This morning Rod sent me a pic of the builder's plaque, this is an extremely rare artifact (I'm pretty sure it's the only surviving one of its type) : https://i.imgur.com/goPQ3Ok.jpg MTB 295 can be found in this list (February 1943): http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/yachtsmall/jacob.htm ...

Thanks for your response David. I know the IWM Bastia pics you mention and to me it seems the boats in the background are all RN MTB's (mostly of the Vosper type). These boats do not seem to have the US SO radar masts : https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/516/295/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs T...

PT 515 unloaded at Glasgow, I take it this pic shows a floating crane on the river Clyde ?




Arjan

Hi Kevin, I think the third word starts with "vo". Perhaps the words read : possumus et voluntas. I don't know anything about Latin so I could be wrong. This would indeed translate into something like "willing and able".

Regards,

Arjan

The bridge plaque of MTB 295 has survived :




I wonder what the text says.

Arjan

On second thought, "Bone" probably refers to Bône, the old French name for the town in Algeria which is now called Annaba (to the east of Algiers).

Arjan

This morning Rod sent me some interesting documents relating to the various operations MTB 295 was involved in. I take it that the abbreviation "Bone" refers to Bonifacio on Corsica. June-Nov 1943: https://i.imgur.com/wceF4rz.jpg Jan-Aug 1944 https://i.imgur.com/UWDg4Je.jpg Operation Valona Bay Sept...

Thanks for your kind words. Of course I'm always willing to help if I can, so feel free to send me an email. I doubt if I can help with the Hvar schooner though .

Regards,

Arjan

Rod has confirmed my assumption about the Breda gun. He pointed me to an interesting diary entry made by his father : "June 17th. A hell of a time trying to commission the MTBs. These MTBs are new from America, they are not so bad - usual American quick type of work- unfinished- still we have now ma...

By the way, judging from the various pics of MTB 295 I'm pretty sure she also had a captured Italian 20mm Breda gun rather than an Oerlikon.

Arjan

Leave Rome March 1945 : https://i.imgur.com/MNwRHRE.jpg Mess deck MTB : https://i.imgur.com/O2OjeQA.jpg MTB 48 : https://i.imgur.com/pbij0xS.jpg MTB 60 : https://i.imgur.com/QWsxVnx.jpg MTB 84 LT DUKE DUNOLAY : https://i.imgur.com/oYTRfiP.jpg MTBS 295 298 289 : https://i.imgur.com/NjWu1px.jpg MTB 29...

The following pics were made in May 1945, some show boats decked out in bunting to celebrate VE-Day. Depicted are ML 1391 and ML 1409. The depot ship is probably HMS Ambitious. https://i.imgur.com/Pk9x3LH.jpg https://i.imgur.com/gKd8Ulb.jpg https://i.imgur.com/HSYwX7b.jpg https://i.imgur.com/k6IprFg...

Today I had a chat with someone from Terneuzen's historical society. Apparently the two IWM pics of the "Dutch folk" in local costume were staged ..... The photographer had asked some random volunteers to dress up in the local costume of the Terneuzen region. My acquaintance even knew all the names ...

Good morning gentlemen, you are quite right. Rod told me this morning the pic actually shows his dad's group in training, probably at Portsmouth 1942. I can imagine these pics do stir some memories Peter. Some more pics : Crew member Malta : https://i.imgur.com/dKffYdZ.jpg Preparations for Albania r...

MTB 295, 290 and 287 escort surrendered Italian Navy vessels to Malta : https://i.imgur.com/V1HLaXp.jpg MTB 289 under way : https://i.imgur.com/nalUBDL.jpg MTB 371, 374 and 295 : https://i.imgur.com/3uzW6Tk.jpg Partisans and MTB crew : https://i.imgur.com/wg8JKVc.jpg https://i.imgur.com/VkVnqRB.jpg ...

