The Loss of MTB 316

MTB 316

MTB 316 was one of ten 70’ Elco MTBs originally constructed for the United States Navy (USN) in 1941, but transferred under Lend-Lease to the Royal Navy, and shipped to the Mediterranean in early-to-mid 1942. MTB 316 had originally been building as PT 58.

The boats of the 15th MTB Flotilla arrived in the Mediterranean in two separate groups. The first comprising MTBs 309–312 had arrived in early 1942 while the Allies were still in possession of Tobruk, and were based there. They worked alongside elements of the 10th MTB Flotilla, undertaking patrols off enemy held ports to the west of Tobruk, and landing small army units behind the German lines.

By early summer 1942, when the remaining boats of the flotilla, MTBs 307, 308 & 313–316 arrived, Coastal Forces had been forced to retreat from Tobruk, and were now based at Alexandria. Once there, the boats of the 15th continued patrolling the desert coast, but were also tasked with sinking elements of the French fleet moored just outside the harbour to prevent them falling into enemy hands, in the event Rommel ever managed to advance on the port.

In mid September, the boats formed part of Force 'C' carrying Army personnel as part of the disastrous attempt to raid Tobruk. During Operation Agreement as it was called, four boats of the flotilla were lost, although it is not clear whether MTB 316 participated in this raid.

At this point, and through to September 1943, the surviving boats of the 10th and 15th merged, and the 10th MTB Flotilla henceforth comprised MTBs 260–268, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315 & 316, with Lieutenant Denis Jermain as its Senior Officer.

After the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942, Coastal Forces were to reoccupy Tobruk as a base of operations briefly, before moving on to Benghazi. Later the 10th MTB Flotilla took up position at a new Coastal Forces base, HMS Gregale on Malta, from where they continued to launch raids along the African coast.

As the Allies shifted to the offensive, Jermain was given varied tasks, including blockading harbours, landing agents, or carrying Royal Marines as boarding parties for use against enemy convoys.

In February 1943, facing a lack of targets, the boats of the 10th were fitted with chutes enabling each boat to carry six mines, and they commenced minelaying off the Tunisian coast for the next two months, before resuming the normal role of MTB towards the end of March. On one of their final minelaying missions MTB 316 (Adams) with 265 (Oxley) came upon, and engaged, three Italian MAS boats, setting one of them on fire.

Working close inshore in the dark brought its own risks, and on 2 May, MTB 311 (Lancaster) struck a mine while on patrol with 316 (Adams) between Cai Rocks and Zembra Island. Badly damaged, MTB 316 had to pick up the crew of 311 and then sink the boat using gunfire.

As the German Army began its retreat from North Africa MTB 316 intercepted many of the fleeing troops. The most notable of these operations occurred on 11 May, 1943, when some 117 germans were taken prisoner at sea by 316 and other boats of the flotilla. On 13 May the remaining German army surrendered, and Vice Admiral, Malta, complemented the work of Coastal Forces stating "Reliability of MTBs exceeded all expectations. They were very useful in completing the Tunisian blockade."

The remaining boats of the flotilla were in need of a complete overhaul, and their crews some well deserved rest, and so MTBs 265, 309 and 316 were sent to Bone, while 268 and 313 were dispatched to Malta, and the rest to Bizerta.

Operation Husky — The Invasion of Sicily

The invasion of Sicily commenced 10 July 1943. The carefully coordinated invasion consisted of a combined force sailing from the Algeria, Tunisia, Tripoli, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. The various forces had, in some cases, set sail weeks earlier in order to assemble together off the coast of Sicily at the appointed hour for the invasion. Units of Coastal Forces working out of Malta played a vital role in patrolling the invasion area and the Straits of Messina thereafter.

On the night of the invasion itself, the large contingent of Coastal Forces met no enemy ships, and so returned to Malta to await the following night patrols. The remit handed to Coastal Forces was to operate within the narrowest section of the Straits of Messina, where the chances of intercepting the enemy were highest. The boats had to arrive on patrol by dusk, stay until dawn, and then make the 150 mile return trip to Malta. The 10th MTB Flotilla had been held in reserve at Bone, and moved to Malta on 13 July, 1943 to commence their participation in operations.

