MTB 298

Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB)
CAM
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:49 am

MTB 298

Postby CAM » Sun Aug 24, 2014 10:11 pm

Help to learn more attacks MTB 298 and 276 of the German cruiser Niobe December 22, 1943 near the island of Silba. He could not find any English description nor fleet nor the names of the commanders. In Italian, German and Croatian sites describe in detail only the actions of the German forces.

Brian Holmes
Commander
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Re: MTB 298

Postby Brian Holmes » Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:17 pm

MTB_298 R Jacob Inc, City Island, New York 30/3/43

For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43
DSC TLt The Hon Frederick Maxwell Aglionby Shore RNVR
DSM LSea Harold Bowers D/JX155934
MID LMtrMch Charles Stanley Rundle

For good service during the air attack on Bari 2/12/43
MID TLt John Robinson Woods RCNVR

Known Crew
TLt The Hon Frederick Maxwell Aglionby Shore RNVR HMS Razorbill (Algiers) 19/4/43 Commanding Officer MTB 298 8/43 TLt 13/9/43 Commanding Officer MTB 474 15/5/44 MTB 475 7-8/44 Department of the Chief of Naval Information, Admiralty 1946 Two DSCs 1944 MID 1945 Baron Teignmouth 1964 Born 2/12/20 in Ireland and died 7/7/71 in County Kilkenny
TLt John Robinson Woods RCNVR TSLt MGB 73 26/5/41 HMS Minos II 1st MGB Flotilla 1/8/41 HMS St Christopher for MLs 25/3/42 TLt 30/12/42 Commanding Officer MTB 297 14/6/43 MTB 298 MTB 374 HMCS Stadacona
TLt F E Dowrick RNVR TASLt HMS Midge (Great Yarmouth) for minelayers 9/2/42 TSLt 15/11/42 HMS St Christopher 33rd MTB Flotilla MTB 651 20/11/42 TLt 15/5/44 20th MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 298 4/6/44 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona Commanding Officer MTB 633 14/4/45
TSLt G P S Brewer RNVR TSLt 3/7/42 HMS St Christopher for MLs 5/10/42 MTB 634 20/5/43 32nd MTB Flotilla MTB 298 1944
TSLt C G Partington RNVR TMid 33rd MTB Flotilla MTB 649 9/10/43 TASLt 9/11/43 TSLt 9/5/44 MTB 298 8/12/44 HMS Gregale (Malta) MTB 374 16/3/45
TSLt J Reed RNVR TSLt 29/7/43 20th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta MTB 298 8/43 Commanding Officer MTB 373 8/1/45
LSea Harold Bowers D/JX155934 20th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta MTB 298 For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43 DSM
LMtrMch Charles Stanley Rundle 20th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta MTB 298 For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43 MID
Tel John Mounter D/JX 357172 MTB 298 Died 28/1/45 Age21 Son of Edwin Harry and Elizabeth Mounter, of Martock, Somerset

Wartime Activities
30/03/43 Transferred to Royal Navy under lend lease
Transported from the United States to the Mediterranean in an LST arriving in Oran, Algeria. Passage through Algiers and Bizerta to Malta.
20th MTB Flotilla
Based at Malta.
Operation Avalanche - Landing at Salerno.
8-9/9/43 MTBs 289 and 298 are despatched to land agents on the mainland in the Gulf of Gaeta. En route they encounter a convoy of Flak lighters, siebel ferries and R boats. MTB 298 fires two torpedoes and hits a large Flak lighter which is destroyed when her cargo of ammunition explodes.
MTB 298 is despatched to the island of Ponza where Mussolini is believed to be held and, if possible, take him into allied custody. The ex Dictator had already been moved to Sardinia.
21-2/12/43 MTB 226 and MTB 298 depart Hvar to attack the old German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) reported aground at Arat di Ponente. To attack and return before dawn requires the boats to make 25 kts. MTB 226 has difficulty in keeping up due to leaks in the engine room which necessitate emergency repairs.
0100 MTB 226 and MTB 298 are off Silba Island. They sight the cruiser amongst a group of E Boats and tugs and reduce to 2 - 4 kts to make their approach. MTB 226 and MTB 298 fire torpedoes from 400 yds. Niobe is hit, forward and aft, by two torpedoes and the Germans open fire. The forward hit is in a magazine that has been emptied during the salvage operation. The tug Parrenzo, lying alongside the Niobe, is hit by a third torpedo, explodes and sinks. The Niobe is a total loss. MTBs 226 and 298 return safely to Hvar.
31/1/44 MTBs 85, 297 and 298 conduct a patrol near Silba Island sinking two schooners with gunfire and depth charges. Two German and Six Italian prisoners are taken.
3-4/2/44 MTBs 242 and 298 intercept two schooners and a large motor boat off Silba Island. Eighty five prisoners are taken, twenty of whom are German.
4-5/1/45 MTB 298 and MTB 374 make an unsuccessful attack on a small convoy entering Parenzo Harbour.

