ML 130

Motor Launches (ML), Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDML) & Rescue Motor Launches (RML)
CAM
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ML 130

Postby CAM » Fri May 02, 2014 8:50 pm

What known details of the death ML-130 in Malta 07/05/1942?

Pioneer
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Re: ML 130

Postby Pioneer » Fri May 02, 2014 10:17 pm

From our Boat Database (Losses by Date - 7 May 1942) - "ML 130 was sunk off Malta by gunfire from E-Boats". Four recorded deaths - see our Casualty Database

CAM
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Re: ML 130

Postby CAM » Sat May 03, 2014 10:05 am

Another eight crew members were taken prisoner by the Germans. Maybe after the war, they told about the details of the fight? How was armed with ML-130 in the last battle? May have his photo?

Admin
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Re: ML 130

Postby Admin » Sun May 04, 2014 1:56 am

After the war David* told me of the action and its aftermath. 130 had been attacked by half a dozen E-boats, by coincidence their 3rd Flotilla, which had swept his decks with fire. When they thought 130 subdued , one closed to demand surrender, and David saw his chance. Replacing a wounded gunner, he and a seaman pumped shells from the 3-pounder at close range into the stopped E-boat. Boarded by the others, David and his men were taken off as prisoners and 130 blown up. The damaged E-boat was abandoned.

In Sicily David, who had been wounded in the knee, was severely grilled, for the Germans seemed to think that his association with the Metropolitan Police - which they knew about - had something to do with Intelligence. They also quizzed him about the new quick firing gun he had used to put the E-boat out of action. Our 1898 3-pounder!
A Leaf Upon the Sea, A Small Ship in the Mediterranean 1941-1943: Chapter 8: The Eye of the Storm
Gordon W Stead

* David Robert Hamilton Jolly

CAM
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Re: ML 130

Postby CAM » Sun May 04, 2014 9:33 am

Thank you. I have a report flotilla commander E-boats Kemnade about this fight and almost all said the same with this report. The Germans only S-61 received one hit 47-mm projectile and the next night with the same boats again came to lay mines off the coast of Malta. I wanted to know details of the battle of words with British sailors.

cdsc123
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Re: ML 130

Postby cdsc123 » Tue May 06, 2014 11:27 pm

ML 130 in A/S role with 3-pounder MKI Hotchkiss gun, Holman Projector and 12 depth charges;
Attachments
ml130.jpg

CAM
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Re: ML 130

Postby CAM » Wed May 07, 2014 9:21 am

Thank you. What combat tasks performed ML-126 and -130 in Malta?

cdsc123
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Re: ML 130

Postby cdsc123 » Wed May 07, 2014 7:42 pm

Minesweeping and patrol I think. That would be Brian's field of knowledge not mine.

CAM
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Re: ML 130

Postby CAM » Thu May 08, 2014 11:23 am

In German, the report says that prisoners with ML-130 told the three outputs ML-126 and -130 on patrol. The report referred to the Maltese command only two output ML until May 7. And equipment for trawling ML installed immediately or was installed in Malta?

cdsc123
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Re: ML 130

Postby cdsc123 » Thu May 08, 2014 8:14 pm

Fairmiles were fitted with anchor points for a wide range of equipment and weaponry so fitting the Oropesa sweep would have been a straightforward task, it could have been easily carried out in Gibraltar or Malta.

CAM
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Re: ML 130

Postby CAM » Sat May 17, 2014 10:35 pm

English coastal positions and night "Beaufighter" reported early in the fight back in 01.43, but the ML-130 help no one came. To the battlefield RAF rescue boat arrived only to 05.00, even though it was only six miles from the entrance to Grand Harbour. Why from La Valletta nobody sent to help, even if the ML-126?

