30 January 1942

30 January 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Wind and sea gradually abated during the night. M 1208/M 4008 and later all other convoys sailed in accordance with the plan, except those at Cherbourg, which could not be carried out because of wind and sea. At 07:30 M 4010/M 4003 continued towards Morlaix. The intended relief of congestion in the island harbours was achieved; the forecast for 31 January was again unfavourable. The diary notes that co-operation with harbour authorities was gradually settling down but that prompt reports of departures and arrivals remained essential.

No wireless station was available to the convoy office all day. The only boat in harbour had no steam because its boiler was being cleaned, and the harbour commandant’s wireless station had failed. 17:30: M 4010/M 4003 were secured at Morlaix; further work with the Siebel ferries awaited favourable weather.

Situation 30 January: V 208/V 212/M 4005 sailed from Guernsey at 10:00 with H 49, Holstein and Stier for Malo; M 1208/M 4008 sailed from Malo at 05:00 via Granville to Jersey with Claus Wilhelm, then at 12:00 from Jersey with H 2 for Malo; V 206/V 213 sailed from Jersey at 10:45 with Derfflinger, Karel, Nestor and Comptoir to Guernsey and returned with Adolph le Prince, Favorit, Diamant and Mazagan; M 4010/M 4003 continued at 07:00 from Cap Fréhel towards Morlaix; V 205 continued boiler cleaning. Escorted tonnage: 6,705 gross registered tons.

Intention for 31 January, weather permitting: V 208/V 212 from Malo at 09:00 with Kurland and Morland, towed by M 4008, B 113/5 S with two barges and H 23 for Jersey; H 23 and the tug convoy to be released there, while Hubbastone, Comptoir 66 and Point a Pietre were to continue to Guernsey. V 206/V 213 at 09:30 from Jersey with Robert Muller 8 for Malo. M 4007/M 4000/M 4006 for the night convoy of 30/31 January, RO 8 and three coasters to Alderney and back. V 205 boiler cleaning; M 1208 again available to the 3rd Security Division.

Worsening weather again exposed inadequate communications. Telephone connections were unobtainable or unintelligible; a teletype from Guernsey to St Malo took over eight hours despite its SSD urgency marking.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scan 0237, original pages 10–11.