8 May 1942 Part 1

8 May 1942 St Malo convoy diary

St Malo. E–NE weak breeze, calm sea, visibility ten nautical miles. Night convoys carried out as intended. 00:30: V 204/05 and the Siebel ferries arrive. 09:00: Commander Security West arrives at the convoy office for discussions with the Organisation Todt representative and Sea Transport Chief Lutter. 09:15: divisional teletype orders the Rosa route clear from 01:00 on 9 May until sunrise. I instruct all harbour commandants to stop all traffic in the island area during that period. V 210/12 are to take the planned convoy to Guernsey overnight, then depart eastward for their yard period on the afternoon of 9 May.

11:00: Commander Security West inspects Siebel ferries 108 and 110. 11:15: V 210/12 sail; H 13 has already left alone, contrary to orders. I ask the harbour commandant to hold the captain accountable. 14:00: V 208/09 sail to anchor in the roads for the 22:00 convoy.

Correction to 7 May, item 5: V 204/05 Jersey–St Malo with the Siebel ferries. Situation: V 210/12 St Malo–Jersey with H 13, then Jersey–Guernsey without convoy; V 209/08 ready St Malo Roads for night 8/9 May, RO 8 for Jersey and Ad. le Prince, Holland, Kurland and Derfflinger for Guernsey, but the Guernsey convoy is to be held at Jersey under divisional Gk 1372; V 207/06 protect Olwe; V 1510/213 Cherbourg–Alderney with Lena, Schwalbe, Heinrich, an OT motor tanker, PM 288 and Rosnea [last name uncertain]; V 204/05 ready St Malo; V 211 unready St Malo; V 202/03 ready Dieppe for westward passage. Tonnage 6,100 GRT, corrected next day to 7,350.

Intentions for 9 May: V 210/12 eastward from Guernsey; V 208/09 ready Jersey, continue the convoy listed above during night 9/10 May; V 207/06 protect Olwe; V 1510/213 ready Alderney for possible convoy; V 204/05 ready St Malo for possible night convoy to Guernsey; V 211 unready St Malo; V 202/03 westward passage.

15:30: discussion with Korvettenkapitän Rödiger, SVK, about possible minelaying in the island area. 22:15: V 208/09 sail for Jersey with the night convoy as planned. Seven officers of the Wehrmacht traffic organisation embarked request urgent onward duty travel to Guernsey on the morning of 9 May; the boats are to take them there, return to Jersey and then continue the convoy. 22:30: V 207’s commander reports by telephone that Olwe has finished the Alderney–Cap de la Hague work and intends to go to Guernsey on 9 May to continue cable work.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0339–0340.