25 January 1942

25 January 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Worsening weather during the night again made the day’s intentions doubtful. At 21:30 on 24 January, Cherbourg’s harbour commandant had reported cancellation of the Alderney convoy; V 205/V 206 therefore remained at Cherbourg. M 4007/M 4000 sailed from Guernsey at 00:00 with RO 8 but turned back and re-entered. The Jersey–Guernsey convoy of M 4005/M 4003 was also cancelled. M 4008/M 4010 sailed after a two-hour weather delay; the requested fighter protection was correspondingly postponed by telephone with Fighter Command 3. Poor communications again hindered adapting orders to the changed situation.

Situation, 25 January: only M 4008/M 4010 sailed with steamer H 49 from St Malo to Guernsey at 11:15; M 4010 returned to St Malo at 14:15. M 4005/M 4003 at Jersey; M 4007/M 4000 at Guernsey. V 213 ready; V 208 under repair; V 212 in dock at St Malo. V 205/V 206 and M 4006 ready at Cherbourg.

Intention for 26 January, weather permitting: V 205/V 206 without convoy from Cherbourg to Jersey; at 13:00 from Jersey with Hubbastone and Helma for Granville, then St Malo. M 4005/M 4003 from Jersey with Diamant and Adolph le Prince for Guernsey, then back to Jersey. M 4007/M 4000 from Guernsey with RO 8 to Alderney, then with a transporter to Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage on 25 January: 2,150 gross registered tons.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scan 0235, original pages 6–7.