9 March 1942 Part 1

9 March 1942 St Malo convoy diary

Weather: SE light breeze, calm to slight sea, visibility hazy to poor. After consultation with A 4 of the 3rd Security Division, Siebel ferry 108 remained at Cherbourg. V 209/V 208 and V 211/V 212 were ordered to tow Siebel ferry 110 and tug Gourry to St Malo. Allowing for the current, the convoy left Cherbourg about 17:00 and entered Guernsey at 24:00.

V 204/V 206, ready at Guernsey, were to sail with the troop convoy Adolphe le Prince, Saigon, RO 8 and Paul et Jeannine via Jersey early enough to continue Jersey–St Malo at 23:00. The convoy stood off Jersey for two hours awaiting steamers for St Malo. Because it arrived late, it could not pass through St Malo’s lock until 10 March at 10:45.

Situation: V 207/V 213 boiler cleaning/demagnetisation Brest. V 211/V 212 Alderney–Cherbourg, then with V 209/V 208’s convoy. V 210 ready St Malo with small repairs. V 204/V 206 ready Guernsey, night 9/10 March with Adolphe le Prince, Saigon, RO 8 and Paul et Jeannine to Jersey, then Robert Müller 8, Claus Wilhelm and Adolphe le Prince to St Malo. V 209/V 208 listed Cherbourg–St Malo towing ferry 110 and Gourry. V 205 in dock. Escorted tonnage: 2,536 GRT.

Correction to the 9 March situation: V 211/V 212 Cherbourg–Guernsey, entered 24:00; V 204/V 206 Guernsey–Jersey with convoy; V 209/V 208 Cherbourg–Guernsey, entered 24:00 with two tugs. [Correction retained alongside the preceding narrative.]

Intention for 10 March: V 207/V 213 boiler cleaning/demagnetisation Brest. V 211/V 212 to Alderney after releasing the convoy at St Malo, then ready. V 210 ready St Malo with minor repairs. V 204/V 206 ready St Malo, possible night troop convoy. V 209/V 208 replenishment St Malo. V 205 in dock Cherbourg.

T-1022 Roll 2423, PG 38000, scans 0276–0277.