12 March 1942

12 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: light winds, visibility 2–4 nautical miles, very calm to calm sea. V 210/V 208 proceeded via Jersey to Guernsey, taking over Holland with 120 men for Alderney. The convoy sailed again at 04:00 and reached Alderney at 13:20 [handwritten time reading]. Jersey’s harbour commandant requested a Jersey–St Malo convoy for 21:00. V 204/V 206 were ordered to Jersey at 15:00 for this purpose; they sailed from Jersey at 21:00 with troops in H 13, Claus Wilhelm, Derfflinger, and B 113 S with H 224, arriving St Malo at 03:30.

Situation reported to the division: V 207/V 213 boiler cleaning/demagnetisation Brest. V 211/V 212 ready Cherbourg, night convoy not yet known. V 210/V 208 Guernsey–Alderney with Holland and troops, returning to Guernsey at night. V 206/V 204 St Malo–Jersey without convoy, returning with Claus Wilhelm, Derfflinger and H 13 carrying troops. V 209 ready St Malo; V 205 in dock Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 4,698 GRT.

Intention for 13 March: V 207/V 213 boiler cleaning/demagnetisation Brest. V 210/V 208 ready Guernsey, night troop convoy via Jersey to St Malo. V 206/V 204 Jersey–St Malo, then readiness under divisional Gkdos 694; V 209 ready St Malo under the same order. V 205 in dock Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0277.