9 April 1942

9 April 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: SW strong to stiff wind, visibility three to five nautical miles, moderate to fairly rough sea; at 20:30 WSW stiff wind, visibility five nautical miles, rough sea. V 1510/704 with Gaulois have reached Cherbourg. I report to the 3rd and 2nd Security Divisions, asking the latter for onward escort. Cherbourg has so far requested no convoys under BSW Gkdos 2108 connected with transport of the bridge to Alderney. The Sea Transport Chief asks that RO 8, now at Alderney, go to Jersey tonight instead of Guernsey; V 209/10 receive the corresponding order. Tonight’s intended St Malo–Jersey–Guernsey troop convoy is cancelled owing to stormy weather.

For the Granville–Jersey–Guernsey convoy on 10 April I designate V 207/04, ordering passage through St Malo lock at 12:00, unescorted passage to Granville and convoy takeover there at 15:00. V 209/10 are ordered to pass into St Malo early on 10 April so that they can be available for the next troop convoy [amended text partly unclear].

Correction to 8 April: item 1, readiness Guernsey; item 2, add the evening Guernsey–St Malo passage with Holland and Siebel ferry. Corrected tonnage 5,500 GRT. Situation: V 206/08 ready Guernsey; V 207/13 complete the convoy in the correction, then ready St Malo; V 209/10 night RO 8 Alderney–Jersey; V 1510/704 ready Cherbourg, possible night Cherbourg–Alderney and back according to weather; V 204 ready St Malo; V 211 coaling St Malo; V 212 boiler cleaning; V 205 dock Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage initially 2,000 GRT; corrected on 10 April to 850 GRT.

Intentions for 10 April: V 206/08 evening Guernsey–St Malo troop convoy; V 207/13 ready St Malo; V 209/10 ready Jersey; V 1510/704 ready Cherbourg, night convoys weather permitting; V 204/11 degaussing-range passage and compensation; V 212 boiler cleaning; V 205 dock Cherbourg. 20:30: V 209/10 report that the passage to Jersey will not begin because of stormy weather and RO 8 being unready.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0306–0307.