MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB)
richardnehunt
Seaman
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:06 am

MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby richardnehunt » Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:20 am

Have just joined this forum as I am researching my family history and specifically my uncle Douglas Hunt MBE who served and commanded on MTB 245 and 392. In researching I have been passed a copy of his signature in the frontpiece of Gordon Holman's book "The Little Ships". Along with Douglas's signature there are numerous other signatures ( from other vessels )and if any members are interested I can direct you to a link on my Ancestry family tree or forward a copy by email.
Any other comments regarding Douglas would be greatly appreciated to help with my research.
Richard Hunt

Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 501
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby Admin » Fri Jan 08, 2016 2:03 pm

Richard, just so as you're aware, I have emailed you using three different email addresses, but your email provider has rejected them all. If you could kindly email a scan of the autographs you have to our web site address (info@cfv.org.uk) I'd be grateful.

Regards
Admin

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

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby Peter » Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:09 pm

Greetings Richard
It is with great interest to view your request details of your late Uncle Douglas Hunt. During my term of Sect. of the now paid off Coastal Forces Veterans Association it was my great pleasure to meet Douglas on many occasions and reunions, especially at the gatherings of the Officers at the RNVR Club in London. As a member of the lower deck ( Able Seaman ) Douglas came over as a very inspiring and forward leader, sadly I never served under his command but he was typical of those Officers who served in Coastal forces. I also believe that he had some responsibility for the Coastal Forces Memorial at HMs Hornet Gosport, that was dedicated in the mid 1950's
I wish you well in your search for further information
Cheers
Peter Bickmore BEM

Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 501
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby Admin » Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:21 pm

There is also this interesting three-part interview with Douglas Hunt carried out by the IWM and available online.

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

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby Brian Holmes » Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:00 pm

MTB_245 Vosper, Portsmouth and Porchester 29/12/42
New Year Honours 1944
MID ALSea Douglas Gordon Smith C/JX142138

For minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44)
DSC TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR
MID AB Raymond Barnard P/JX415290
MID AB Eric Guest P/JX550840
MID Sto1 Frederick Arthur Parker D/KX156788

For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44
DSC* TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR
DSM TAPO Douglas Gordon Smith C/JX142138
DSM LMtrMch Harry Campbell Carty P/MX99313
DSM Tel Harry Morrey C/JX298392

Known Crew
TLt David Mortimer RNVR TSLt 12th MTB Flotilla Based at Portsmouth and Dartmouth Commanding Officer MTB 345 15/12/41 1st MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MTB 72 26/01/42 TLt 25/9/42 4th MTB Flotilla MTB 32 1/10/42 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe MTB 245 15/12/42 34th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 666 17/4/43 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID
TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR Training, HMS Raleigh HMS Renown (battlecruiser) as QD rating HMS King Alfred TASLt 21/11/41 First Lieutenant MTB 83 14/05/42 Assistant Surveyor 3rd Class (MBE) First Lieutenant MTB 82 14/5/42 TLt 21/11/42 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) for 22nd MTB Flotilla 12/42 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 245 10/4/43 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSC For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSC* HMS Mantis (for MTBs, as Divisional Commander within 22nd MTB Flotilla) 24/1/44 Commanding Officer MTB 392 & Senior Officer, 31st MTB Flotilla (Lowestoft) 4/9/44 New Year Honours List 1999 MBE For services to the Coastal Forces Veterans Association Born in Fulham 14/7/16 and died in Compton 8/7/2008
TLt Paul Thomas William Beck RNVR TSLt 5/3/42 First Lieutenant MTB 36 13/06/42 HMS Beehive (Felixstowe) 4th MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MTB 31 12/42 MTB 245 14/12/42 TLt 5/3/43 5th MTB Flotilla Based on Dover MTB 357 8/43 HMS Cicala Commanding Officer 1st MTB Flotilla MTB 415 44 -5/45 Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy HMS Beehive (Felixstowe) 22/5/45 – 7/45 MID 1945 Born 19/11/13 and died in Stafford 2/88
TSLt William Herbert Heald Coates RNVR HMS Bluebell (corvette) TASLt 15/4/43 HMS Hornet TSLt 15/10/43 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe First Lieutenant MTB 245 14/12/42 31st MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Portland First Lieutenant MTB 392 4/9/44 TLt 15/10/45 Wind up of the war in Europe MID Commanding Officer MMS 1011 (motor minesweeper) 8/3/46 Permanent RNVR 6/6/47 LtCdr 25/6/61 Born in Bucklow district, Cheshire / Lancashire 1923 and died 7/11/2010
TAPO Douglas Gordon Smith C/JX142138 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe MTB 245 New Year Honours 1944 MID For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSM TPO 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft MTB 446 For an attack on E Boats off the Thames Estuary 22/1/45 MID
LMtrMch Harry Campbell Carty P/MX99313 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 245 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSM
AB Raymond Barnard P/JX415290 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 245 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44) MID
AB Eric Guest P/JX550840 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 245 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area MID
Ord Abraham Patrick Coneley P/JX 519332 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe MTB 245 Died 1/4/44 aged 18 cause unknown Son of Abraham and Sophie Coneley, of Parkstone Poole (Branlsome) Cemetery Row A.N. Grave 116
Sto1 Frederick Arthur Parker D/KX156788 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 245 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area MID
Tel Harry Morrey C/JX298392 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 245 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSM

