23 April 1942 Part 1

23 April 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: light wind, fair to cloudy, visibility five to eight nautical miles, morning fog banks clearing. After divisional information that special readiness is in force in the Brittany command area, Commander Security West reports a British landing attempt near Ouistreham; the division sends the same information.

02:45: although Harbour Commandant Jersey reported V 204/11’s convoy being held back, it proves to have sailed at 21:00 and now arrives at St Malo. 08:00: UJ 1411/04 leave Cherbourg for St Malo as ordered. 10:40: V 206/10 leave St Malo for Jersey with the chief aboard. V 207/13 protect Olwe. 21:30: V 209/12 leave Jersey with the troop convoy as ordered, arriving Guernsey at 01:30 on 24 April.

Correction to 22 April, item 2: V 209/12 night Guernsey–St Malo troop convoy, entering St Malo at 14:00, then readiness. Situation: V 204/11 ready St Malo, made fast with night convoy at 02:30; V 209/12 night Maas, Karel, Derfflinger, Nordplein and Holland St Malo–Jersey, leaving St Malo at 24:00 [time as listed, differing from narrative], then ready Jersey for Holland, Karel and Derfflinger night convoy to Guernsey; V 207/13 protect Olwe; V 1510/704 B 125 S Alderney–Cherbourg, then Dorsch and Lene to Alderney; V 210/06 St Malo–Jersey with convoy-office head aboard; V 205 unready Cherbourg; V 208 unready St Malo; UJ 1404/11 Cherbourg–St Malo with tug Stade and H 86 PM, departing 08:00. Escorted tonnage 3,700 GRT.

Intentions for 24 April: V 204/11 ready St Malo, V 204 minor generator repairs; V 209/12 Guernsey–St Malo with any night convoy; V 207/13 protect Olwe; V 1510/704 ready Alderney; V 210/06 Jersey–Guernsey with head of convoy office aboard; V 205 unready Cherbourg; V 208 unready St Malo.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0323.