29 November 1942

29 November 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: North-west force 3–4, overcast to cloudy, visibility 10–12 nautical miles, early haze; sea 2, low long north-west swell.

0115, Guernsey: M 4611/12 arrived from Jersey. 0230, Guernsey: M 4611/12 sailed for Malo with Rob. Müller 8 and Nestor. 0300, Noirmont Point: V 209/10 released Holland and continued to Guernsey. 0515, Guernsey: V 209/10 released Minotaure and turned back to search for Schokland, lost from sight in grid BF 3831. 0740, Guernsey: V 209/10 returned after unsuccessful search.

Remark: The convoy commander, commanding officer V 209, reported that at the Minquiers north buoy Schokland had failed to follow the convoy. Despite repeated instructions from V 210 she maintained a direct course for Guernsey, while the convoy proceeded towards Jersey to release Holland. After releasing Holland, an immediate prolonged search along the direct Malo–Guernsey course was unsuccessful. The convoy commander therefore decided first to bring the troop convoy to Guernsey, then search again for Schokland.

0800, Jersey: V 703/04 arrived from Brest for Convoy Control Office. 0820, Malo: M 4601/06 sailed for route sweeping with SSG Malo–Granville and back. 0900, Le Four Channel: V 712/29 anchored with Mary. Remark: The convoy has thus been carried out as planned.

0915, Malo: M 4611/12 arrived from Guernsey. 1000, Guernsey: Steamer Schokland arrived from Malo.

Remark: Schokland’s captain was making his first voyage in the Channel Islands area, having previously sailed only from Lorient. He later stated that her MES magnetic protection system had failed shortly after leaving St Malo, so he had to avoid shallower water. The diary writer considers it unacceptable that he failed to report this and independently departed from the convoy without notice. The escorting patrol boats could not know that Schokland had stopped west of Corbière for three hours to rejoin the convoy. The convoy commander reported that he refrained from compelling her by force of arms to remain with the convoy because he wished to avoid alarming the shore batteries, which he feared might then fire on him, or attracting any nearby enemy at sea or in the air, particularly as Schokland carried no troops. The incident has been reported to Sea Transport Chief so her captain can be held accountable and recurrence prevented. The convoy commander’s decision to bring the troop convoy safely to its destination before renewing the search is considered correct.

1000, Cherbourg: A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla arrived from Malo.

Requests: (1) Comptoir 51 and 66, Rabat, Point à Pitre and Naphta II in tow of G. Guynemer Guernsey–Granville; (2) Hydra Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) Gerfried, Schwalbe, Spinel and Weber Alderney–Cherbourg; (4) night troop convoy Nordplein, replacing Irene, Jersey–Guernsey; (5) return convoy Nordplein Guernsey–Jersey; (6) night troop convoy Claus Wilhelm from Guernsey to Jersey, RO 45 and Minotaure to Malo, Holland from Jersey to Malo; (7) route sweeping with ORG at deepest setting Cherbourg–St Malo; (8) route sweeping with SSG Malo–Granville and back.

Orders: (1) V 213 and M 4602/04, afterwards independently to Malo; (2–3) V 711/22; (4–5) V 703/04; (6) V 207/08; (7) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla; (8) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Special occurrence: Schokland lost from sight in BF 3811 [earlier narrative BF 3831] during night troop convoy of 28/29 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey and not found despite searches. She entered Guernsey five hours later than convoy. Correction to situation for 28 November: item 5, to Cherbourg owing to weather; item 7, independently Jersey–Guernsey owing to weather.

Situation for 29 November: (1) V 209/10 complete night troop convoy of 28/29 November Malo–Jersey–Guernsey, ready; (2) V 711/22 evening convoy Cherbourg–Alderney; (3) V 207/08 night troop convoy of 29/30 November Claus Wilhelm from Guernsey to Jersey, Minotaure to Malo, Holland from Jersey to Malo; (4) M 4611/12 early convoy Rob. Müller 8 and Meteor Guernsey–Malo, ready [Meteor here, Nestor in timed departure]; (5) V 213 and M 4602/04 with Rabat, Pointe à Pitre, Comptoir 51, Guynemer and Naphta II Guernsey–Granville, then independently to Malo; (6) V 703/04 complete Brest–Jersey passage, then night troop convoy of 29/30 November Nordplein Jersey–Guernsey; (7) M 4601/06 route sweeping with SSG Malo–Granville and back; (8) M 4600/05 repairs at Malo; (9) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla route sweeping with ORG Cherbourg–Malo. Escorted tonnage: 5,400 GRT.

Intentions for 30 November: (1) V 209/10 night troop convoy of 30 November/1 December Karel Guernsey–Alderney; (2) V 711/22 convoy Alderney–Cherbourg; (3) V 207/08 complete night troop convoy of 29/30 November Guernsey–Jersey–Malo, ready; (4) M 4611/12 at Malo available for anti-aircraft course; (5) V 213 ready at Malo; (6) V 703/04 early convoy Nordplein Guernsey–Jersey, rest; (7) C group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla fitting out at Malo; (8) A group of 46th Minesweeping Flotilla complete route sweeping with ORG Cherbourg–Malo, fitting out.

1415, Malo: Alert I cancelled. 1530, Guernsey: V 213 and M 4602/04 sailed with combined convoy for Granville. 1700, Guernsey: V 207/08 sailed with night troop convoy for Jersey–Malo. 1730, Cherbourg: V 711/22 sailed with Hydra for Alderney. 1815, Malo: Alert I ordered. 1945, Cherbourg: M 4621/23/24/25 sailed for route sweeping with ORG towards Malo. 2000, Jersey: V 207/08 released Claus Wilhelm and took Holland into convoy for Malo. 2025, Jersey: Claus Wilhelm entered. 2025, Alderney: V 711/22 arrived with Hydra from Cherbourg. 2100, Alderney: V 711/22 sailed for Cherbourg with Gerfried, Schwalbe, Weber and Spinel. 2230, Jersey, St Aubin’s Bay roads: V 703/04 sailed with Nordplein for Guernsey. 2245, Granville: V 213 and M 4602/04 released convoy and proceeded to Malo. Signed for the commander, Wunderlich.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0636–0637, original pages 26–29.