Wartime Activities
22nd MTB Flotilla
Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe
16-17/7/43 MTB 83, MTB 93, MTB 238 (Senior Officer) and MTB 245 are on patrol off Ymuiden when they sight a convoy of three small merchant ships escorted by two armed trawlers. Seven torpedoes are fired. At the time, one sinking is claimed but that is not borne out by post war investigations.
Minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44)
22nd MTB Flotilla
MTB 25, MTB 83, MTB 88, MTB 93, MTB 238, MTB 245 and MTB 347
Based on the Nore
Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy
8-9/7/44 MTB 88, MTB 93, MTB 238 and MTB 245 encounter a force of armed trawlers off Scheveningen. MTB 88 and MTB 238 make a torpedo attack hitting and sinking one trawler. MTB 93 and MTB 245 make a torpedo attack achieving two hits. MTB 245 is hit by a shell on the waterline close to the bow and begins to settle. MTB 245 gets underway astern and is later towed stern first by MTB 93 at 5kts. An ML later takes over the tow and a tug is despatched from Felixstowe.
1900 MTB 245 enters Felixstowe awash after twenty hours of towing.

Post War Fate
4/46 Sold
Houseboat – Meridian

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

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby Brian Holmes » Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:02 pm

MTB_392 Vosper, Wivenhoe 11/11/44
Wind up of the war in Europe (Gazette Date - 11/12/45)
MID TSLt William Herbert Heald Coates RNVR

Known Crew
TLt Kenneth Hartley RNVR TSLt 4/9/41 MTB 51 12/10/42 21st MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft, Felixstowe and Harwich Commanding Officer MTB 244 10/12/42 – 1943 TLt 16/3/43 Severely wounded in action 17/7/43 31st MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Portland MTB 392 1945
TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR Training, HMS Raleigh HMS Renown (battlecruiser) as QD rating HMS King Alfred TASLt 21/11/41 First Lieutenant MTB 83 14/05/42 Assistant Surveyor 3rd Class (MBE) First Lieutenant MTB 82 14/5/42 TLt 21/11/42 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) for 22nd MTB Flotilla 12/42 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 245 10/4/43 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSC For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSC* HMS Mantis (for MTBs, as Divisional Commander within 22nd MTB Flotilla) 24/1/44 Commanding Officer MTB 392 & Senior Officer, 31st MTB Flotilla (Lowestoft) 4/9/44 New Year Honours List 1999 MBE For services to the Coastal Forces Veterans Association Born in Fulham 14/7/16 and died in Compton 8/7/2008
TSLt William Herbert Heald Coates RNVR HMS Bluebell (corvette) TASLt 15/4/43 HMS Hornet TSLt 15/10/43 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe First Lieutenant MTB 245 14/12/42 31st MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Portland First Lieutenant MTB 392 4/9/44 TLt 15/10/45 Wind up of the war in Europe MID Commanding Officer MMS 1011 (motor minesweeper) 8/3/46 Permanent RNVR 6/6/47 LtCdr 25/6/61 Born in Bucklow district, Cheshire / Lancashire 1923 and died 7/11/2010

