14 May 1942 Part 1

14 May 1942 St Malo convoy diary

[Entry resumes mid-sentence on original page 20; its opening is on missing page 19.] The requirement for at least two 2 cm anti-aircraft guns on each vessel is only partly met in this transport of five vessels: Diamant has two 2 cm guns and Helma one.

Correction to 13 May: item 3, V 203/11; item 7, V 202 ready St Malo for minor repairs. Situation: V 210/12 eastward passage; V 208/09 Alderney–Cherbourg with Livadia, then Cherbourg–Guernsey without convoy; V 207/06 ready Guernsey, then according to divisional special orders; V 202/1510 ready St Malo, V 202 minor repairs; V 203/11 Guernsey–St Malo without convoy, listening training at sea; V 204/05 ready Cherbourg, then according to divisional special orders; V 213 boiler cleaning St Malo. Lock closed 09:00–20:00 for urgent repairs. Tonnage 3,100 GRT.

Intentions for 15 May: V 210/12 Amsterdam, begin yard period; V 208/09 Guernsey–Cherbourg with Olwe on completion of its task; V 207/06 Guernsey–St Malo to replenish stores after completing special task; V 202/1510 ready St Malo, V 202 anchor windlass unserviceable; V 203/11 St Malo–Guernsey for night convoy, with UAS training party aboard; V 204/05 Cherbourg for convoys after completing special task; V 213 unready St Malo. The harbour commandant reports the lock will again be out of use on 15 May, 10:00–20:00, for urgent repairs. Convoy work is therefore expected to be disrupted.

18:30: divisional teletype Gkdos 1469 concerning the position of an important convoy reveals that the orders in divisional Gkdos 1427/8 of 12 May refer to this convoy. The teletype does not say that the vessel is Sperrbrecher 171, which remains unknown to me. 23:30: telephone call from the division: two patrol boats are to be at J 2 on 15 May as pilot boats. I assign V 203/11 and order them ready for sea at 05:30. Given the task’s special importance, I decide to go to sea myself.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0342.