Brian Holmes
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Re: ML 130

Postby Brian Holmes » Mon May 19, 2014 7:42 pm

ML_130 Frank Curtis Ltd, Looe, Cornwall 9/10/40

For an action with enemy light forces off Malta in which the boat was sunk after a stout defence 7/5/42
DSC TLt David Robert Hamilton Jolly RNVR
DSC TLt Frederick Roy Price-Fox RNVR
DSM LSto Victor James Fisher P/KX88846
DSM AB James McNeill Wilson P/SSX26299
DSM Tel Leslie Norman Atherley C/JX135392
MID AB John Brown C/SSX26364

Known Crew
TLt David Robert Hamilton Jolly RNVR TLt 12/1/41 HMS Cormorant for MLs 1/10/41 Commanding Officer ML 130 HMS Cormorant 1944
TLt Frederick Roy Price-Fox RNVR ML 130 TLt 4/5/43
TSLt George Raymond Worledge RANVR HMAS Moresby, TSLt Stood by ML 130 and ML 124 Commanding Officer ML 220 TLt 16/8/41 Commanding Officer ML 352 6/42 - 9/42 HMAS Cerberus
LSto Victor James Fisher P/KX88846 3rd ML Flotilla Based at Malta ML 130 For an action with enemy light forces off Malta in which the boat was sunk after a stout defence 7/5/42 DSM
AB John Brown C/SSX26364 3rd ML Flotilla Based at Malta ML 130 For an action with enemy light forces off Malta in which the boat was sunk after a stout defence 7/5/42 MID(Post) Killed in action 7/5/42 aged 20. Son of John and Margaret Brown, of Sunderland, Co. Durham.
AB Albert Henry Williams C/JX 141928 Killed in action 7/5/42 aged 23. Son of Henry and Rosina Williams, of Radlett, Hertfordshire
AB James McNeill Wilson P/SSX26299
Ord Thomas Wilson Finlay D/JX 257816 3rd ML Flotilla Based at Malta Killed in action 7/5/42 aged 32 when ML 130 was lost. Son of George and Agnes Finlay, of Edinburgh Buried in Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily III. E. 12.
Sto2 John William Middlemiss C/KX 118740 (Killed in action 7/5/42) Age 28 Son of Thomas and Isabella Middlemiss, of Shiremoor; husband of Gladys Middlemiss, of Shiremoor, Northumberland.
Tel Leslie Norman Atherley C/JX135392 3rd ML Flotilla ML 130 For an action with enemy light forces off Malta in which the boat was sunk after a stout defence 7/5/42 DSM

Wartime Activities
3rd ML Flotilla
Based at Portsmouth
ML 121, ML 123, ML 126, ML 129, ML 130, ML 132, ML 134 and ML 135
12/4/41 Destroyers HMS Kashmir and HMS Jackal and corvette HMS Spirae depart the UK for Gibraltar escorting 3rd Motor Launch Flotilla ML 121, ML 129, ML 130, ML 132, ML 134, ML 135, and ML 168
17/4/41 Destroyers HMS Kashmir and HMS Jackal and corvette HMS Spirae arrived at Gibraltar escorting 3rd Motor Launch Flotilla ML 121, ML 129, ML 130, ML 132, ML 134, ML 135, and ML 168
7/41 3rd ML Flotilla
Based at Gibraltar
ML 121, ML 129, ML 130, ML 132, ML 134, ML 135 and ML 168
25/7/41 Light cruiser HMS Manchester returned to Gibraltar, escorted by destroyer Avon Vale, with three out of four engines inoperative.Before arriving at Gibraltar, destroyers Vidette and Vimy joined the screen. Destroyer Wishart later sailed and relieved destroyer Avon Vale.Tug St Day departed Gibraltar to assist. They arrived at Gibraltar shortly before midnight. Motor launches ML 130, ML 126, ML 168, ML 121, and ML 129 departed Gibraltar to sweep ahead of the cruiser and provide additional escort. Later, tugs Rollicker and St Omar with ML 173, and ML 169 departed to join the cruiser
2/8/41 ML 130, ML 129 and ML 168 departed Gibraltar to conduct an anti-submarine search north of Alboran Island
13/11/41 When carrier HMS Ark Royal is torpedoed, sestroyer HMS Wild Swan, tugs St Day and Thames, and ML 121, ML 130, ML 132, ML 135, ML 170, ML 172, and ML 176 departed Gibraltar to assist. Tugs Thames and St Day arrived and took the carrier in tow
1/42 ML 121, ML 126, ML 129, ML 130, ML 132, ML 134, ML 135, ML 168 at Gibraltar
12/3/42 At 2130, ML 126 and ML 130 depart Gibraltar passing through the straits and flying the Italian ensign
17/3/42 ML 126 and ML 130, arrive in Malta.
7/5/42 S 31, S 34 and S 61 sink the British ML 130 off Malta, by gunfire and scuttling charges, in position 35.55n 14.37e . ML 130 was employed in escorting submarines in and out of harbour. After one such mission ML 130 was approximately one mile off St Elmo breakwater when illuminated by searchlights attempting to find reported E Boats which had followed ML 130 back up the swept channel. There were seven E Boats and three of them were sunk in the ensuing action. ML 130 was overwhelmed with four dead, eight severely injured and one man uninjured. The nine survivors were picked up by German vessels
ML 130 on patrol. At 0143 a hot action took place about six miles off Grand Harbour, lasting about twenty minutes. Nearly an hour later there was a loud explosion, and a vessel which appeared to be ML 130 was seen burning until five o'clock.
The R.A.F. rescue launch proceeded to the spot but searched unsuccessfully for survivors. Wreckage and part of a carley float established the fact that ML 130 had been lost probably due to an explosion caused by a fire started during an action with an enemy light craft

