24 January 1942

24 January 1942 St Malo convoy diary

During the night, worsening weather made the day’s programme impracticable. The harbour commandant’s teleprinter failed and telephone links with the islands were partly disrupted; a clear picture was obtained only around 10:00. I inspected the lock watch and signal tower because a naval signal station was urgently required. Everything was available to establish one quickly. Its absence today meant taking over an hour to pass an order to two boats in the roadstead. After an oral discussion with Kapitänleutnant Budde, I took over the Cherbourg convoy service. This was reported by teletype to Commander of Security West, the 3rd Security Division and Sea Commander Normandy, reference G 202. Strong wind and sea delayed or prevented completion of yesterday’s tasks.

Situation 24 January 1942: M 4005/M 4003 sailed from St Malo to Granville in the morning; at 13:00 they left Granville with Diamant and Adolph le Prince for Jersey. V 213 and M 4008/M 4010 left Jersey at 09:30 with Holland for Granville, then Malo. M 4007/M 4000 left Guernsey at 24:00 with RO 8 for Alderney, then Cherbourg. V 208 under boiler cleaning and condenser repair; V 212 in dock; V 205/V 206 ready at Cherbourg and departed Cherbourg at 18:30 with a transporter for Alderney, then St Malo.

Intention for 25 January 1942: M 4005/M 4003 with Diamant and Adolph le Prince to Guernsey, then onward to Alderney; M 4007/M 4000 to coal at Cherbourg; M 4008/M 4010 to leave Malo at 09:30 with H 49, Karel and Derfflinger for Guernsey; V 205/V 206/V 213 ready; V 208 under repair and boiler cleaning; V 212 docked.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scan 0234, original pages 4–5.