Post War Fate
25/9/45 Returned United States Navy
20/11/45 Sold

Brian Holmes
Commander
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Re: MTB 298

Postby Brian Holmes » Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm

MTB_226 H McLean, Renfrew 28/8/42

For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43
DSC TLt Peter Hastings Hyslop RNVR
DSM LMtrMch William John Donovan P/MX98892
MID AB Bert Marston P/JX175182

Known Crew
TSLt D A Neale RNVR TSLt MASB 29 26/7/41 24th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta Commanding Officer MTB 226 28/9/42 TLt 22/3/43 Commanding Officer MTB 45 04/06/43 31st MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Portland Commanding Officer MTB 381 2/5/44
Lt William Osmond John Bate RNVR Lt 31/1/42 First Lieutenant SGB 8 7/42 Operation Jubilee – the raid on Dieppe New Year Honours List 1943 MID Commanding Officer MTB 80 11/12/42 HMS Hannibal (Algiers) 24th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta Commanding Officer MTB 226 20/4/43 HMS Gregale (Malta) 1944 Served in 29th (Canadian) MTB Flotilla. Born in Brentford district, Middlesex 1913
TLt Peter Hastings Hyslop RNVR TSLt 18/10/40 HMS California (armed merchant cruiser) 17/4/40 1st MTB Flotilla 12/3/41 Commanding Officer MTB 14 28/7/41 Commanding Officer MTB 42 16/4/42 TLt 1/5/42 Commanding Officer MTB 85 23/07/42 24th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta Commanding Officer MTB 226 1943-44 For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43 DSC Commanding Officer MTB 374 16/6/44 HMS Gregale (Malta) 11/44 Commanding Officer MTB 374 & Senior Officer 20th MTB Flotilla 19/3/45 Born in Edinburgh, Scotland 4/7/18 and died in Northumberland 12/2003
TLt Leonard Buckley Bridge RNVR HMS St Christopher HMS Defiance TLt 9/3/41 Senior Officer, 15th ML Flotilla HMS Iron Duke (RN base, Scapa Flow) 4/5/41 Commanding Officer ML 226 and Senior Officer, 15th ML Flotilla 9/11/42 TALtCdr Died 1965 in Surrey
TSLt Neville Gordon Oldfield RNVR TSLt 21/5/42 24th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta First Lieutenant MTB 226 25/10/42 14th MTB Flotilla MTB 251 26/4/43 14th MTB Flotilla Based at Portland and Newhaven MTB 256 20/9/43 14th MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 249 1944 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) Commanding Officer MTB 380 29/5/45 Born 5/12/19 in Portsmouth and died 1/90 in Winchester, Hampshire
TSLt E M Wall RNZNVR TSLt 30/10/42 First Lieutenant MTB 226 24/4/43 MTB 289 31/7/44 TLt 11/1/45 HMNZS Cook
LMtrMch William John Donovan P/MX98892 24th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta MTB 226 For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43 DSM
AB Bert Marston P/JX175182 24th MTB Flotilla Based at Malta MTB 226 For sinking the German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) in the Adriatic 21/12/43 MID

