Coastal Forces Veterans

Can anyone confirm the location of this dockside as Leghorn?
My researches into my fathers war service now lead me to believe he was supporting the 7th MTB Flotilla from Malta to Bastia then on to Leghorn. He was PO MM Bert Lapthorne. I cannot attribute him to any particular boat but have photos from Bastia of MTB421, ML 134 but records show a different PO MM for this ship.
He did recall docking up in and around the Gulf of Genoa in 1945 and was particularly fond of Rapallo and Santa Margherita.

Hi, the pic you posted definitely shows the Fortezza Vecchia (old fort) in Livorno (Leghorn). Compare these pics :






Needless to say I would be interested to see the pics of MTB 421 you mention.

Regards,

Arjan

Thank you for this confirmation Arjan.
Here is the picture of MTB 421 with others in Bastia harbour (I think!)

Interesting reading this post as my late father Walter Lovelock served on MTB 421 based in Malta (7 th Flotilla) but visited a number of hot spots up the Italian coast and North Africa.
He always called his days out there as being on a Cook’s tour, no mention of any action out there but he was mentioned in dispatches on one occasion.
Prior to Malta he was based in Scapa Floe on the North Atlantic convoy routes also on an MTB but designation not known to me.

I’m in Malta and just visited the fascinating Lascali War Rooms and Fort St Elmo which was an emotional experience. My Dad, Robert Varvill was the Commanding Officer of MTB421 in Leghorn, Bastia, Maddalena and then based in Malta around 1944-5, where he met my mother, a WREN officer, based in Fort St Angelo. I think after that he was based in the eastern Med, possibly Alexandria.

Hello Anne

Thank you for your post from Malta!

Here is a photo featuring MTB 421 at Bastia from the collection of Bert Lapthorne as supplied to me by his son, which I presume is the one that he mentioned trying to post on the thread.

Regards
Admin

Hi Anne

You may be interested in the following information on MTB 421

Regards John

• MTB 421 was one of the one hundred-six Motor Torpedo Boats selected to be supplied under the Lend-Lease Agreement by the USA between 1941 & 1943. This boat was one of twenty-four motor torpedo boats (PTs 71 to 94) that Higgins Industries, New Orleans, built. The boat's length was 78ft 3ins, the beam was 20ft 8ins, the mean draught was 5ft 3ins & its displacement was 56 tons. It was powered by three Packard V12 M2500 1,500bhp petrol engines, achieving a speed of 40 knots & armed with one 40 mm/56.3 (1.57") Bofors, two twin Browning M2 0.30 calibre medium machine guns & four 21” torpedoes. This boat, designated PT 91, was laid down on 5 June 1942 & launched on 7 November 1942. On completion on 17 December 1942, it was commissioned & assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Fourteen. However, this boat became one of ten that were earmarked for transfer to the Soviet Union & designated by the Soviets as PRT 7. However, the spring 1943 convoys from the USA to the Soviet Union were cancelled due to weather conditions & therefore, it was decided in April 1943 that five of the Soviet boats (PRTs 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9) would be transferred to the Royal Navy (MTBs 419 – 423). The boat was shipped directly from the USA to Malta via Oran, Algiers & Bizerte, where it was sent for refit, which included being rearmed with one 20mm/70(0.79") Oerlikon Mk II Cannon, two twin 0.5"/62(12.7mm) Vickers Mk III Machine Guns & two 21" Mk X Torpedoes. MTB 421 was commissioned in December 1943 & assigned to the 7th MTB Flotilla with a crew of two officers & ten other ranks.

• MTBs 421, 420, 419, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla, 1st Division) & 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378 (7th MTB Flotilla, 2nd Division) on 20 December 1943 at Malta.

• MTBs 421, 420, 419, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla, 1st Division) & 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378 (7th MTB Flotilla, 2nd Division) from January to March 1944 were at Malta, working up & carrying out exercises.

• MTBs 421, 420, 419, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla, 1st Division) & 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378 (7th MTB Flotilla, 2nd Division) in April 1944 departed Malta for Maddalena.

• MTBs 421, 420, 419, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla, 1st Division) & 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378 (7th MTB Flotilla, 2nd Division) in May 1944 departed Maddalena for Bastia with the USN 22nd MTBRon.

