Coastal Defence Forces at Dartmouth

[Jonathant]

I am researching Coastal Defences Forces at Dartmouth/HMS Cicala, with a focus on the Flotillas of MGB/MTBs. We are familiar with 15th Flotilla and the 23rd Flotilla - the Free French, but there are many more mentioned with connections to Dartmouth: the 12th: for 3 months training vs submarine nets?; the 18th MGB also for a short time; 21st MGB ?from October 43; 65th. Does anyone have a listing of them? Has any research been published on this? Also i saw on this forum that Cicala was renamed HMS Dartmouth II - is that correct? Many thanks for any guidance or information. Jonathan

[Admin]

Hello Jonathan

According to Ben Warlow (Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy) Dartmouth II was commissioned on 1 February 1942 having previously been Britannia II, and was renamed Cicala in August 1943.

1942

2nd MGB Flotilla
MGB 6, 7, 8, 10, 13

The 2nd M.G.B.Flotilla is temporarily re-allocated to Dartmouth. V.A. Dover is requested to sail all available boats as soon as possible. (D.D.O.D.(C) 1652A/3).
Source: Admiralty War Diary: 3 December 1942

3rd MGB Flotilla
S1, 2 & 3 were manned by elements of the Polish Navy
The flotilla is listed under Dartmouth in December 1942 but is noted as having being temporarily reallocated to Dover
MGB 40, 41, 42, 43, S1, S2, S3

15th MGB Flotilla
MGB 318
MGBs 502, 503, 507, 509 join on completion. Allocated to N.I.D.(C).
Source: November 1942 Red List: MGBs 318 & 502, 503, 507 & 509 are shown against Dartmouth for the 15th MGB Flotilla in the 1 November 1942 Red List which, given its absence in the Coastal Forces Information Sheet for September 1942, may be the first officially recorded mention of the 15th MGB Flotilla. The 22 November 1942 Red List qualifies this position stating MGBs 502, 503, 507 & 509 will join on completion, though 507 was converted to function as a blockade runner in the end, and 509 did not complete until April 1945.

7th ML Flotilla
MLs 118, 153, 155, 157, 159, 163, 195, 304, 491


1943
9th MTB Flotilla (Anglo-Dutch) The Dutch were ordinarily based at Dover but were relocated to Dartmouth for a time in Spring 1943 on account of German minefields laid in their usual patrol areas that prevented operations there. Source: Christopher Dreyer: S.O. 9th MTB Flotilla: IWM Oral History: Part 3/5

MTB 229, MTB 231, MTB 235, MTB 236, MTB 240, MTB 201, MTB 202, MTB 203, MTB 204

1944
1st MTB Flotilla (This was the third iteration of this flotilla)
MTB 412, MTB 413, MTB 414, MTB 415, MTB 416, MTB 430, MTB 431, MTB 434

23rd MTB Flotilla (French)
MTB 90, MTB 91, MTB 92, MTB 93, MTB 94, MTB 96, MTB 98, MTB 227, MTB 239

52nd MTB Flotilla
MTB 620, 664, 672, 673, 676, 677, 678, 679, 713, 716, 717, 719

65th MTB Flotilla (Canadian)
MTB 726, MTB 727, MTB 735, MTB 736, MTB 743, MTB 744, MTB 745, MTB 746, MTB 748

15th MGB Flotilla
MGB 318, 502, 503, 718

14th ML Flotilla
MLs 155, 190, 191, 195, 490, 591, 905, 1295, 1309, 1389, 1409, 1421, 1422

62nd RML Flotilla
RMLs 497, 522, 523, 532

69th RML Flotilla
RMLs 520, 547, 550, 553

By late 1944 Dartmouth had pretty much emptied out as the D-Day anchorages were secured and the fight against the E-Boats had shifted further east towards Dover and the continent off of Belgium and Holland. By 1945 it was used as a mooring area for boats decommissioning in increasing numbers.

