20 February 1942 Part 1

20 February 1942 St Malo convoy diary

08:30: V 206/V 205 sailed from St Peter Port for Alderney. At St Malo, M 4006’s bottom inspection did not confirm damage from the reported firing on the evening of 17 February. After removal of a steel wire, she was undocked and assigned an escort.

11:10: V 206/V 205 berthed at Alderney. The flotilla chief and A 2 visited Fort Albert: a signal station could readily be established on its elevated position with a good view of adjacent waters and the nearby harbour, and accommodation for signalmen. Longy Bay, on the east coast, was a possible alternative harbour. It could be entered at high water; vessels could dry out on sand at the existing wooden pier or without it. Offshore rocks protected the bay. The bay farther south, containing a recently demolished concrete pier for Granville, proved unsuitable.

12:00, St Malo: V 210/V 207/V 211 returned to the flotilla. V 211 had turbine and condenser damage and began boiler cleaning and repairs. At 12:30, St Anne, the flotilla chief and A 2 visited island commandant Oberstleutnant Zeuss and discussed convoys. The island’s naval service was well conducted and permitted regular convoys, particularly troop and postal traffic. The island establishment was currently about 3,000 men. Concentrating troop convoys on two weekdays in each direction appeared possible. The north-facing harbour, with only one pier for berthing, was unfavourable. The two leading lights on the old mole and ashore should be raised to facilitate night approaches; vessels could easily mask them.

14:00: V 206/V 205 sailed for Jersey. In good visibility, prominent landmarks made inter-island navigation easy and safe. At 18:00 they anchored in St Aubin’s Bay at low water to await the rising tide before entering St Helier; weighed at 19:45 and secured at 20:30.

Situation: V 208/V 213 ready Cherbourg for the Alderney return convoy overnight. V 205/V 206 on inspection. M 4007/M 4008 after the division’s special task to Jersey, departing 15:00 with Elfriede for Guernsey and H 13 for St Malo [later corrected: remained Guernsey]. V 1705/M 4000, after the special task, departed Jersey 08:30 with Nestor, Comptoir 51, Ponticherry, Maas and Hubbastone for Granville, entering St Malo 14:00. V 212/M 4005 departed St Malo 08:15 without convoy for Granville, taking Ad. le Prince, Holland and Saigon to Jersey, Claus Wilhelm and Tourane to Guernsey. M 4006 repairs St Malo, undocking during the night of 20/21 February. V 207/V 210/V 211 entered St Malo 13:00. Escorted tonnage: 9,500 GRT.

Intention for 21 February: V 208/V 213 ready Cherbourg for a night convoy with Georgi, Gerfried, Sperber and Midsland carrying troops to Alderney, returning with Georgi, Sperber, Schwalbe and Claus Wilhelm with troops. V 205/V 206 Jersey–Granville. M 4007/M 4008 St Malo, then Brest. V 1705 ready St Malo, then Brest after M 4005 returns. V 212/M 4005 from Guernsey with Diamant for Jersey, RO 8, Favorit and Mazagan for Granville, Karel for St Malo. M 4000/M 4006 with Holstein and Gunivers for Jersey, Holland for Guernsey, then without convoy to Brest. V 207/V 210 replenish provisions; V 211 boiler cleaning.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0264–0265.