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:Brian Holmes wrote: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.Stephen wrote:He may have been entitled to the France & Germany Star, although the government are a bit unclear on this.
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