Coastal Forces Veterans

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:03 am**

An original press photo from 1943 shows Vosper 72’ Motor Torpedo Boats of the 23rd Flotilla of the Royal Navy who were stationed at Kingswear at the time this photo was taken. Kingswear is located on the Dart River opposite Dartmouth in Devon. The Flotilla was manned entirely by Free French Navy personel. The Flotilla was made up of eight Vosper 72’ MTBs numbering from 90,91,92,94,96,98,227 & 239.
The photo has been heavily censored during wartime with the numbers that would have been painted on the stern of the boats obliterated and all the background has been whited out so Kingswear would have been to the left in the photo background and Dartmouth off to the right.
The Flotilla was tasked with conducting cross channel operations against German Shipping and anything else that came in their way. General Charles De Gaulle’s son Phillipe was a member of this unit during their tenure at Dartmouth.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/3442/QpyR5p.jpg

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:09 pm**

It is with interest I read the details of the 23rd Flotilla, having served aboard MTB 243 in the MED, how was it decided which boats were allocated to form the 23rd & 24th Flotilla's
MTB- 81-85-86-89-97-226-242& 243 = 24th Flotilla
MTB- 90-91-92-94-96-98- 227& 239 = 23rd Fl0tilla
attached picture of MTB 243 in her war paint alongside HMS Vienna Bari Italy

Posted: **Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:23 am**

An original press photo from 1943 shows Vosper 72’ Motor Torpedo Boats of the 23rd Flotilla of the Royal Navy who were stationed at Kingswear at the time this photo was taken. Kingswear is located on the Dart River opposite Dartmouth in Devon. The Flotilla was manned entirely by Free French Navy personel. The Flotilla was made up of eight Vosper 72’ MTBs numbering from 90,91,92,94,96,98,227 & 239.
The photo has been heavily censored during wartime with the numbers that would have been painted on the stern of the boats obliterated and all the background has been whited out so Kingswear would have been to the left in the photo background and Dartmouth off to the right.
The Flotilla was tasked with conducting cross channel operations against German Shipping and anything else that came in their way. General Charles De Gaulle’s son Phillipe was a member of this unit during their tenure at Dartmouth.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/3442/QpyR5p.jpg

The image link quoted above is no longer applicable. This is the new link to the photo https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/3796/8ZCWr5.jpg

I'm unable to edit the original post, hence the new update.

P

Posted: **Sun Aug 16, 2020 9:25 am**

Message for MTB98-Condie

Andrew,

Firstly my apologies for any delay in replying, there seems to be a problem with the PM system. Your message only appeared in my inbox yesterday and despite repeated attempts I've been unable to reply by PM.

Yes I can send you a copy of the photo. in fact I have several different scanned versions so you can have them all if you wish. Some are close up detailed scans of certain areas of the photo.

The best way to send would be via email so if you can send me an email address I'll get them sent.

Kind regards

Peter

Coastal Forces Veterans

French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943

French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943

Re: French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943

Re: French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943

Re: French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943