24 April 1942 Part 1

24 April 1942 St Malo convoy diary

[The heading is typed 24.3.42; its position and contents establish 24 April.] St Malo, 07:15. Weather: E–ENE strong wind, moderate to fairly rough sea, visibility eight nautical miles. I sail Jersey–Guernsey in V 206/10. Other convoys cannot sail owing to wind and sea.

Correction to 23 April, item 4: V 1510/704 B 125 S Alderney–Cherbourg, then ready Cherbourg. Situation: V 209/12 ready Guernsey, night Holland and Nordsee to St Malo; V 207/13 protect Olwe; V 206/10 Jersey–Guernsey with the chief aboard, then ready; V 1510/704 Dorsch, Lene, Hermes and two barges Cherbourg–Alderney, returning with Gerfried and Hermes; V 204/11 ready St Malo; V 205 unready Cherbourg; V 208 unready St Malo. Escorted tonnage 3,400 GRT [2,400 in the closing table].

Intentions for 25 April: V 209/12 Holland and Nordsee night Guernsey–St Malo, then ready; V 207/13 protect Olwe; V 206/10 Guernsey–St Malo with chief aboard; V 1510/704 ready Cherbourg, possible convoys; V 204/11 ready St Malo, night Holland to Jersey; V 205 unready Cherbourg; V 208 unready St Malo.

17:30: divisional teletype G 6802 orders a Sperrbrecher escort Cherbourg–St Malo on 26 April. V 204/11 are ordered to leave at 02:45 on 26 April without convoy for Cherbourg [the next entry reports their arrival there on 25 April]. The division assigns UJ 1411/04 until 28 April. Remark: discussions with the harbour commandants of Guernsey and Jersey establish that no harbour-barrier measures are planned which would obstruct arrivals or troop convoys at night.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0324.