13 March 1942 Part 1

13 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: southerly moderate breeze, calm sea, clear visibility. Fog prevented V 210/V 208 from beginning the return passage Alderney–Guernsey with troops. Under divisional Gkdos 694 and verbal discussion with A I, V 209/V 204/V 206 and Siebel ferry 110 were held available at St Malo.

V 211/V 212 were made available for the Cherbourg–Alderney return escort requested under Cherbourg harbour commandant Gkdos 320, carrying General Bohnstedt and Kapitän zur See Pink. Commanding Admiral France Gkdos 2425 authorised daylight escort of Livadia, Midsland and Schwalbe Cherbourg–Alderney; this was carried out. The convoy St Malo’s harbour commandant requested for Jersey and Guernsey could only be promised for 14 March because three patrol boats had to remain ready at St Malo under Gkdos 694.

Situation: V 207/V 213 boiler cleaning and condenser repairs Brest. V 211/V 212 ready Cherbourg, afternoon convoy Livadia/Midsland/Schwalbe to Alderney under the daylight authorisation, returning Cherbourg. V 210/V 208 ready Alderney, Holland to Guernsey overnight 13/14 March, weather permitting. V 206/V 204 Jersey–St Malo, then ready under Gkdos 694; V 209 ready there under that order; V 205 in dock Cherbourg. Escorted tonnage: 4,829 GRT. Tug Gourry ready at Jersey from 24:00 on 13 March.

Intention for 14 March: V 207/V 213 boiler cleaning/condenser repairs Brest. V 211/V 212 Cherbourg–Alderney with yacht Georgi and back. V 210/V 208 Guernsey–Jersey–St Malo, night convoy Holland. V 204/V 209 from St Malo overnight with H 23, Adolphe le Prince and Claus Wilhelm carrying troops as far as Guernsey; then without convoy to Cherbourg to relieve V 211/V 212. V 206 ready St Malo; V 205 in dock Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0278.