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) with PTBs on 25 May 1944 were north of Secche when they made an attack run on a convoy of MFP, which was being escorted by a group of S-boats & a corvette. As the MTBs approached, they were met by heavy gunfire & only MTB 421 managed to get within range & fired two torpedoes, but both missed their targets.

• MTBs 421,419, 420 (7th MTB Flotilla) with PT 218 on 28 May 1944 were patrolling off Deiva Marina, Italy, when they intercepted convoy No. 626. This convoy included (1) the tug MONFALCONE, with the merchant ships FALKENBERG & REGENSBURG, (2) the tug AVYLOS with the ships GISELA, GABRIELA & LILLI, (3) the tug STEFANO, the submarine chaser UJ 2210 with three barges in tow. The convoy escort included the armed trawler V 7002 (Ste Jeanne d’Arc) & two marinefährprahm KF 4617 & KF 4772 (ex Italian F/KF 772). The MTBs were ordered to attack independently. MTBs 419 & 420 each fired one torpedo, & ML 421 fired two torpedoes, sinking UJ 2210 & two barges, before the escort vessels, realising the convoy was under attack & opened fire on the MTBs, which were already withdrawing. An hour later, PT 218 found a new target on its radar, which was a Kriegstransporter escorted by the torpedo boat. MTBs 419 & 420, each having one remaining torpedo & commenced their attack run. MTB 419 fired first & hit the KT ship, which broke in two & sank. However, during the attack, MTB 420 was illuminated by shellfire & the boat was struck by gunfire from the enemy torpedo boat, which hit the bridge, chart house & damaged two of its three engines. MTB 420 fired four red star cartridges, which seemed to confuse the torpedo boat, which immediately stopped firing. During this interlude, MTB 420’s motor mechanic managed to restart two of its three engines, which allowed MTB 420 to escape. Note, the following awards were Gazetted for their service during the action: MTB 419, TLt Moore, Leading Seaman Collins & Able Seaman Marshall were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 420, POMtMech Joseph was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, TLt Good & PO Kent were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 421, Tel Mears was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, TLt Varvill & LStoker Lovelock were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 667, POMtMech Lacey was Mentioned in Dispatches.

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) from 8 to 15 June 1944 (following the fall of Rome on 4 June 1944) carried out patrols off the Elbe every night to stop the Germans evacuating troops.

• MTBs 421, 420, 419, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 9 June 1944, with three USN PTBs, were patrolling off Elba when they sighted a German destroyer. The MTBs made the first torpedo run, but their torpedoes & missed as a shore battery fired on them. The PTBs made their torpedo run & fired their torpedoes at the island, which they had mistaken for the target.

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 16 June 1944 departed Corsica as part of combined Royal Navy & US Navy Task Force' N' on Operation Brassard, the invasion of Elba, which Allied Intelligence believed was occupied by 500 Italian fascists & 2,000 German soldiers. However, because of the shallowness of the waters around Elba, large naval & transport ships could not be used in Operation Brassard. Therefore the Royal Navy provided the gunboats HMS APHIS, SCARAB & COCKCHAFER, five minesweepers, five Landing Craft Tank (Rocket), five Landing Craft Gun, five Landing Craft Flak, five Landing Craft Support (M) with machine-gun & mortars, four Landing Craft Assault armed 24 spigot-mortars instead of personnel & boats from the 3rd, 8th, 28th, 31st & 140th ML Flotillas, the 7th MTB Flotilla & the 56th MTB/MGB Flotilla. The US Navy provided seven destroyers, boats from the 15th & 22nd Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, four Landing Ship Tank, forty-one Landing Craft Tank, forty-two Landing Craft Infantry (L), thirty-six Landing Craft Assault & twenty Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel. The land force was provided by the French Assault Force 225, which consisted of 11,667 French troops, with 86 guns, 250 mules & 481 vehicles. Air support was to be provided by the 87th Fighter Wing, the 57th Bombardment Group, the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force & the 63rd Fighter Wing of the Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force. The 7th MTB Flotilla with the 56th MTB/MGB Flotilla, the 15th & 22nd Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, were part of Group 1, whose mission it was to land Commandos (the Bataillon de Choc & the Commandos d'Afrique) three hours before H-hour (04.00hrs) on the Northern side of Elba to silence the shore batteries & after landing the Commandoes their secondard task was to start diversionary operations on the northern side of Elba to draw attention away from the main landing on the southern side of Elba in the Bay of Golfop di Campo. Whilst en route to Elba, Group 1 & Group 2 (the main assault force) convoys were spotted by German reconnaissance aircraft, which also spotted Group 2 (the main assault convoy). However, the Germans concluded that these were merely the regular naval convoys operating between Naples & Bastia & took no action.

