9 May 1942

9 May 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo. Easterly moderate breeze, cloudy to overcast, visibility five to eight nautical miles. 09:00: V 203’s commander, Oberleutnant zur See Schneidt, reports that V 202/03 have returned from their yard period to Cherbourg and are again in the 2nd Patrol Flotilla’s area. I order them to escort two suction dredgers from Cherbourg to St Malo if weather permits; otherwise to sail without convoy.

15:00: correction to 8 May, item 4: V 1510/213 Alderney–Cherbourg with Hermes, Lena, Gerfried and Henka; item 7: V 203/02 leave Dieppe westward at 21:00. Corrected tonnage 7,350 GRT. Situation: V 210/12 eastward from Guernsey; V 208/09 Jersey–Guernsey with senior naval and army officers, return to Jersey without convoy, then continue the convoy listed on 8 May, item 2, plus H 23, during night 9/10 May; V 207/06 protect Olwe; V 1510/213 ready Cherbourg for weather-dependent convoys; V 204/05 ready St Malo; V 211 unready St Malo; V 203/02 Cherbourg–St Malo with two suction dredgers if weather permits. Tonnage 5,500 GRT.

Intentions for 10 May: V 210/12 eastward from Le Havre; V 208/09 ready Guernsey for possible St Malo convoy; V 207/06 Cherbourg–Guernsey without convoy to escort H 23 to Cherbourg; V 1510/213 ready Cherbourg for possible weather-dependent convoys; V 204/05 St Malo–Jersey night 10/11 May and return; V 211 unready St Malo; V 203/02 ready after arrival St Malo. 17:00: V 203/02 leave Cherbourg without the dredgers because the sea is fairly rough. 18:00: V 210/12 leave Guernsey for Le Havre for their yard period.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0340.