26 February 1942

26 February 1942 St Malo convoy diary

The weather had not appreciably improved. V 207/V 210 departed Jersey late on 26 February with Diamant and Hubbastone for Granville. In darkness, the coasters Claus Wilhelm and Favorit could not find their escorts and re-entered Granville; V 207/V 210 continued to Jersey with the remaining convoy. Requests from Granville and Cherbourg could not be met because only two sections were ready. As already stated, at least seven sections were needed for the growing convoy service, allowing two for boiler cleaning and other work.

Situation: V 208/V 213 ready Cherbourg; heavy seas prevented convoys. V 205/V 206 from Guernsey with Ad. le Prince, Rabat and Tourane for Jersey, Comptoir 66 and Holland for Granville, H 23 and Derfflinger for St Malo; collect Holstein, B 113 S and one barge at Jersey for St Malo. V 210/V 207 from Granville with Favorit for Jersey, Maas for Guernsey and RO 8 for Alderney [Favorit’s inclusion conflicts with the narrative above]. V 211 boiler cleaning and repairs; V 204 degaussing trials at Cherbourg, V 209 ready there. Escorted tonnage here: 8,748 GRT; closing table: 9,748.

Intention for 27 February: V 208/V 213, if weather moderates, with two coasters to Alderney and Midsland back to Cherbourg. V 205/V 212 from St Malo about 14:00 with H 2 carrying troops for Jersey and Schockland for Guernsey. V 210/V 207 return convoy Alderney–Guernsey–Jersey–Granville; vessels not yet known. V 211 repairs. V 204 to return Guernsey–St Malo after timely degaussing trials; V 206 boiler cleaning. With only two sections available, other requested convoys were cancelled.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0268.