23 May 1942 Part 1

23 May 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo. Quiet westerly breeze, calm to slight sea, visibility 5–8 nautical miles, patches of fog. 08:45: secret teletype 634 from Harbour Commandant Cherbourg requests fighter cover for troop convoys Alderney–Cherbourg at 10:00 and Cherbourg–Alderney at 17:00 today. The teletype office had accepted it at 22:20 on 22 May and forwarded it to the convoy office after ten hours. Fighter protection could still be arranged.

11:50: after discussion with the 3rd Security Division, return escort of Olwe St Malo–Brest is promised. 14:00: to permit a Guernsey–Jersey–Granville–St Malo troop convoy during 23/24 May, Siebel ferries 110/108 are allocated with divisional agreement. They are ordered to Jersey to take over Bordsee from the Guernsey convoy and escort it to Granville; the remainder continues to St Malo.

17:45: Gkdos 1593 arrives: occupy grids BF 3519/27 during 23/24 May without impairing convoy traffic; otherwise only when boats are not needed for escort. 22:30: since all available boats have convoy duties, a telephone enquiry establishes that V 207/02 have meanwhile reached Alderney with their convoy. The pair receive radio orders to watch grids 3519/27 until daylight. 22:50: telephone report that Bordsee has not left Guernsey because of heavy seas; the ferries are ordered to remain ready at Jersey. Night convoys proceed as planned.

Situation: V 208/09 ready St Malo for 23/24 May night troop convoy with Holland and Ad. le Prince as far as Jersey; V 207/02 Alderney–Cherbourg with Lena, Dorsch and Hermes, Lena carrying troops, then Cherbourg–Alderney with troop transport Lena; V 203/06 unready St Malo; V 205 unready Cherbourg; V 211/1510 rest day St Malo, V 1510 has a line in its propeller; V 204/13 ready Guernsey for 23/24 May night troop convoy Bordsee and Livadia to Jersey; SF 108/110 St Malo–Jersey, then take over Bordsee for Granville. Tonnage 6,300 GRT.

Intentions for 24 May: V 208/09 Jersey–Guernsey, continuation of night troop convoy with Holland; V 202/07 Alderney–Cherbourg with convoy not yet known; V 203/06 unready St Malo; V 205 unready Cherbourg; V 211/1510 St Malo–Cherbourg to hand over V 1510 and escort RA 9 onwards; V 204/13 Guernsey–St Malo, continuation with Livadia; SF 108/110 Jersey–Granville night troop convoy Bordsee, then St Malo.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0353.