30 March 1942 Part 1

30 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: NE light breeze, slight sea, clear [weather-column entry]; the narrative reports continuing poor visibility. The convoy anchored off Corbière can resume towards Guernsey only at 13:00. At 12:00, after the division allocates V 710/V 704 for Cherbourg duties, V 207/V 204 at Guernsey are ordered to leave there at 22:00 with V 210/V 208 and a troop convoy to St Malo. V 710/V 704 are to take the three cutters at Guernsey to Cherbourg on the next day. V 207/V 209 are assigned General Eberth’s inspection voyage, 31 March–2 April.

Arrival and departure reports still arrive late; unescorted transports are currently not reported at all. A circular is therefore issued to all harbour commandants and the division. Copy G 1079, dated 30 March, to St Malo, Granville, Jakob, Gustav, Anton and Cherbourg, with information to Naval Signals Officer Cherbourg: send all reports on the harbour-protection wavelength to the Naval Signals Officer, who converts them to shortwave and forwards them. Unescorted transports, harbour-protection and courier vessels must be reported on departure and arrival in the same way. [The original place codes are retained here.]

Correction to 29 March: point 3, only as far as off Jersey, anchored owing to fog; point 4, V 207/V 204 arrived Guernsey and remained ready. Situation: V 213 Brest installing an 8.8 cm gun; V 212/V 211 protect Olwe; V 210/V 208 Jersey–Guernsey with the three cutters for Le Havre, Stier, two coastal motor vessels and Georges; V 207/V 204 ready Guernsey; V 210/V 208/V 207/V 204 night troop convoy from Guernsey with Derfflinger, Karel and Livadia for St Malo; V 206 unready St Malo; V 209 ready St Malo; V 205 dock Cherbourg; V 710/V 704 Cherbourg for local convoys. Escorted tonnage initially 5,282 GRT; corrected on 31 March to 1,505 GRT.

Intention for 31 March: V 213 installing 8.8 cm gun Brest; V 212/V 211 protect Olwe; V 210/V 208/V 207/V 204 continue to St Malo with the convoy; V 209/V 207 take the senior commander St Malo–Jersey in the afternoon; V 206 unready St Malo; V 204 ready St Malo; V 205 dock Cherbourg; V 710/V 704 ready Cherbourg.

21:50: harbour commandant telephones an order for heightened vigilance. At 22:07 and 22:50, the division and then St Malo harbour command report by teletype unrest at St Nazaire and fears of similar unrest at St Malo. Stronger protection of offices and accommodation is ordered. [The source reports unrest; it does not establish its nature here.]

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0290–0291, 0294.