26 March 1942

26 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: E light breeze, visibility 2–5 nautical miles, calm sea. V 210/V 208 sail after dark from Guernsey via Jersey and Granville to St Malo, with Maas and Diamant for Granville and RO 45 from Jersey for St Malo. The division requests an urgent evening convoy at Guernsey for RO 8 with troops and tanks to Alderney. V 207/V 204 are ordered by teletype to be at Guernsey at 18:00 and carry it out. With no other boats available, the convoys envisaged by Cherbourg harbour command have to be cancelled. V 210/V 208 are ordered to leave St Malo roadstead about 20:00 with H 13 carrying troops for Jersey, and Livadia, Derfflinger and Karel for Guernsey; this convoy sails as planned.

Correction to 25 March, point 4: Alderney–Cherbourg without convoy, overnight Cherbourg–Alderney with Gerfried. Corrected tonnage: 9,088 GRT. Situation: V 213 condenser repair Brest; V 212/V 211 protect Olwe; V 210/V 208 Jersey–Granville–St Malo with Maas, Diamant and RO 45, then the night troop convoy from St Malo with H 13, Livadia, Derfflinger and Karel. V 207/V 204 Alderney–Guernsey without convoy, then overnight back to Alderney with RO 8, troops and tanks. V 206 Jersey–St Malo with six tugs and six barges, Stier armed; V 209 boiler cleaning St Malo; V 205 dock Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 16,116 GRT.

Intention for 27 March: V 213 repair Brest; V 212/V 211 protect Olwe; V 210/V 208 Jersey–Guernsey with Livadia, Derfflinger and Karel, then night troop convoy back to St Malo; V 207/V 204 Alderney–Cherbourg; V 206 St Malo–Granville with armed Stier, then Granville–Jersey with Helma, Rabat, Gabes, Georges Gunivers [typed spelling], H 33 and H 67; V 209 boiler cleaning St Malo; V 205 dock Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0289.