16 March 1942

16 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Secret Command Matter. War Diary of the Convoy Control Office St Malo, 16–31 March 1942. The title names Korvettenkapitän Rall as acting head for 16–28 March and Fregattenkapitän Dr Diederichs from 29 March. [Handwritten cover file number uncertain.]

Weather: S–SW weak to moderate breeze, visibility 2–5 nautical miles, calm to slight sea. The troop convoy requested on 15 March is ordered for today: Schockland, H 2, Karel and Claus Wilhelm for Jersey; H 49 and H 23 for Guernsey; Holland for Alderney. V 204/V 209 escort the latter group and, after releasing Holland at Alderney, relieve V 211/V 212 at Cherbourg. V 211/V 212 then bring Holland from Alderney to St Malo. V 210/V 206 escort Schockland, H 2, Karel and Claus Wilhelm to Jersey and remain ready overnight. V 208 is unfit owing to cooling-water pipe repairs.

Correction to 15 March, point 2: V 211/V 212 Cherbourg–Alderney and back; escorted vessels not known. [A crossed-out correction for 30 March, including 1,505 GRT, appears here but is not a 16 March entry.]

Situation: V 207/V 213 condenser repairs at Brest; V 211/V 212 ready Cherbourg; V 210/V 206 St Malo–Jersey overnight with Schockland, H 2, Karel and Claus Wilhelm; V 204/V 209 St Malo–Jersey with Holland, H 49, H 23 and Kurland; V 208 listed ready St Malo despite the repair narrative; V 205 docked Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 11,240 GRT.

Intention for 17 March: V 213 condenser repair Brest; V 211/V 212, after relief by V 204/V 209, Cherbourg–Alderney then Holland to St Malo; V 210/V 206 Jersey–Guernsey without convoy, then overnight Diamant, Granville, R 45 and Holstein to St Malo; V 204/V 209 Guernsey–Alderney with Holland, then Cherbourg to relieve; V 208 cooling-water supply repair St Malo; V 205 dock Cherbourg; V 207 Brest–Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0283–0285.