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 17 June 1944 at 00.15hrs were off Capo Enfola, Elba when the PTBs launched rubber dinghies containing eighty-seven men from Bataillon de Choc, whilst the MTBs & MGBs provided a defence screen. Once the troops had successfully landed the MTBs, MGBs & PTBs moved off to initiate their diversionary missions north of Portoferraio, which were scheduled to commence at approximately 02.50hrs. The diversionary actions included laying a smokescreen, firing salvoes of rockets & landing craft approaching the beach area to simulate troops wading ashore by dropping dummies overboard. Fifty-five hours after landings commenced, Elba was in Allied hands. The French casualties were 201 men killed, 51 missing & 635 wounded. The British casualties were 103 men killed & 109 wounded. The Axis casualties were 672 killed & missing (507 German & 165 Italian) & 1995 troops were taken prisoner (1,383 German & 612 Italian). The French reported capturing 48 guns & howitzers, plus 100 machine-guns.

• MTBs 421, 375, 378 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 12 July 1944 with USN PT 308 were patrolling the Gulf of Genoa when they attacked four F-lighters & two R-boats in poor visibility. MTB 421 fired one torpedo, which hit a F-lighter that exploded & sank, before heavy gunfire forced the MTBs/PTB to withdraw.

• MTBs 421, 375, 378 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 13 July 1944, with USN PT 310, were patrolling off La Spezia when they attacked four F-lighters, sinking one & badly damaging another.

• MTBs 421 & 420 on 16 July 1944 were patrolling off La Spezia when they sighted a destroyer, which they attacked with torpedoes before withdrawing.

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla). From 20 July 1944, the flotilla moved its patrol area after the fall of Livorno to Genoa & the Ligurian coast.

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 13 August 1944 departed Bastia as part of Operation Dragoon (invasion of the South of France).

• MTBs 421, 375, 376(2), 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 14 & 15 August 1944 took part in Operation Dragoon (invasion of South of France) & their role was to screen & protect the amphibious forces' right flank.

• MTBs 421, 375, 377(2), 420, 654, 667 on 15 August 1944 the following awards were Gazetted for their service during the offensive sweeps off the west coast of Italy in May 1944: MTBs 375, TLt Johnson was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTBs 377(2), TLt Aitchison was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTBs 420, LTel Phillps was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal & Lt Blomfield was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTBs 421, TLt Varvill was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross & Able Seaman Arnold was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTBs 654, Able Seaman McQuillan was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTBs 667, TSubLt Dean & Able Seaman Raybould were Mentioned in Dispatches.

• MTBs 421 & 420 (7th MTB Flotilla) with USN PTB 557 on 26 August 1944 were patrolling the Gulf of Genoa when they sighted two large German warships (destroyers or corvettes), which they attacked, firing four torpedoes at their targets from a range of 1,000 yards & claiming one hit.

• MTBs 421 & 378 MTBs 378 & 421 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 12 September 1944 with USN PTB 557 were patrolling the Gulf of Genoa when they sighted four F-lighters off Savona. The MTBs attacked, firing four torpedoes; MTB 378 sank one F-lighter. However, MTB 421's torpedoes missed their targets, so it continued its attacks using its guns & leaving the F-lighter to sink. PT 557 fired four torpedoes, sinking one F-lighter, but the last F-lighter escaped.

• MTB 421 with other boats (7th MTB Flotilla) on 29 October 1944, fired torpedoes into Rapallo harbour, followed by a large unidentified explosion.