[Jonathant]

Thanks for your very fast response! It is very much appreciated, and this information will be very helpful context for us, to know Units and if possible the dates, so we can understand how many boats were in the harbour, roughly, at any point in the war. Some Flotillas visited for a short time, some came twice, while others were based in Dartmouth after their arrival, while others were simply renamed post-fitting with torpedos as MTBs - so it would be good to get this clarified! Many thanks Jonathan

[Admin]

Hello again Jonathon

I have amended my earlier entry above to include some additional units known to have been at Dartmouth but I am also emailing you with some additional resources for you to look through at your leisure for such detail as may be useful to you.

I would also draw your attention to the digitised Admiralty War Diaries now available to download from the Royal Naval Historical Branch web site. These contain details of daily patrols for the whole of the war from which you may be able to determine other units that were at Dartmouth temporarily.

One of the entries, which you might like to follow up on, contains an unusual report of an incident that had a rather unfortunate outcome:

N.O.I.C. Dartmouth report:- M.G.B. 324 reports that at 1057 today 35 rounds were accidentally fired from the after 2 pounder pom-pom shortly after clearing the boom. Projectiles landed ashore doing superficial damage to houses and inflicting the following casualties to civilians:- one man killed, one woman wounded.
2. Board of inquiry is being convened.
(C in C Plymouth, 061209).

Source: Admiralty Diary: 6/9/1943 p170

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database of civilian deaths contains the following entry which may be the casualty concerned:

HAROLD DAVEY
Died 05 September 1943
Age 59 years old
Husband of Marian Davey, of 5 Board School Steps. Died at Board School Steps.

[Jonathant]

Thank you very much indeed. What you have sent is invaluable. I have still to look at the diaries which also look fascinating. I am afraid that this will uncover more questions which i hope the forum will find interesting and build our knowledge of what happened in Dartmouth during the war from a CF POV... we have tended to focus on the higher profile Flotillas: 15th MGB RN SIS and 23rd MTB CF/Free French, and rather played down the bigger picture.

[Jonathant]

It would be good to understand the implications of the difference names for Dartmouth as a Coastal Forces Base, as it appears to have changed through the war.
While Dover was a base from Sept 1940, Dartmouth appears to have been incorporated to CF later in May 1941.. is that accurate/significant?
From To
Coastal Forces base, HMS Britannia III 01/05/1941 23/12/1942
Coastal Forces base, HMS Dartmouth II 23/12/1942 21/08/1943
Coastal Forces base, HMS Cicala 21/08/1943 31/12/1944

It only adopted the Cicala name in Aug 1943, coming into line with other CF bases with buzzing insect names - is this significant or not?

It also seems that Dartmouth ceased being a CF base in Dec 1944, though many boats would have been moored in the harbour, having been paid off or mothballed. Some were broken up locally Distin's yard in Old Mill Creek, beyond Britannia.

Many thanks for any guidance,
Jonathan

[Jonathant]

Hello, I’m now interested to know which CF flotillas fighting at d day were actually operated out of/located in dartmouth - in particular the 65th that may have been based in Plymouth for d day. Interesting that MGB 727 was built on the dart by s b hall and sent to the 65th - if the 65th were operating out if dartmouth it would give a strong continuous link to dartmouth.
Many thanks for any insights
jonathan

[John110547]

Hi Jonathan

As far as I'm aware, 727 was never commissioned as an MGB. This boat was one of a series of Fairmile D-type boats built with torpedo scallops cut into the hull. However, these boats were either built & armed as MGBs or MTBs. The boats of the 65th MTB Flotilla were built as gunboats with 18" Mk XV Torpedoes.

Below is the information I have on MTB 727. I hope it helps.

