4 October 1942

4 October 1942 St Malo Convoy Control Office

Weather: South to south-west, light to weak breeze; high fog, lifting in places, otherwise visibility 2–5 nautical miles; widespread coastal fog in the morning; very smooth sea.

0100, Malo: V 707/209 sailed with La France for Jersey, Minotaure and Holland for Guernsey. [Time amended, apparently 0320], Guernsey: V 713/02 arrived with convoy from Alderney. 0115, Alderney: V 713/02 sailed with RO 8 and Spinel for Guernsey. 0400, off Granville: V 710/24 searched for Rheinland’s convoy but could not find it in the fog.

Remark: The boats should have reported by radio that they were two hours late, allowing the troop transport’s departure from Granville to be cancelled. However, Harbour Commandant Granville reported by SSD teletype—incorrectly, as later emerged—that V 710/24 had sailed from Granville at 0230 with the troop transport. I therefore initially failed to notice that V 710/24 had arrived two hours late and had not taken over the convoy.

0445, Granville: V 710/24 proceeded to Jersey after failing to find Rheinland and being unable to enter Granville. 0515, Jersey: V 707/209 released La France and continued with convoy to Guernsey. 0810, Jersey: V 710/24 arrived. Remark: Only the telephone arrival report from Jersey made fully clear that Rheinland had not been found. I immediately initiated a search and located her off Granville after the weather cleared [word amended]. Ordered her to enter as soon as possible; V 710/24 ordered to Granville.

Requests: (1) daylight combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (2) night troop convoy from Guernsey, Minotaure, Holland and RO 8, joined by La France at Jersey, to Malo; (3) night troop convoy Spinel Guernsey–Alderney; (4) night troop convoy Spinel Alderney–Cherbourg; (5) night troop convoy Rheinland Granville–Jersey, see item 5 of 3 October. I assign M 4605/04 to (1), V 707/209 to (2), V 713/02 to (3) and (4), and V 710/24 to (5), first independently Jersey–Granville again.

0810, Malo: Report received of an enemy landing operation on Sark. Enquiries for details remained fruitless throughout the day. 0815, Guernsey: M 4605/04 sailed with Pointe à Pitre for Jersey and Karel, Ostflandern and Presto Quatrième for Malo. 0830, Guernsey: V 707/209 arrived with convoy from Malo; V 707 grounded in the entrance. 1010, Jersey: M 4605/04 released Pointe à Pitre and took Chiemsee, Irene, tug H 65 and four barges into the convoy. 1105, Guernsey: V 707 refloated and entered. 1140, Jersey: V 710/24 sailed for Granville. 1200, Le Havre: UJ 1407/01 entered, as fog made entry into Ouistreham impossible. 1230, Malo: V 213, M 4430 and seven lobster boats arrived from Morlaix.

The following was sent to 3rd Security Division. Correction to 3 October: Item 1: M 4612 remained at Cherbourg because of an unready engine. Situation for 4 October: (1) V 713/02 complete night troop convoy of 3/4 October Alderney–Guernsey with RO 8 and Spinel; evening night troop convoy of 4/5 October Guernsey–Alderney; (2) UJ 1407/01 entered Le Havre because of fog, evening passage to Ouistreham, then with V 210 to Cherbourg; (3) V 710/24 could not find Rheinland off Granville in fog, independently to Jersey, later independently Jersey–Granville.

(4) V 213, M 4430 and seven lobster boats arrived at Malo; (5) V 707/209 complete night troop convoy of 3/4 October Guernsey–Jersey–Malo [direction as printed], then on 4/5 October bring Minotaure, Holland and RO 8 from Guernsey and La France from Jersey to Malo; (6) M 4605/04 combined convoy Guernsey–Jersey–Malo; (7) M 4611/01/02 resting at Lézardrieux; (8) M 4612 at Cherbourg for minor repairs. 7,000 GRT.

Intentions for 5 October: (1) V 713/02 morning Spinel convoy Alderney–Cherbourg, evening ready for second bridge convoy; (2) UJ 1407/01 and V 210 complete Ouistreham–Cherbourg passage, evening ready for bridge convoy; (3) V 710/24 night 4/5 October Rheinland convoy Granville–Jersey, then independently to Cherbourg, ready for bridge convoy; (4) M 4430 and lobster boats at Malo available for navigation-training course; (5) V 213 ready at Malo; (6) M 4605/04 at Malo for degaussing-loop test; (7) V 707/209 complete night 4/5 October Guernsey–Jersey–Malo convoy and stand ready; (8) M 4611/01/02 control the firing area off Paimpol; (9) M 4612 minor repairs at Cherbourg.

1530, Granville: V 710/24 arrived from Jersey. 1745, Malo: M 4605/04 arrived with combined convoy from Guernsey and Jersey. 1910, Le Havre: UJ 1407/01 sailed for Ouistreham to collect V 210 for Cherbourg. 2245, Guernsey: V 707/209 sailed with Minotaure, RO 8 and Holland for Malo. 2400, Guernsey: V 713/02 sailed with Spinel for Alderney.

Signed: Dr Diederichs.

T-1022 Roll 2423, scans 0534–0536, original pages 6–8.