Does anyone have any details of Coastal Forces boats being based at Littlehampton in 1942?
My father spoke of being based there for a short time, in a torpedo boat I think. When I was a child we would visit the town and he would show us where they would be berthed near the mouth of the River Arun. Apart from learning that a few rescue launches were based there in January 1942 I have no other information or documentation. I think it was while based there that he was wounded when an enemy plane straffed the boat while it had stopped to pick-up an airman.
I am aware that this is a Coastal Forces site, but would anyone have any information of armed merchant cruisers carrying a short MTB to help in any action with a German surface raider. My father served on HMS Alcantara for eight months in 1942/43 in the middle of his service in Coastal Forces and I recall him mentioning this, although no surface raiders were encountered. It was all such a long time ago and I only have my recollections of the little detail he gave. I have wondered if the AMC carried an MTB as deck cargo for delivery to a port in Africa or Asia.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Stephen Ferriter