Best regards
John


• MTB 727 was one of forty-eight Fairmile D-type boats ordered on 30 August 1942. All these boats, in this order, were built with torpedo scallops cut into the hull to be armed as either MGBs or MTBs. The Fairmile boat component kits (keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking) were prepared at Fairmile Marine's factory in Cobham, Surrey. The order was split between twenty-nine boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. MTB 727 was built by S. B. Hall, Brixham. The boat's length was 115ft, its beam was 20ft 10ins, the draught was 4ft 6ins (fwd)/5ft (aft) & its displacement was 105 tons. It was powered by four Packard V12 4M-2500 12 50bhp petrol engines, achieving a speed of 31 knots & was armed with two 57mm/31(2.25") 6pdr/8cwt Hotchkiss Mk VI QF Gun, one twin 20mm/70(0.79") Oerlikon Mk II Cannon, one 20mm/70(0.79") Oerlikon Mk II Cannon, two twin 0.5"/62(12.7mm) Vickers Mk III Machine Gun, two twin 0.303"/93(7.7mm) Vickers K Machine Gun & two 18" Mk XV Torpedoes. MTB 727 was commissioned on 27 February 1944 & assigned to the 65th MTB Flotilla with a crew of three officers & twenty-seven other ranks from the Royal Canadian Navy.
• MTB 727 on 5 March 1944 was en route to Brixham.
• MTB 727 on 12 March 1944 was to Brixham.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 2 April 1944 were at Holyhead.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 9 April 1944 were at Holyhead.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 16 April 1944 were at Holyhead.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 28 April 1944 were with the 10th & 103rd ML Flotillas, the 62nd, 63rd, 68th & 69th RML Flotillas, the 1st, 23rd, 52nd & 53rd, the 5th MGB Flotilla, six boats from the 23rd ML Flotilla, two boats from the 150th & 151st ML Flotillas & two air/sea rescue MASBs were with other warships which were placed under the command of Plymouth Command, Vice-Admiral Sir Ralph Leatham, as part of Operation Neptune (Invasion of Normandy), which was planned to take place in early June 1944. This would be the initial assault stage of the broader Operation Overlord & the liberation of Northwest Europe.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) in May 1944 were at HMS Bee, Holyhead, Anglesey, carrying work-up exercises.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) from 20 May 1944 commenced joint operations with the 29th MTB Flotilla to engage enemy convoys & lure German warships within range of heavier Allied warships.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 22 May 1944 departed Plymouth to patrol off the Channel Islands.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 23 May 1944 at 03.27hrs, were southwest of the Channel Islands when they made radar contact with a convoy that consisted of three merchant ships & twelve escorts. MTBs 726 & 735 engaged the escorts at a range of 300 yards, while MTBs 727 & 745 made torpedo attacks on the merchant ships. The escort blanketed the area with gunfire, making it difficult for MTBs 727 & 745 to target their torpedoes, so MTB 745 fired four torpedoes by radar at a range of 2,800 yards, but without success. MTB 726 was hit by friendly fire from MTB 745 during the engagement, leaving 2-crew members dead & 5-crew members wounded, one of whom died before reaching the harbour. All four MTBs suffered damage from shellfire. MTB 726 took three days to complete repairs. MTBs 727 & 735 were both slightly damaged & repaired within 24 hours. MTB 745 took two weeks to complete repairs.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla)on 25 May 1944 received sealed orders regarding their role on D-Day, but not the date of D-Day. Their role during the hours of darkness was to protect against enemy surface ships trying to approach the invasion shipping. This was to be achieved by the MTBs at night, either patrolling in the company of frigates or lying in wait at predetermined positions to attack enemy surface forces. In addition, when MTB forces became available, they would conduct offensive patrols off the enemy coast. Note: Following the landings, MTB operations were carried out at night, & during daylight hours their role was carried out by destroyers.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 1 June 1944, received their sealed orders notifying them that the date of D-Day was 5 June 1944.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 4 June 1944 were at Dartmouth when Plymouth Command was notified that Operation Overlord & Neptune had been postponed for twenty-four hours due to weather conditions.