This is proving quite elusive, which may indicate there is no solid source of recorded information. If there was a torpedo involved it would likely be because MGB 17 ran on to it accidentally after it had been fired by an S-boot at a larger target. There's nothing in The War at Sea (Roskill) about it, while S-boot net claims S 171 sank MGB 17 by gunfire, but doesn't provide any reference, and Hans Frank, who's a pretty good authority in this field, in his volume German S-Boats in Action in the Second World War, records on the night in question that:The second group is in action with MGBs and S 171 sinks MGB 17 by gunfire. Other reports say that MGB 17 sank after striking a mine and also that S 171 sank her with a torpedo.
However, it's not clear if he's referring to MGB 17, and again unfortunately there's no source quoted, so it's not clear who was even in a position to know what happened, unless there's an account somewhere from the surviving officer and crew. Over to Steve I think, to see what he may be able to unearth up at the NA.The 2nd S-boat Flotilla searching to the north sighted nothing and headed for Boulogne, where 4.SFltl joined it after a chase by MGBs and fighter bombers, one boat being mined.
I believe from a Coastal Forces perspective you had to have been based on the continent at some stage, so those flotillas that worked out of Cherbourg or Ostend for example qualified.He may have been entitled to the France & Germany Star, although the government are a bit unclear on this.
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