The initial objective of Operation Husky was the capture of Syracuse, then the next important objective was Augusta some 50 miles to the north. At 7:30 pm on the 12th July the LSI Ulster Monarch escorted by a destroyer and two motor gunboats, entered the port and landed the Special Raiding Squadron. That same night, MTB 81, while on patrol in the streets of Messina, torpedoed U561 at very close range and sank her. A second Italian submarine, Flutto, had been sunk the previous night, after a running fight with MTBs off Catania.

Lieutenant Commander Allan moved his Coastal Forces mobile base from Bone to Syracuse on the 12th July, and by the 15th July was ready to receive the MTBs at Augusta. This cut the length of time boats spent on patrol by several hours, as from now on the boats only needed to return to Malta for engine changes, refits, and rest.

Straits of Messina

The straits where a vital route for German reinforcements and supplies between mainland Italy and Sicily. Towards the northern part of the straits the German army had four ferry routes operational; one from Gallico to Salvatore, a second from Catona to Paradiso, a third from Pezzo to Ganzirri, and a fourth from Cannitello to Cape Peloro. In addition the Italians operated a further three, two of which ran from Messina.

Night Action

On the night MTB 316 was lost Jermain had led a patrol of four of his boats, 315 (Newall), 260 (Wadds), 313 (Foster) and 316 (Adams), northwood from Augusta to their patrol area. Len Reynolds in Mediterranean MTBs at War describes what happened next.

They stopped 2 miles short of Messina. They were expecting—if they saw anything—to be lucky enough to intercept landing craft or E-Boats, but to their intense surprise their first sighting was a large Italian cruiser steaming at full speed through the narrow channel straight for them. There was hardly time to do anything more than attempt to get into an attack position. 315 and 316 shot across to the eastern side, presumably hoping to find a firing angle on the cruiser's port beam, and the cruiser turned slightly towards them leaving her starboard side vulnerable to an attack. She was pouring out shells of every calibre on both sides, and almost at once 316 (to port) was hit at very close range and blew up in a sheet of flame. 260 and 313, both on the cruiser's starboard bow, scrambled to fire their torpedoes. Harry Wadds in 260 got his away, and although he thought one had hit, the cruiser did not check its speed. Alec Foster in 313 was not as fortunate. His First lLieutenant, Sub-Lieutenant Norman Ilett, described later what he saw of the action. He was aft by the Oerlikon when he saw Dick Adams' 316 blow up only a short distance to starboard. She had been almost alongside while the boats had been stopped, exchanging calm shouted conversation only minutes earlier. He was just thinking that very shortly 313 might go the same way, when he was summoned to the bridge and found Alec Foster sitting on the deck with a leg wound. The coxswain told him what had happened, in richly descriptive, highly flavoured Liverpudlian. The CO had been hit and knocked over as the coxswain was sighting before firing the torpedoes at a range of about 300 yards. He’d put the wheel over to disengage, but Alec Foster—probably not clear what was happening—had scrambled to his feet and pulled the firing levers. As Ilett put it, the torpedoes were doubtless on their way towards the toe of Italy.

There was no sign of 316, nor of wreckage or survivors. Nothing could be done for her. Ilett found the spare officer of the 10th flotilla, Sub-Lieutenant John McKim, lying on his back in the wheelhouse under a blanket; he was conscious but obviously badly wounded. He died about half an hour later. 313 had clearly been hit by a number of close range weapons shells, but everything that was needed seem to be working, and Ilett set off for Augusta. He transferred the CO to a cruiser at first light for medical attention.

Meanwhile Jemain with 315 and 260 was chasing the cruiser down the Strait and watched her as she turned to port and made eastward for Taranto, incidentally being attacked by an Italian plane.

The next morning Sub-Lieutenant McKim was buried at sea off the seaward end of Augusta‘s swept channel with full naval honours, and the flotilla mourned the loss of 316 and her crew.