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 744, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 5 June 1944 were notified that Operation Overlord was a 'GO' & the landing at Normandy would commence on 6 June 1944, as per the plan. Later that day, they departed & headed towards their positions to protect the invasion ships.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 6 June 1944 were at their predesignated position to deal with any enemy ships that tried to penetrate the invasion area. By 03:30 hours, all ten channels & inshore areas leading to the landing beaches had been swept for mines. At 05.30hrs, the naval bombardment began across the entire Omaha & Utah beach areas & one hour later across the Gold, Sword & Juno beach areas. At 06.30hrs, the 1st & 29th American Divisions landed at Omaha Beach, & the 4th US Infantry Division landed at Utah Beach. At 07:25 hours, the 50th British Division landed at Gold Beach. At 07:30 hours, the 3rd British Division landed at Sword Beach, & at 07:45 hours, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed at Juno Beach. By 09.00hrs, troops were heading inland from Gold, Juno, Sword & Utah beach heads, but it was not until 10.30hrs that troops managed to break out of Omaha beach head. Note: 561 coastal forces vessels from Dover, Portsmouth, Plymouth & Nore Commands were used on D-Day. This included 450 boats from the Royal Navy (1 CMB, 14 MASBs, 27 MGBs, 6 SGBs, 188 MTBs, 133 MLs, 45 HDMLs & 34 RMLs) & 111 from America (60 CGs, 33 PTBs & 18 SCs). By the end of June 1944, the Allied navies had landed over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, & 570,000 tons of stores on the beaches of Normandy. By the end of August 1944, the Battle of Normandy was over. The Allies had landed over 2 million troops from more than fifteen countries (British, American, Australian, Belgian, Canadian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, Indian, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norwegian, Polish, Rhodesian, & South African), 400,000 vehicles, & 3 million tons of stores & supplies. The cost was high, with over 209,000 Allied casualties, & nearly 51,000 killed. The enemy losses were approximately 200,000 troops killed, wounded or missing & another 200,000 taken prisoner. The enemy losses not only included Germans, but also non-German conscripts & volunteers from various countries & nationalities, including Azerbaijanis, Czechs, Estonians, Georgians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles, Russians & Ukrainians, Indians (Indian Legion) & Koreans (ex-Japanese POW). Also, approximately 15,000 French civilians were killed.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 11 June 1944 were tasked to mount offensive patrols further west against enemy shipping.
• MTBs 727, 726, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 17 June 1944 at 02.00hrs, were patrolling off Cap de Flamanville when they engaged a German convoy which consisted of two minesweepers & three armed trawlers. MTBs 727 & 748 fired their torpedoes at a range of 1,000 yards before all MTBs opened fire with their guns. MTB 748 torpedoes hit minesweeper M 133, which had to be towed to Saint-Malo, where the ship was later deemed a constructive total loss. M 133 on 8 August 1944 was scuttled as a blockship.
• MTBs 727, 726, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 23 June 1944 were patrolling with four boats from the 52nd MTB Flotilla southwest of St Helier, Jersey, looking for a convoy that another flotilla had sighted. As they approached the convoy, they were illuminated by a starshell & came under enemy gunfire. The MTBs closed to 500 yards of the convoy & ran down its length, firing their guns. MTB 745 was hit in its engine room, knocking out three of its four engines & damaging its steering, so MTB 748 turned & laid smoke between MTB 745 & the convoy before returning to the fight. MTBs 726, 727, 748 continued to rake the enemy ships, sinking the minesweepers M 4624 & M 4613. The MTBs also torpedoed the supply ship HYDRA, which they left burning & was later scuttled by its crew. MTBs 726, 727, 748 were slightly damaged by shellfire & MTB 745's damage took one week for repairs to be completed.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 745, 746 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 23 July 1944 were at Dartmouth.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) with the 54th MTB Flotilla from September 1944 were operating out of Yarmouth.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 7 September 1944 departed Brixham for their new base at Yarmouth.
• MTBs 727, 726, 736, 743, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 9 September 1944 arrived at Yarmouth.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) from 10 to 21 September 1944 carried out three boat patrols every night from Yarmouth without seeing any sign of the enemy.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) from 22 to 29 September 1944; no boat could leave Yarmouth due to heavy storms.
