Hi,
I am currently researching my family's war details from WW2 in advance of publishing the memoirs next year. I've only recently discovered that my Uncle Bobby Eaglesham served with the Motor Torpedo Boat element of Coastal Forces - he kept it really quiet from his family after the war, during which time (virtually until he passed away) he was driving the Council Bus from Girvan to Ayr and back, ironically along the Coast Road.
I wonder if anyone on this forum might recall any of their own family talking about Bobby - a long shot, I know! But perhaps more realistically it would be great if anyone could provide pictures that might have Bobby in them based upon the Boat details listed below, details such as photo's of the actual boats themselves, perhaps some crew pictures from Vis, anything like that would be great. I would, of course, seek permission to use any details in the book itself.
I have a few pictures from Bobby's service that might be of interest to the general Forum, which I will publish in due course. In broad outline, Bobby's details were as follows:
Service number - JX 364 620
Service History
1. First Operational Posting: MTB 638 (March-31 May 1943)
MTB 638: (Fairmile D-class "Dog Boat")
Base: HMS Hannibal (initially Algiers, later Taranto, Italy)
Flotilla: 24th MTB Flotilla
MTB 638 Details:
• Type: Fairmile D-class Motor Torpedo Boat/Motor Gun Boat
• Construction: Built by A. M. Dickie & Sons, Bangor, Wales
• Launched: December 14, 1942
• Displacement: 102 tons
• Length: 115 feet
• Crew: 30 men
• Armament:
o 1 x 6-pounder gun
o 2 x 20mm Oerlikon AA guns (twin mount)
o 4 x .5-inch machine guns (2 twin mounts)
o 4 x .303-inch machine guns (2 twin mounts)
o 4 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
o Depth charges
• Engines: Four 4,800 hp Packard engines
• Speed: 30+ knots
Operations (March-April 1943): 372
Note: MTB 638 survived the war but was lost on January 30, 1946, when she foundered while on passage from Malta to Alexandria - well after Uncle Bobby had left the vessel.
2. Second Operational Posting: MTB 372 (June 1943 - July 1944)
Vessel: MTB 372 (American-built Higgins 78-foot MTB)
Period: June 1, 1943 to July 24, 1944 (13 months)
Flotilla: 7th MTB Flotilla Bases: HMS Vega (depot ship), Bastia (Corsica), Vis (Yugoslavia)
This was Uncle Bobby's longest and most significant posting.
Key Operations Bobby Participated In while with MTB 372:
Ligurian Sea Operations (June 1943 - May 1944):
• Attacks on German F-lighter convoys off the Italian coast
• Operations in the Gulf of Genoa
• Attacks on convoys near La Spezia, Leghorn, and Vada Rocks
• Support for Allied advance up the Italian peninsula
First Use of Mark VIII Torpedoes (May 9-10, 1944):
Bobby was aboard MTB 372 during the historic first operational use of the revolutionary Mark VIII Two-Star torpedoes with magnetic pistols.
The Gulf of Genoa "Massacre" (May 27-28, 1944):
While MTB 372 was not directly mentioned in this specific action, the 7th MTB Flotilla achieved one of its greatest successes this night, sinking 4 enemy vessels (3 F-lighters and 1 transport) in two separate attacks.
Operation Brassard - Elba Landing (June 17, 1944): The 7th MTB Flotilla supported the Allied landing on Elba, providing patrol coverage and interdiction of German evacuation attempts.
Adriatic Operations (June-July 1944): By mid-1944, the 7th MTB Flotilla expanded operations into the Adriatic Sea, operating from the island of Vis. MTB 372 participated in:
• Patrol operations between Dalmatian islands
• Attacks on German E-boats (S-boats)
• Interdiction of German evacuation and supply convoys
• Support for Yugoslav Partisan operations
Final Action - July 23-24, 1944:
Bobby survived the sinking of MTB 372 off Cape Lovište, Croatia. During a fierce gun battle with German S-boats, MTB 372 was hit by German gunfire, caught fire, and collided with MTB 81. The burning vessel had to be abandoned in a sinking condition. The following day, British aircraft reportedly finished off the damaged vessel to prevent salvage.
3. Third Operational Posting: MTB 287 (July 1944 - April 1945)
Vessel: MTB 287 (Herreshoff 70-foot MTB, ex-British PT 29)
Period: July 24, 1944 to April 20, 1945 (9 months)
Flotilla: Various flotillas in the Adriatic Bases: Ist Island, Vis, and other Adriatic bases
MTB 287 Details:
• Type: Herreshoff 70-foot MTB
• Origin: Built under license in the United States as British PT 29
• Transfer: Transferred to Royal Navy under Lend-Lease agreement
• Laid down: December 23, 1941
• Launched: February 26, 1943
• Commissioned: March 18, 1943
• Armament:
o 2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
o 20mm Oerlikon guns
o .50 caliber machine guns
• Engines: Three Packard engines
• Speed: 40+ knots
Operations with MTB 287 (July 1944 - April 1945):
Uncle Bobby transferred to MTB 287 immediately after surviving the sinking of MTB 372.
Action of November 1, 1944:
This was one of the most significant actions MTB 287 participated in during Uncle Bobby's service.
On November 1, 1944, MTB 287 was part of a major Royal Navy operation in the Kvarner Gulf:
British Force:
• HMS Avon Vale (Hunt-class destroyer)
• HMS Wheatland (Hunt-class destroyer)
• MTB 295, MTB 287, MTB 274
• MGB 642, MGB 638, MGB 633
• ML 494
• Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Morgan Morgan-Giles
Mission: The force departed Ist Island base at 17:00 to intercept German naval forces and land South African coast watchers on Rab Island.
Enemy Force:
• Destroyer TA20 (ex-Italian Audace)
• Corvettes UJ 202 and UJ 208 (ex-Italian Gabbiano-class)
• Fast minesweeper R 187
• Escorting a convoy of 19 landing craft from Šibenik to Fiume
The Battle (20:15 - 22:30):
• The MTBs first sighted two corvettes sailing south
• British destroyers engaged at 20:20, quickly disabling both corvettes
• UJ 208 sank at 20:30
• UJ 202 sank at 21:00
• At 22:30, destroyer TA20 was picked up on radar
• First salvo hit TA20's bridge, killing all officers including the flotilla commander
• TA20 sank close to Pag Island
Results:
• 3 German warships sunk (1 destroyer, 2 corvettes)
• 220+ German casualties
• No British casualties or vessels lost
• 90 German survivors rescued by British forces
• One of the most decisive small-ship actions of the Adriatic campaign
Awards:
• Lieutenant Hugh Corbett (Wheatland) - Distinguished Service Order
• Lieutenant Ivan Hall (Avon Vale) - Distinguished Service Cross
Adriatic Operations Continue (November 1944 - April 1945): After this action, MTB 287 continued intensive operations in the Adriatic:
• Patrol operations in the Kvarner Gulf
• Attacks on German coastal convoys
• Support for Yugoslav Partisan operations
• Interdiction of German evacuation attempts as the war drew to a close
Loss of MTB 287 – November 24, 1944:
According to multiple sources, MTB 287 and MTB 371 were "wrecked off Levrera Island, Croatia" on November 24, 1944 -
:
• MTB 287 was grounded (not sunk) off Levron/Levrera Island, Croatia
• The boat was abandoned and scuttled by gunfire from accompanying MGBs to prevent capture
• Secret equipment was removed before scuttling
Any other information (or confirmation of the information listed above) would be gratefully received, as would any pictures of the three boats that Uncle Bobby served on.
Pictures to follow...