Some more pics Rod sent me. One I forgot to post last time, it shows MTB 295 : https://i.imgur.com/KPTL6ym.jpg Photo showing the crew of MTB 295 with signatures. Perhaps someone can provide a full list of the names : https://i.imgur.com/mmkZRRA.jpg https://i.imgur.com/8609bH9.jpg Lt. Amiers RANVR : ...

The midget sub was of the "Seehund" type which were manufactured in Kiel so I think this is a more likely location than Copenhagen. If you wish to find the location of pics in Germany you might try the "Historisches Marinearchiv Forum". I have been a member for years and I always post my questions i...

Some more historical gems from Lt. Hugh Cassidy : https://i.imgur.com/yZzdf9f.jpg In this photo he is preparing a fishing line in the port of Augusta : https://i.imgur.com/N9a8Pc7.jpg The photo also shows some interesting details of the bridge such as the steering column. MTB 287 and the boat in the...

Some exciting material that Rod has sent me to post on this board. It's all related to Rod's father Lt. Hugh Cassidy and his boat MTB 295. Much obliged Rod ! https://i.imgur.com/YseAd0L.jpg https://i.imgur.com/4KkCp8R.jpg Excerpt from his diary : https://i.imgur.com/jhrAX8q.jpg Apparently Rod's fath...

In the mean time I've found a pic showing the bridge after demolition by the Germans in September 1944. Contrary to what I assumed it was utterly destroyed ..... https://i.imgur.com/4bhB2Nv.png Apparently a Bailey bridge was constructed immediately behind the original one, this bridge was finished b...

Hi, I will try to get some more info to narrow down the date of the Terneuzen photo. The state of repair of the bridge might give some clues. The bridge in question was not destroyed in 1940 as I wrote earlier, the Germans actually tried to destroy it in September 1944 but didn't quite succeed in do...

This pic posted by Pennyworth was not taken in Denmark but in Terneuzen. I knew this immediately when I saw it but it took me some time to find pictorial evidence (Terneuzen has changed a lot during the past few decades) : https://i.imgur.com/41jIDFY.jpg The bridge was destroyed in 1940 and there wa...

I tried to locate some period pics taken at Castletown Portland Dorset in early June 1944 :

http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/ ... pg=1&sc=20


Arjan

In the mean time I have learned that the other two MTB's taking part in operation Gradient were MTB 297 (Woods) and MTB 371 (Syrett). The three pics may show the same boat but the one with the bicycles probably shows a second boat. Later Annapolis built Vospers (MTB 375-376) didn't have any porthole...

MTB 250 was also used for training exercises by the SSRF (Small Scale Raiding Force). Davits were fitted for launching a Dory. These pics are probably familiar to most of you : https://i.imgur.com/fZ1744V.jpg https://i.imgur.com/AUu1UcI.jpg https://i.imgur.com/nYWXQ1P.jpg More photos can be found he...

I think I've found two more pics of No.9 Commando during operation Gradient. According to this site the pics show an ML, I'm convinced, however, it's a Vosper and probably the "Mystery" one. http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/9/Men+of+No+9+Commando+on+board+a+Royal+Navy++Motor+La...

I think MTB 295 is a strong candidate for the well-known pic of the "Mystery Vosper". At any rate, I'm convinced the Vosper in this photo was a US built one. The stacks of the cowling vents are in the forward position on their housings ,whereas British built Vospers had the stacks at the rear of the...

I take it that a barrage balloon is meant. The Google translation into English is not too bad though, the one from Italian into Dutch is much worse.

Regards,

Arjan

There is quite a bit of info on MTB 295's operational history on this Italian site. I'm afraid you will have to use the Google translation service. I'm sure someone on this board can provide the original English source. http://www.aidmen.it/topic/133-quattro-motosiluranti-della-marina-ex-inglesi-ex-...

Some of the pics also show British Coastal Forces craft. This one shows MGB 21, the pic was probably taken at Portland Bill :



MTB 482, at least if I read the number correctly. I don't know where this pic was taken :



Arjan