12 February 1942 Part 1

12 February 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Convoys proceeded as intended. At Jersey I had discussed a signal station on Corbière lighthouse with the harbour commandant. Its proposed removal to Plemont probably explained why it was no longer manned. Corbière should be retained because it lies on the convoy routes; Plemont on the island’s north side is too far from them.

In the afternoon I attended a meeting chaired by Naval Commander Channel Coast’s chief of staff about transport and inter-island convoys. Difficulties remained for leave traffic through St Malo from 1 March: preparations had not been made, particularly accommodation and air-raid shelters. In a separate discussion aboard V 206 with Kapitän zur See Friekel [name reading], I stressed better lighting of St Malo’s entrance for regular night troop arrivals and relighting the buoys west of the Minquiers.

Situation: V 208/V 212 at 13:00 from Jersey with Helma, Claus Wilhelm and Diamant via Granville to St Malo. V 205/V 206 replenishment. M 4007/M 4008 ready Cherbourg for the division [restriction cancelled]; M 4000/M 4006 ready St Malo. M 4005/V 1705 at 10:10 from Guernsey with Adolph le Prince to Jersey, returning with Holland, Maas and three barges. V 213 repairs and cleaning. Escorted tonnage: 6,033 GRT.

Intention for 13 February: V 208/V 212 replenishment St Malo. V 206/V 205 with M 4000/M 4006 from St Malo with troop convoy Karel and H 49 to Guernsey. M 4007/M 4008 ready Cherbourg for the division; M 4005/V 1705 Guernsey–St Malo without convoy; V 213 repairs and cleaning. Fighter Command 3 refused fighter protection.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0252.