (2) V 711/22 and V 209/10/12/13 ready at Malo; (3) M 4611/12/13 independently Malo–Granville, then combined convoy Granville–Jersey–Guernsey; (4) V 207/08 with Meteor and RO 8 Malo–Jersey; (5) M 4620/22/24/25 complete route sweep with ORG Cherbourg–Malo; (6) M 4621/23 complete convoy Flensburg, Uddebo and Sundowitt Cherbourg–Malo; (7) C Group, 46th Minesweeper Flotilla, with SSG Jersey–Granville, checking the roads there, then with SSG Granville–Malo.

As bad weather with fairly rough to heavy seas continued, I sent the following supplement to 3rd Security Division. Correction to situation for 29 December owing to worsening weather: item 1 weather permitting; item 4 cancelled owing to rough/heavy seas; items 6 and 7, six boats' equipment passage weather permitting, possibly without sweeping gear; item 7 convoy cancelled. During the evening the intention to bring A Group from Cherbourg to Malo with ORG also had to be abandoned. Signed Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0674–0675, original pages 25–27.