Wartime Activities
31st MTB Flotilla
Based at Lowestoft and Portland

Post War Fate
1949 MTB 1002
1956-12/57 Hulk

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

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby Brian Holmes » Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:04 pm

MTB_82 Vosper, Portsmouth and Porchester 26/6/42

For an attack on an enemy convoy in the Sicilian Channel 15/2/43
MID TLt Peter Roland Archie Taylor RNR

Known Crew
Lt Peter Roland Archie Taylor RNR SLt HMS St Christopher for MLs 27/9/41 HMS Mosquito (Alexandria) for MTBs 8/42 Lt 1/10/42 Commanding Officer MTB 36 04/12/43? 7th MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 82 For an attack on an enemy convoy in the Sicilian Channel 15/2/43 MID HMS Northway (Landing Ship Dock)
TLt R A Johnson RNZNVR TLt 26/9/42 Commanding Officer MTB 82 26/05/43
TSLt C A Rees RNVR HMS Minos II (Lowestoft) 7th MGB Flotilla 3/11/41 HMS Hornet for small craft 26/1/42 HMS Mosquito (Alexandria) for MTBs 25/6/42 TLt 4/4/43 7th MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 82 HMS Eaglet (Liverpool) 1944 HMS Shrapnel (Southampton)
TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR Training, HMS Raleigh HMS Renown (battlecruiser) as QD rating HMS King Alfred TASLt 21/11/41 First Lieutenant MTB 83 14/05/42 Assistant Surveyor 3rd Class (MBE) First Lieutenant MTB 82 14/5/42 TLt 21/11/42 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) for 22nd MTB Flotilla 12/42 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 245 10/4/43 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSC For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSC* HMS Mantis (for MTBs, as Divisional Commander within 22nd MTB Flotilla) 24/1/44 Commanding Officer MTB 392 & Senior Officer, 31st MTB Flotilla (Lowestoft) 4/9/44 New Year Honours List 1999 MBE For services to the Coastal Forces Veterans Association Born in Fulham 14/7/16 and died in Compton 8/7/2008
TSLt George Dennis Potter RNVR TSLt 28/5/43 7th MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MTB 82 19/07/43 Commanding Officer MTB 423 3/3/45 For actions in the Mediterranean 4/45 MID HMS Gregale (Malta)
TSLt Roland Hugh Slemeck RNVR Ord Joined the RNVR as a rating 20/10/40 HMS King Alfred TSLt 16/4/42 7th MTB Flotilla MTB 82 16/08/43 7th MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MTB 419 29/11/43 For actions in the Gulf of Genoa 8 - 9/44 MID TLt 16/10/44 HMS Gregale (Malta) 1944 HMS Calliope (RN base, Tyne) 23/5/45 HMS Dinosaur (Combined Operations base, Troon) 14/3/45 Born 9/10/20 in Alderholt, Dorset and died in 1983
AB George Robert Steel P/JX 296878 7th MTB Flotilla MTB 82Killed in action 16/7/43 aged 21 Son of William Alexander Robert and Edith May Steel

Wartime Activities
1/42 8th MTB Flotilla
(allocated for service in Mediterranean)
MTB 73 at Greenock
MTB 75, MTB 76, MTB 77, MTB 78, MTB 79, MTB 80, MTB 81, MTB 82 to join on completion
8th MTB Flotilla
Mediterranean
7th MTB Flotilla
25/01/43 MTBs 61, 77 and 82 arrive in Malta.