Wartime Activities
24th MTB Flotilla
Based at Malta
Operation Husky - Invasion of Sicily
1/12/43 MTB 226 departs Bari for Komiza
21-2/12/43 MTB 226 and MTB 298 depart Hvar to attack the old German cruiser Niobe (Ex Yugoslav - Dalmatia) reported aground at Arat di Ponente. To attack and return before dawn requires the boats to make 25 kts. MTB 226 has difficulty in keeping up due to leaks in the engine room which necessitate emergency repairs.
0100 MTB 226 and MTB 298 are off Silba Island. They sight the cruiser amongst a group of E Boats and tugs and reduce to 2 - 4 kts to make their approach. MTB 226 and MTB 298 fire torpedoes from 400 yds. Niobe is hit, forward and aft, by two torpedoes and the Germans open fire. The forward hit is in a magazine that has been emptied during the salvage operation. The tug Parrenzo, lying alongside the Niobe, is hit by a third torpedo, explodes and sinks. The Niobe is a total loss. MTBs 226 and 298 return safely to Hvar.
13-4/1/44 MTB 226 and MTB 651 depart Komiza to intercept German forces invading Brac. Off Brac, MTB 226 and MTB 651 sight a merchant ship which MTB 226 pursues into Sumartin Harbour. MTB 226 waits for the ship to berth before sinking her by torpedo thus putting the pier out of action as well. MTB 226 and MTB 651 sight a Siebel ferry. MTB 651 attacks with torpedoes and misses. MTB 226 and MTB 651 attack with gunfire causing damage but not sinking it

Post War Fate
7/45 For disposal

CAM
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby CAM » Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:59 pm

Thank you. But all sources say that with MTB-298 was MTB-276 and not MTB-226!

Brian Holmes
Commander
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Re: MTB 298

Postby Brian Holmes » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:42 pm

All the sources that I can find point to the two boats I have quoted and that the other boat you quoted served with the Royal Indian Navy

CAM
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby CAM » Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:30 pm

Where then did the information about participation in the attack MTB-276, which is now featured in all communications about the death of "Niobe"?

CAM
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby CAM » Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:25 pm

When MTB relocated from Bari to the islands off the coast of Yugoslavia?

Peter
Able Seaman Radar
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: MTB 298

Postby Peter » Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:13 pm

Re MTB 298
Interesting forum on MTB 298 , and serving in the Komiza campaign on MTB 243 , I can recall the incident about the sinking of the Niobe a reclaimed German Destroyer off the Island of Silba close to Zara as it was then known. This action is recorded in Mediternnen MTB's at war by Rover Reynolds and HF Cooper that also includes a picture of the damaged Destroyer , This action was also featured in the book " History of the 24th flotilla " written by Bert Cooper and serialzed for members of the CFVA in the Newsletter .It was in late January 1944 that I caught up with the news of the action having been hospitalised after the Bari air raid of 2nd Dec, 1943 .
The records show that it was MTB 298 Lt Shore 20th Flot. and MTB226 Lt P Hyslop 24th Flot.together saw the action

reinaart
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby reinaart » Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:13 am

I think I found some colour footage of MTB 298 (that is, if I read the number correctly) :

Image

Source of the still :

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... _destroyer

Apparently the Vosper MTB in the footage had a captured 2 cm Italian Breda gun on its foredeck. IWM pic of a Breda gun :

Image
WITH THE MTB'S ON PATROL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. MARCH 1943.. © IWM (A 17655)IWM Non Commercial Licence

Arjan

reinaart
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby reinaart » Mon Aug 29, 2016 3:04 pm

The "large Flak lighter" mentioned in this wartime activities account turns out to be German Marinefährprahm F 345 :

Wartime Activities
30/03/43 Transferred to Royal Navy under lend lease
Transported from the United States to the Mediterranean in an LST arriving in Oran, Algeria. Passage through Algiers and Bizerta to Malta.
20th MTB Flotilla
Based at Malta.
Operation Avalanche - Landing at Salerno.
8-9/9/43 MTBs 289 and 298 are despatched to land agents on the mainland in the Gulf of Gaeta. En route they encounter a convoy of Flak lighters, siebel ferries and R boats. MTB 298 fires two torpedoes and hits a large Flak lighter which is destroyed when her cargo of ammunition explodes.