Precis of an article published in Navy News April 1996 about Frederick Roy Price-Fox
Part of 2nd ML Flotilla at Gibraltar was fitted with extra fuel tanks and material to alter the silhouette with the intention of making passage to Malta. ML 139 flew a Spanish ensign whilst proceeding east off French held territory and the French flag off Italian held Teritory. Hoisted a German ensign when overflown by Italian aircraft.
Approaching Malta at daybreak they were proceeding under an ‘escort’ of German aircraft then ML 130 made a dash for the breakwater.
At Malta, ML 130 was employed in escorting submarines in and out of harbour. After one such mission ML 130 was approximately one mile off St Elmo breakwater when illuminated by searchlights attempting to find reported E Boats which had followed ML 130 back up the swept channel. There were seven E Boats and three of them were sunk in the ensuing action. ML 130 was overwelmed with four dead, eight severely injured and one man uninjured. The nine survivors were picked up by German vessels.
Frederick Roy Price-Fox was in hospital in Augusta, Sicily with shrapnel in the head, shoulder, one arm and the right leg for eight weeks before being sent to a POW camp in Germany for the rest of the war.

CAM
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Re: ML 130

Postby CAM » Fri May 23, 2014 7:13 pm

Thank you. Tell me why ML-130 in the last battle was with 3-pound Mk-1 Hotchkiss? I saw a photo of ML-134 same flotilla with 2-pound Rolls-Royce in front of the superstructure and the ML-462 with Oerlikon front and aft superstructure. Were at ML-130 Oerlikon?

mjling
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Re: ML 130

Postby mjling » Thu Jun 25, 2015 10:27 pm

I am trying to research my uncle Albert Henry Williams who was killed on ML130 in the action off Malta on 7th May 1942.

Is anyone able to tell me when he joined ML130, was he part of the crew during its voyage from the UK to Gibraltar or did he join in Gib. Are any of his service records available to view ? Any information would be very welcome.

Many Thanks

Marcus

Admin
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Re: ML 130

Postby Admin » Fri Jun 26, 2015 12:56 am

Hello Marcus

Unless a member of the family has a copy of his service record then the only way of acquiring details of it would be to apply for a copy yourself from the Ministry of Defence, details of which are available in the Service Records thread.

I would imagine your uncle would most likely have been part of the boat's crew from the time of its commissioning and working up, and would have sailed with it from the UK to Gibraltar, but only his service record could confirm this.

Regards
Admin

mjling
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Re: ML 130

Postby mjling » Fri Jun 26, 2015 2:26 am

Hi there Admin,

Thanks for that information, there are no Service records held by the family so I will send off the forms and payment to get a copy.

Kind Regards

Marcus


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