MTB and MGB against the Raiders

Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB)
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Re: MTB and MGB against the Raiders

Postby Admin » Sun Sep 14, 2014 11:58 pm

There probably is a report of this night's incident by the Admiralty in the archives at Kew, but we don't possess a complete digest of daily events for this time period ourselves, and the main books on the subject only select certain, notable incidents.

It would seem from what Roskill is saying, as quoted below, that there was an encounter at sea that night, but that the Admiralty regarded the skirmish as inconclusive, so it is not clear what ships or boats the Germans thought had exploded or sunk. It may be that some things are getting lost in translation here, but the German reports of these incidents never seem that reliable.
Early next morning light forces (six M.T.Bs and three M.G.Bs) sent out from Dover were in touch with the convoy; but our wireless traffic had given the enemy warning of their approach. The coastal craft located their quarry close to the French coast, but the enemy had been thoroughly alerted. His shore batteries fired starshell to illuminate the scene, and the attackers were met by such concentrated gunfire that they could not penetrate the screen. Soon after this skirmish five destroyers, which had been on patrol off Beachy Head, arrived and engaged the German escort; the Windsor and Walpole fired torpedoes, but none of them hit. Little damage was in fact done to either side, and the raider safely reached Havre on the afternoon of the 14th.

CAM
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Re: MTB and MGB against the Raiders

Postby CAM » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:58 pm

If there was a battle with the MTB, it would be a memoir describing it, or the memories of participants in the forums. But we have nothing. Described in detail with respect to only attack the British destroyers, with their names and the injuries.

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Re: MTB and MGB against the Raiders

Postby CAM » Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:23 pm

Here http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... Fernie.htm write that (For details see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith, THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott and Naval Staff History.)
That in these books written about the participation of MTB and MGB in the battle with the raider and his escort of 14 March 1942?

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Re: MTB and MGB against the Raiders

Postby Admin » Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:16 am

If there was a battle with the MTB, it would be a memoir describing it, or the memories of participants in the forums. But we have nothing. Described in detail with respect to only attack the British destroyers, with their names and the injuries.
I managed to find this in the Admiralty diary of daily events.

593 E/Boat Action (March 14)

Soon after 0200 on March 14, six MTBs and three MGBs were sent from Dover to intercept a large armed merchant vessel of some 5,000 tons, escorted by three destroyers and several E/Boats, reported near Calais proceeding south westwards. Our force was met by a heavy barrage from the shore batteries and escorting craft, and being unable to penetrate the screen, retired without casualties but with some damage to three of the MTBs. At 0553, the BLENCATHRA, FERNIE, CALPE, WINDSOR and WALPOLE, who had been on patrol to the east of Beachy Head, made contact with the enemy in 50. 29 N., 1.14 E., 29 miles south of Dungeness. Passing through the E/Boat screen astern of the destroyers, a torpedo attack was made on the merchant ship between 2,000 and 2,500 yards. One torpedo apparently hit, as a large explosion occurred. Two E/Boats were probably sunk by gunfire, and a destroyer may also have been hit. In this brief action our forces suffered no casualties, and only minor damage to the FERNIE and WINDSOR. The First Sea Lord, in sending his congratulations, said that the manner in which all forces got into close range in spite of heavy opposition reflected great credit in those taking part in this operation.

Admiralty: The War at Sea Vol III Part 1 January - December 1942
So it seems a confrontation did take place but there were no boat losses and casualties recorded on the Coastal Forces side. There is also this useful site which contains details on all the raiders: Marauders of the Sea, German Armed Merchant Raiders During World War 2

CAM
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Re: MTB and MGB against the Raiders

Postby CAM » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:59 pm

Thank you very much. It is a pity that it is not known what the MTB and MGB participated in the attack.



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