• MTBs 421 & 377(2) on 18 November 1944 with a USN PTB were on patrol off Sestri Levant & sighted a convoy travelling northwest. As they were approaching the convoy, another convoy travelling southeast was sighted & the two convoys stopped near each other. As the MTBs/PTB started their attack run, the area was lit up by starshells, followed by heavy gunfire from both shore & ships. In the confusion, shells from the shore battery fell not only near the MTBs/PTB but also amongst the enemy convoy. The MTBs/PTB withdrew, as did both enemy convoys; eventually, the starshells & gunfire from the shore ceased. The MTBs/PTB followed the convoy heading southeast & later commenced an attack on this convoy, but once again, the area was lit up by starshells followed by heavy gunfire from a shore battery. The MTBs/PTB tried twice more to attack this convoy, but each time they were met by heavy shelling. On the last attack, MTBs 377(2) & 421 fight through the heavy bombardment, pressing home their attack & firing four torpedoes at the convoy, hitting a KT ship which exploded & sank. The two MTBs were so close to the KT ship when their torpedoes struck that both boats experienced the shockwave from the exploding torpedoes. Later, it was discovered that a shore battery shell had passed through the bow of MTB 377(2). Note, the following awards were Gazetted for their service during the action: MTB 377(2), TLt Aitchison was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; MTB 421, Able Seaman Thomson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

• MTBs 421, 375, MGBs 647, 659, 662, MLs 449, 468 Note, the following awards were Gazetted for their service during the actions off the west coast of Italy & the Dalmatia coast in June 1944: MTB 375, POMtMech Felton & Leading Seaman McVicar were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 421, SubLt Raper & Leading Seaman Maguire were Mentioned in Dispatches; MGB 647, TLt Mountstephens was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross & Seaman Matheson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal; MGB 659 TLt Barlow, PO O’Hare & Able Seaman Love were Mentioned in Dispatches; MGB 662, TSLt Darracott was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, TALtCdr Bligh, Able Seamen McCartney, Walker & Whiteley were was Mentioned in Dispatches; ML 449, TLt Kelleher was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross & Able seaman Brown was Mentioned in Dispatches; ML 468, LMtMech Clark & Able Seaman Powell were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Able Seaman Bolton was Mentioned in Dispatches.

• MTBs 421, 420, 419, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 13 December 1944 were at Maddalena, Sardinia.

• MTBs 421, 419, 420, 422 (7th MTB Flotilla) & MTBs 375, 376 (2), 377 (2), 378 (19th MTB Flotilla) on 16 December 1944 were part of a USS Strike Force, which was split into three groups. Group 1, the main attacking force, which included the armed trawlers HMS AILSA CRAIG, GULLAND, HORNPIPE, MINUET & TWOSTEP, escorted by US NPTs 302, 304, 309, 313 & MTBs 376, 419, 420, 422. Group 2, the northern scout group, which included the USN PTs 306, MTBs 377 & 421. Group 3, the southern scout group, which included the USN PT 310 with MTBs 375 & 378. Air support was to be provided by Lockheed Ventura Bombers from the 17th Squadron (South African Air Force), who were to have illuminated the enemy by starting brush fires ashore with incendiary bombs. However, due to low visibility, air support was not provided. The northern scout group encountered a southbound F-lighter convoy during the operation, but lost sight of it in the darkness. Later, the northern scout group then found a northbound F-Lighter convoy & notified Group 1, who intercepted the convoy; Two of the trawlers illuminated the enemy convoy, while the rest of the armed trawlers opened fire with their 4” guns as the Germans replied with their 88mm guns, inflicting damage on some of the trawlers. MTB 420 laid down smoke so that the attacking force could withdraw. The armed trawlers claimed that they had sunk two F-lighters & one R-boat during the attack, but these claims were never verified.

• MTBs 421, 377(2), 378, 419, 420, 423 on 23 January 1945 the following awards were Gazetted for their service during the actions in the Gulf of Genoa between August & September 1944: MTB 377(2), TLt Aitchison, Able Seam Ellis & Seaman Dark were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 378, TLt Ilett, TSubLt James & Leading Seaman Pringle were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 419, TLt Finch was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross & TSubLt Slemeck was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 420, Lt Blomfield was awarded a second Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross; MTB 421, TLt Moore was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; MTB 423, TLt Good & Able seaman Bosworth were Mentioned in Dispatches.

• MTBs 421, 419, 420, 422, 423 (7th MTB Flotilla) on 15 August 1945 were operating out of Leghorn, Italy.

• MTB 421 was returned to the United States Navy in September 1945 & was destroyed in October 1945.

This was fascinating to read. Much more information than I have ever had before, thank you, John. Next stop, when I return home to England is to visit the museum in Gosport.