15/2/43 MTB 61, MTB 77 and MTB 82, depart Malta for a patrol off the island of Marittimo (South West Sicily). MTB 307 and MTB 315 are to rendezvous in the patrol area. MTB 61 has been converted into an MGB by landing the torpedo tubes and fitting three captured Italian Breda 20mm guns. MTB 61 suffers a failure of the hydraulic steering gear and goes to tiller steering.
2145 Received wireless report of a merchant ship, with an escort of two destroyers heading south west towards Marittimo. Senior Officer decides to intercept at the planned rendezvous. MTB 6l is forced to stop engines due to a dynamo failure and stops to effect repairs. MTB 77 and MTB 82 also stop. POMtrMch Thomas Frederick Mathews predicts a wait of thirty minutes. An aircraft sighting report is received indicating four merchant ships and a number of destroyers in the area.
The convoy is sighted less than two miles away and coming towards the three vessels.
MTB 61, MTB 77 and MTB 82 start their ‘silent engines’. MTB 61 is sent to the port side to stage a diversion whilst MTB 77 and MTB 82 attack with torpedoes. There is a gun action.. MTB 77 and MTB 82 disengage. MTB 61 stops and a destroyer passes her at 600 yds possibly believing her to be an E Boat. Flares are dropped in an unsuccessful attempt to entice an E Boat to try to rescue survivors from an apparently burning boat.
0210 MTB 61 disengages.
c0230 MTB 61, MTB 77 and MTB 82 rendezvous.
c0830 MTB 61, MTB 77 and MTB 82 return to Malta. German reports state that the convoy was Italian and on passage from Palermo to Bizerta. The merchant vessels were Prosimone, Alcamo, Chieti and Labor. The escort consisted of the torpedo boats Monsone and Sirio and the corvettes Gabbiano and Antilope.
MTB 307 and MTB 315 sight a merchant vessel with an escorting destroyer and prepare to attack. The merchant vessel is sunk by a Wellington bomber and the destroyer escapes
10/7/43 Operation Husky Invasion of Sicily
7th MTB Flotilla
MTB 57, MTB 60, MTB 62, MTB 65, MTB 76, MTB 77, MTB 81, MTB 82, MTB 84 and MTB 95
15-6/7/43 MTBs 57, 62, 77 and 82 are lying stopped between Messina and Reggio with SO 7th Flotilla embarked. Six boats from the 7th E Boat Flotilla are sighted. The E Boats turn and head north followed by the MTBs. MTB 77 fires torpedoes and engages with gunfire and a melee ensues. Two or three E boats are set on fire. The leading E boat explodes probably having been hit by a torpedo. MTBs 57, 62, 77 and 82 are engaged by shore batteries. MTB 77 is hit several times makes smoke and disengages to the south with the remaining boats following. A near miss on MTB 82 severely wounds the Commanding Officer and kills a crewman.
0500 MTBs 57, 62, 77 and 82 are in a brief engagement with a second group of E boats before returning to Augusta. German records show five E Boats damaged on this night.
Post War Fate
5/45 For disposal in the Mediterranean


MTB_83 Vosper, Portsmouth and Porchester 22/5/42
New Year Honours 1944
MID Lt Dennis John Long

Birthday Honours 1944
MID AB Edward Ernest Perry C/JX310048

For minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44)
DSM POMtrMch Daniel Welsh P/MX125283

For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44
MID Tel John Mushet C/JX341890

For actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44
DSC TLt Jack Donald Crouch Coombs RNVR
DSM APO Leslie Wilfred Pratt P/SD/X1583

Known Crew
Lt D G Filer RNVR Commanding Officer MTB 83 14/05/42
Lt David Felce RNVR Commanding Officer MTB 83
Lt Dennis John Long HMS Beehive For daylight attacks on the German Ships Scharnhorst, Gneisgnau and Prinz Eugen in the Dover Straits 12/2/42 22nd MTB Flotilla MID MTB 83 New Year Honours 1944 MID