F 345's history :

http://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de ... _value=794

As can be judged from this account its sinking/ destruction was previously attributed to American PT boats. I obtained my info from the German marinearchiv forum :

http://www.forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/in ... 755.0.html

Arjan

Peter
Able Seaman Radar
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: MTB 298

Postby Peter » Tue Sep 06, 2016 3:27 pm

Hi Interesting post re the Italian Breda gun , I recall MTB 243 being fitted with this gun in Brindisi in October 1943
the attached picture of MTB 243 alongside HMS Vienna in Bari pre the air raid of December . also the F Lighters were the main target and a challenge for Coastal Forces during the Adriatic campaign of 1944/45.
On a lighter note our C/0 Lt Du Bouley MTB243 was very incensed when prior to her paying off , had the torpedo tubes removed and the boat was to be used for combined operations of landing raiding parties on occupied Islands of the then Yugoslavia , and as a protest took the boat out to see and fired off a few rounds in disgust .
There were some lighter moments
Peter
Attachments
Bari Raid0007.jpg

reinaart
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby reinaart » Sat Sep 10, 2016 11:17 pm

Thanks Peter for the interesting info. On the subject of Breda guns, there's one pic in the IWM archive showing MTB 290 (if I read the number correctly) off Brindisi. It also has a Breda gun on its foredeck :

Image
SPEED! A BRITISH MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT PROCEEDING OUT OF HARBOUR AT FULL SPEED. 16 DECEMBER 1943, BRINDISE.. © IWM (A 21569)IWM Non Commercial Licence

MTB 290 was a lend-lease Vosper originally equipped with a single Oerlikon and it makes me wonder why this was exchanged for an Italian Breda gun. I think at least 10 (probably more) MTB's were fitted with a Breda gun so it must have had some advantages over the Oerlikon ?

Regards,

Arjan

Peter
Able Seaman Radar
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: MTB 298

Postby Peter » Tue Sep 13, 2016 5:06 pm

Hi
Thanks for the photo of MTB 290 , I notice that she is not fitted with the Radar dome and still has the RDF aerial which was hand operated from within the radio cabin , which leaves me to believe that she like the 24th Flotilla was fitted with the Italian Breda gun on the forcastle .( this gun and ammunition was readily available after the surrender of Italy ) was it not only the 28th flotilla of American Vospers that had the PPI Radar dome and the Oerlican gun ?
Peter

reinaart
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby reinaart » Wed Sep 14, 2016 8:54 am

Hi Peter, you are quite right, I jumped at the wrong conclusion. MTB 290 never had an Oerlikon so the Breda gun was not an exchange but rather an addition to its fire power. I failed to read this info carefully, it just says "one 20 mm mount" and the name Oerlikon isn't mentioned.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/05925.htm

By the way, I noticed this ebay auction and I wonder which photo is on the card in question. Unfortunately, the image is very vague but I think I have never seen this photo before :

http://www.ebay.nl/itm/28th-MTB-FLOTILL ... 0636212399


Regards,

Arjan

Eggbert
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:59 pm

Re: MTB 298

Postby Eggbert » Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:04 pm

Hi

Just been reading this report of the sinking and my grandfather was a stoker on MTB 226 and told me storey many times about the mission. It brought back a lot of memories.

I have a some some photos of this and a number of pictures showing the crew, fitting engines amongst other things as well names of the crew of 226.

If thatvis any use to anyone please element me know and I can post them.

Cheers Michael

reinaart
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:49 am

Re: MTB 298

Postby reinaart » Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:41 pm

Hi Michael, welcome on board ! Of course we are interested in the photos you have. I think I only know this pic of MTB 226 (Hvar):

Image

Regards,

Arjan

Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 500
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: MTB 298

Postby Admin » Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:56 pm

I have a some some photos of this and a number of pictures showing the crew, fitting engines amongst other things as well names of the crew of 226.

If thatvis any use to anyone please element me know and I can post them.
Hello Michael

Thank you for your post and for your kind offer of photos you have. I will email you if that is ok about acquiring copies, and you may also post them here too, or else I can upload them for you if you are unsure how to use the uploading facility.

Regards
Admin

Eggbert
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:59 pm

Re: MTB 298

Postby Eggbert » Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:50 am

Hi

No worries, happy to share what I have and will be a great way to ensure my grand fathers storey is recorded.

I guess you have access to my email address so please feel free to drop a line.

Cheers
Michael


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