9 February 1942 Part 1

9 February 1942 St Malo convoy diary

07:30: V 208/V 212 left Guernsey with Holland, Favorit and Point a Pietre for Granville. Haze and fog delayed them beyond the time they could enter; after releasing vessels off Granville they returned to Jersey. The inspection voyage was cancelled during the morning because Fighter Command 3 could not provide protection. I therefore departed Granville at 13:45 with troop transports Diamant and Claus Wilhelm. Diamant was so crowded with leave personnel that they could scarcely move on deck, unacceptable in bad weather or an air attack. At 16:15 Claus Wilhelm was released for Jersey; I continued to Guernsey, entering at 19:45 with V 206/V 205 and Diamant.

Daylight entry presented no particular difficulty, but no naval signal station existed in or near St Peter Port. One should urgently be established at St Martin’s Point, on the height of Jerbourg, for early arrival reports and orders to approaching convoys; a telephone link to the harbour captain was needed. Other convoys proceeded as planned. M 4007 and M 4005 were exchanged under 3rd Security Division orders, after the escorts released their convoy and continued to Alderney.

Situation: V 208/V 212 at 07:30 from Guernsey with Holland, Favorit and Point a Pietre via Jersey roadstead to Granville; amendment records their return to Jersey after releasing the convoy. V 205/V 206 at 14:30 from Granville with Diamant, Claus Wilhelm, Comptoir 51 and Mazagan via Jersey to Guernsey. M 4005/M 4008 ready at Alderney for Cherbourg; M 4000/M 4006 ready Guernsey. M 4007/V 1705 at 11:00 from St Malo with Derfflinger, Holstein, H 224, H 266, H 2, Esso, Paul et Jeanine and B 113 for Jersey, then without convoy to Alderney to exchange M 4007 for M 4005, then back to Guernsey. V 213 converter repair St Malo. Escorted tonnage: 6,387 GRT.

Intention for 10 February: V 208/V 212 ready Granville; V 205/V 206 ready Guernsey. M 4007/M 4008 with Helma, Gerfried and two tugs to Cherbourg, then one-hour readiness for the 3rd Security Division. M 4000/M 4006 with RO 8 Guernsey–Granville–St Malo. M 4005/V 1705 ready Guernsey; V 213 wireless-converter repair and boiler cleaning St Malo.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0250–0251.