16 February 1942 Part 1

16 February 1942 St Malo convoy diary

War Diary of the Convoy Control Office St Malo, 16–28 February 1942. Head: Fregattenkapitän Dr Diederichs, Chief of the 2nd Patrol Flotilla.

Convoys proceeded as intended. Derfflinger remained at St Malo because of a fault in the loading bridge. Waiting for repair and departure would have disrupted the whole programme. The 3rd Security Division reported that M 1205 had entered Cherbourg during the night of 15/16 February and must be escorted to St Malo as quickly as possible. I ordered V 208/V 213 to take M 1205 on the Cherbourg–Alderney night convoy and then bring her to Guernsey. The intended return convoy from Alderney to Cherbourg was postponed for 24 hours; the division was informed.

Commander of Security West reported that A 2, the flag lieutenant and Cherbourg’s Naval Signals Officer would arrive on 18 February for an island inspection. Programme: 19 February, depart St Malo 08:00, enter Guernsey 14:00; 20 February, Guernsey 07:00, Alderney 10:30, depart 14:00, Jersey 20:30; 21 February, Jersey 20:30, Granville 23:30. Teletype traffic had again become so slow that telephone calls were indispensable for timely instructions for tomorrow. A separate teletype circuit for the convoy office would remove these calls and allow urgent traffic almost as quickly as by telephone.

Situation: V 208/V 213 degaussing trials and readiness at Cherbourg, intended evening convoy with M 1205 to Alderney, then M 1205 to Guernsey. V 205/V 206 Jersey–Granville, departing there at 10:40 with Holland, Rabat, Ponticherry, Hs 2, Hs 100, RO 8 and Georges Gunivers for Jersey. M 4007/M 4008 departed Guernsey at 10:00 with Claus Wilhelm, Ad. le Prince and Tourane for Jersey, continuing with Schockland to St Malo. V 1705/M 4005 ready St Malo. V 212/M 4006 departed St Malo 08:50 with Robert Müller 8 for Jersey, continuing at 13:30 with RO 8, Favorit and Mazagan to Guernsey. M 4000 ready St Malo. Escorted tonnage: 6,581 GRT.

Intention for 17 February: V 208/V 213 Alderney–Cherbourg without convoy, if possible at 17/18 February night. V 205/V 206 Guernsey–St Malo without convoy. M 4007/M 4008 ready St Malo. V 1705/M 4000 from St Malo with B 113 S and two barges to Jersey, taking over Derfflinger there for Guernsey. V 212/M 4006 Guernsey–St Malo with M 1205. M 4005 ready St Malo.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0260–0261.