TLt Jack Donald Crouch Coombs RNVR TSLt First Lieutenant MTB 88 20/05/42 22nd MTB Flotilla 1/12/42 TLt 5/2/43 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 222 22/2/43 – 10/11/43 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 For actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44 DSC 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft Commanding Officer MTB 496 21/11/44 Born 12/9/17 in Bournemouth, Hampshire and died 31/8/97 in Christchurch, Dorset
TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR Training, HMS Raleigh HMS Renown (battlecruiser) as QD rating HMS King Alfred TASLt 21/11/41 First Lieutenant MTB 83 14/05/42 Assistant Surveyor 3rd Class (MBE) First Lieutenant MTB 82 14/5/42 TLt 21/11/42 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) for 22nd MTB Flotilla 12/42 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 245 10/4/43 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSC For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSC* HMS Mantis (for MTBs, as Divisional Commander within 22nd MTB Flotilla) 24/1/44 Commanding Officer MTB 392 & Senior Officer, 31st MTB Flotilla (Lowestoft) 4/9/44 New Year Honours List 1999 MBE For services to the Coastal Forces Veterans Association Born in Fulham 14/7/16 and died in Compton 8/7/2008
POMtrMch Daniel Welsh P/MX125283 22nd MTB Flotilla For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSM
APO Leslie Wilfred Pratt P/SD/X1583 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 For actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44 DSM
LSea William Murray MTB 83
AB Edward Ernest Perry C/JX310048 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 Birthday Honours 1944 MID
Tel John Mushet C/JX341890 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 MID

Wartime Activities
Minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44)
9/11/42 MTB 83, MTB 233, (Two other boats returned early with defects) intercept a convoy off Terschelling. A heavy RAF raid outward bound for Germany provides a chance diversion
2233 MTB 83 and MTB 233 fire four torpedoes at the overlapping fourth, fifth and sixth vessels in the convoy and disengage. Two torpedoes hit the German vessel Rotersand and the third hits the Swedish collier Abisko (3085 tons). The ship is repaired and brought to Emden. In the resulting confusion two further vessels strike mines. The escort consisted of the escort vessel F4, minesweepers M4, M7 and M8 and four Vps.
27-8/2/43 MTB 83, MTB 93 and MTB 222 are despatched to intercept a convoy off Egmond. The convoy is not sighted but MTB 83, MTB 93 and MTB 222 are fired on by patrol vessels.
16-17/7/43 MTB 83, MTB 93, MTB 238 (Senior Officer) and MTB 245 are on patrol off Ymuiden when they sight a convoy of three small merchant ships escorted by two armed trawlers. Seven torpedoes are fired. At the time, one sinking is claimed but that is not borne out by post war investigations.
22nd MTB Flotilla
MTB 25, MTB 83, MTB 88, MTB 93, MTB 238, MTB 245 and MTB 347
Based on the Nore
Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy
8/7/44 Action off the Dutch coast
Actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44
14-5/9/44 MTB 83, MTB 88, MTB 223, MTB 232, MTB 233, MTB 234 (Senior Officer) and MTB 244 are on patrol off Terschelling and attack a convoy. Division 1, lead by MTB 234 attacks from inshore but are detected and beaten off. Division 2, lead by MTB 232, then attacks from seaward achieving hits on a 2000 ton merchant ship from 1500 yards. Division 1 makes a second attack, fire torpedoes, but miss.

Post War Fate
3/48 For disposal

PickardJ
Seaman
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2016 7:50 am

Re: MTB 245 & 392 Douglas Hunt DSC

Postby PickardJ » Sat Nov 12, 2016 8:03 am

Hi Richard

My father was Stan Pickard, 1st lieutenant on Bob Eborah's MTB (88, 238, 495) with the 22nd Flotilla.
I have recently been reading my Father's letters home to my mother and there a re quite a few mentions of Douggie - if you would like transcripts I can oblige.
Stan visited him and Vaughn (his first Lieutenant) in hospital Christmas 1945 - do you happen to know the circumstances in which they were injured?
I believe I read somewhere that he deposited his correspondence with CFT - but I imagine you have found that by now.

Cheers
Jeremy Pickard


Return to “Motor Torpedo Boats”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 24 guests