Many thanks Simon ! The last three images you posted do indeed seem to show one of the type S-151 E-Boats. This series of boats was actually built at the Dutch Gusto Schiedam shipyard (in occupied Holland) according to German Kriegsmarine sepecifications : https://werf-gusto.com/?page_id=6779 Regard...
I've found another image of the Schnellboot that I thought surrendered at Valletta (notice the torpedo targeting gear, someone seems to have removed the binoculars): https://i.imgur.com/YlaTOal.jpg https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/526/198/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs GERMAN SMALL SHIPS ...
That's an interesting photo book ! Perhaps you could make a scan of the E-Boat pics on page 20. I've seen the top left one before but I don't think I have ever seen the other two. These photos show S-151, S-152, S-155 or S-156. Here you can also find a photo of these particular vessels after having ...
Hi Peter, I don't know where these particular Jacob's Vospers were commissioned. The torp loading pics were I think taken at Valletta or Ancona. All I know is that these Vospers were at HMS Gregale on VE day. This photo shows the Vospers decked out in bunting : https://i.imgur.com/u5oeNec.jpg Some m...
Hi Peter, I don't know where these particular Jacob's Vospers were commissioned. The torp loading pics were I think taken at Valletta or Ancona. All I know is that these Vospers were at HMS Gregale on VE day. This photo shows the Vospers decked out in bunting : https://i.imgur.com/u5oeNec.jpg Some m...
Today I've found another pic taken at Terneuzen. It's definitely not a great pic and unfortunately only three digits of the boat number are visible. Perhaps yet another pic of ML 1409 :
I'm not sure, though, if any of the RN Higgins MTB s were stationed at Vis. I don't know anything about MGB s but the RN also used some former US Higgins boats as gun boats (45th MGB Flotilla).
Douglas, the MTB with the Bofors gun was a Higgins MTB. This means that your dad (if he is indeed the man in the pic) served on MTB 419, 420, 421, 422 or 423. My guess is that it may have been MTB 422 because there are some action pics of this vessel taken from a Vosper (also IWM I think) . These pi...
I sent you a private message containing my email address so drop me a mail and I will send you what I've got. An acquaintance of mine has better quality images of the parade footage. This video should be interesting for you : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbkMRQxBMIc Some rare pics : https://i.img...
Your certainly have excellent eyesight Stephen ! Chipmunk, I've got many period pics of Terneuzen showing VE day, the clearing of the Scheldt etc. There are quite a few IWM pics showing Terneuzen and the type of activities your dad may have been involved in : https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/searc...
The colored men were probably Dutch marines from the former Dutch colonies and comrades of Frank Koulen : "England In England Frank Koulen, and probably also his fellow marines, are stationed aboard the Marine Depot ship ‘Oranje Nassau’ and after that on the Hr. Ms. ‘Jacob van Heemskerck’. From...
Your second pic can also be found here (scroll down), it is suggested it may have been taken in Terneuzen or England. I think the former is very likely (I know the Terneuzen region well), it would would also explain the colored men.
What strikes me as odd is that the motor bike in the first pic has a "KM" marking which stands for Koninklijke Marine. I assume that motor vehicles assigned to foreign volunteers in the RN would have had RN markings. If this is indeed the case, the pic was probably not taken in England . G...
Hi, the pic you posted definitely shows the Fortezza Vecchia (old fort) in Livorno (Leghorn). Compare these pics : https://i.imgur.com/Al4i64f.jpg https://i.imgur.com/D66XCbN.jpg https://i.imgur.com/xVeiGUd.jpg https://i.imgur.com/YLP489P.jpg Needless to say I would be interested to see the pics of ...
I think MTB 245's forward Oerlikon guard probably had splinter mattresses on the inside and a spray cover on the outer side. Photo doesn't show a Vosper :
You're welcome Matt . I have been wondering about the canvas guard around the Oerlikon. It was probably anti shrapnel padding rather than a simple spray screen but I'm not sure. A clear example of the padding used on a Vosper MTB :
The vessel I marked with a red dot might also be MTB 245. At any rate, she has the same distinguishing features : - Single 20mm Oerlikon gun on the fore deck with what appears to be a canvas spray screen. - Carley float attached to the port side of the pilot house. https://i.imgur.com/4gphylK.jpg ht...
Thanks Kevin ! In the pdf file (Chapter 6) you sent me Don Bradford gives an account of Operation Premium (he commanded MTB 682 during this operation). Source combinedops.com : "Operation Premium Date commenced: Sunday, February 27, 1944 Units: 10 Commando A raid on the Dutch coast near Wassena...