24 March 1942

24 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: ENE strong to stiff wind, visibility 5 nautical miles, rather rough sea. The narrative first says V 207/V 204 escorted Holstein with troops Guernsey–Alderney, but subsequently says they could not leave Guernsey with Holstein owing to NE wind and heavy sea. [This contradiction is expressly raised by the divisional review of 21 April.] V 210/V 208 arrive St Malo from Jersey with Livadia, Holland and Robert Müller 8 and are again available for a night convoy: RO 8 with about 800 men for Guernsey. V 206/V 209 arrive St Malo from Guernsey at 12:00; V 209 cleans boilers. V 212/V 211 leave at 11:30 with Olwe to provide anti-aircraft protection in her working area. The convoy requested for RO 8 with 700 men leaves St Malo at 23:00 with V 210/V 208 for Guernsey. [Both troop figures occur in the source.]

Situation: V 213 condenser repair Brest; V 212/V 211 St Malo–working area with Olwe; V 210/V 208 Jersey–St Malo, then 23:00 with RO 8 and troops to Guernsey; V 207/V 204 listed Guernsey–Alderney with Holstein; V 206/V 209 Guernsey–St Malo, V 206 ready and V 209 boiler cleaning; V 205 dock Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 1,703 GRT.

Intention for 25 March: V 213 repair Brest; V 212/V 211 protect Olwe; V 210/V 208 ready after arriving Guernsey; V 207/V 204 Alderney–Cherbourg with Schwalbe and Claus Wilhelm; V 206 St Malo–Jersey with patrol pair 707, tug Stier, tugs and barges; V 209 boiler cleaning St Malo; V 205 dock Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0288.