• MTBs 727, 726, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 1 October 1944 on patrol of the island of Terschelling, shadowing two convoys. Attacked one convoy but was beaten back twice by escort vessels. On the third attempt, the MTBs tried to use smoke to cover their approach, but were beaten back again & MTB 746 was damaged by shellfire
• MTBs 727, 673, 677, 717, 726, 745 on 3 October 1944 the following awards were Gazetted for their service during the actions against German forces in the Plymouth area in May & June 1944: MTB 673, Sig Westcott was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, TLt Booker & Able seaman Hindley were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 677, TLt Clayton was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 717, Seaman Morris was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal; MTB 726, Seaman Mason was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 727, Seaman Imrie was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 745, PO Goodhew was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Lt Mabee & Stoker Gander were Mentioned in Dispatches.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 745, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 8 October 1944 were at Yarmouth. MTB 727 lost 1-crew member that day when he died from drowning after he fell into the harbour when two hand grenades that were in his possession exploded.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 24 October 1944 departed Yarmouth for Ostend, where it was to be based for the next two months.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 744, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) from 1 to 30 November 1944 were tasked to protect the minesweeper clearing the approaches from Walcheren to Antwerp. The Flotilla during this period carried out seventy-two patrols.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 743, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 12 November 1944 were at Yarmouth.
• MTBs 727, 735, 736, 743, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 10 December 1944 were at Ostend.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 14 January 1945 were at Ostend.
• MTBs 727 & 743 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 11 February 1945 were undergoing a refit at Yarmouth.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 745, 746, 748 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 15 February 1945 were dispatched to Ostend following the disaster to carry out defensive patrols off the Scheldt estuary.
• MTBs 727, 726, 735, 736, 743, 745, 746 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 11 March 1945 were at Ostend.
• MTBs 727 & 693 on 17 March 1945 were dispatched to intercept nine enemy boats in three groups that had been seen by an aircraft to be shadowing convoy PN64. MTBs 693 & 727 briefly engaged a group of three enemy boats, which withdrew quickly. MTBs 736 & 743 727 had also been dispatched & attacked one group of three boats in a close-range action & both MTBs were slightly damaged by shellfire.
• MTBs 727, 726, 736, 745, 746 (65th MTB Flotilla) on 8 April 1945 were at Ostend.
• MTB 727 on 13 May 1945 was undergoing repairs at Lowestoft.
• MTB 727 on 1 January 1945 was returned to the Royal Navy & decommissioned.
• MTB 727 on 12 June 1945 the following award was Gazetted for their actions against enemy shipping in the Nore area in June 1945: TLt McLernon was Mentioned in Dispatches.
• MTBs 727, 602, 603, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 617, 621, 624, 629, 630, 632, 652, 724, 725, 726, 728, 730, 735, 736, 739, 741, 743, 745, 746, 748, 749, 751, 759, 766, 773, 784, 787, 788, 795, 797, 5010 on 17 June 1945 were at Dartmouth, where they were being de-equipped & decommissioned.
• MTBs 727, 503(2), 504(2), 505(2), 506(2), 602, 603, 604, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 616, 617, 621, 624, 629, 630, 632, 652, 668, 724, 725, 726, 728, 730, 735, 736, 739, 741, 743, 745, 746, 748, 749, 751, 759, 766, 773, 784, 787, 788, 795, 797, 5010 on 8 July 1945 were at Dartmouth, where they were being de-equipped & decommissioned.
• MTBs 727, 503(2), 504(2), 505(2), 506(2), 602, 603, 604, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 616, 617, 621, 624, 630, 632, 652, 668, 724, 725, 726, 728, 730, 735, 736, 739, 741, 743, 745, 746, 748, 749, 751, 759, 766, 773, 784, 787, 788, 795, 797, 5010 on 15 July 1945 were at Dartmouth, where they were being de-equipped & decommissioned.
• MTB 727 in 1946 was transferred to the Twickenham Sea Cadets Corp & sold on 20 December 1951