Press Cutting

News Story Transcript

MTB 316 Account of the Action

MTBs Fight Cruiser at 75 Yards Range

from Alfred Wragg

With the British fleet in the Mediterranean An Italian cruiser which had been giving us trouble by slipping out of Naples harbour and steaming into the straits of Mussina to attack our shipping on the east coast of Sicily, has been sent to dry-dock by the Navy's 'mosquito ships'.

The MTBs were sent out against her, led by Lieut Denis Jermain DSC and bar.

Down through the straits came the cruiser. Like all Italian warships it was fast.

Lieut Jermain's MTB roared out from inshore. He deliberately raced his ship across the bow of the cruiser to draw her fire.

Two Hits

In came an MTB commanded by Lieut Harry Woods, of the Royal Australian Navy.

It swung round towards the cruiser until it was within 75 yards range, but lost its aiming position as the cruiser suddenly wheeled towards the Italian shore.

Lieut Woods' MTB had whipped round by this time and shot off a torpedo that hit the cruiser.

There was another burst of fire from the cruiser. One shell burst right over the MTB commanded by Sub-Lieut J B McKim, and a piece of shrapnel severed a leg artery.

But still another MTB came in and got a second hit.

The big ship stopped for a few minutes and then made of towards Taranto—and dry-dock.

They buried Lieut McKim the next day off shore near Augusta—British United Press.

Scipione Africano

The vessel which had sunk MTB 316 was the Italian cruiser Scipione Africano. This was a modern ship which had only entered service with the Italian Navy on 23 April 1943. Weighing 3362 tons and 444 feet in length, the ship had a claimed speed of 41 knots. She had eight 5.3 inch guns, eight 37mm, and eight 20 mm cannons, 14 machine guns, and in addition was equipped with a modern radar system, which may have allowed her to detect the MTBs early.

In July 1943 the ship had received orders to move from the Tyrrhenian Sea to Taranto, which required the vessel to pass through the Strait of Messina while the Allied invasion of Sicily was still ongoing.

Photo Gallery

This series of photographs belonged to crew member of MTB 316 William Barbour, who was not with the boat on the night it was lost, and as such, are the only photos of the crew known to exist.

Crew of MTB 316

Awards

Lieutenant Richard Brittain Adams RNVR MTB 316 MID London Gazette: 1st January 1944

Crew Biographies

Petty Officer Henry Leslie Clark

Sub-Lieutenant Michael Thomas Russell Yeo

Michael Thomas Russell Yeo (1920–1943), born 10 May 1920, Son of Frank Russell Yeo and of Evelyn Mary Yeo of The Old Rectory, Thurlestone, Devon. Between September 1934–July 1938 he attended Sherborne School,and went on to become a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). He first appears in the Navy List at HMS St Christopher, the Coastal Forces base at Fort William, joining in October 1941 with a seniority in the RNVR of 31 July 1941. He was posted to HMS Nile, the Coastal Forces base at Alexandria in January 1942. He was killed in action on MTB 316 in the Straits of Messina on 17 July 1943.

Casualty List 17 July, 1943

MTB 316

Lieutenant Richard Brittain Adams Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 84, Column 1.)

Stoker 1st Class Bernard Arnold Thomas Bartlett Service No: P/KX 121805, Royal Navy, Age: 28, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 78, Column 1.), Next of Kin: Son of Sidney and Bessie Bartlett; Husband of Gwendoline Violet Bartlett, of Portchester, Hampshire.

Able Seaman Charles Chatton Service No: D/JX 303354, Royal Navy, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 79, Column 1.), Next of Kin: Son of Thomas and Ethel Chatton, of Kearsley, Lancashire.

Stoker 1st Class Arthur George Clark Service No: C/KX 130405, Royal Navy, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial (72, 1.), Next of Kin: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Clark; Husband of Jessie Gertrude Clark, of New Southgate, Middlesex.

Petty Officer Henry Leslie Clark Service No: C/SSX 13701, Royal Navy, Age: 29, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial (67, 3.), Next of Kin: Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. T. Clark, of Margate, Kent.

Able Seaman Charles Cumper Service No: C/TD/X 2143, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Age: 22, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial (73, 3.), Next of Kin: Son of Charles and Elizabeth Jane Cumper, of South Shields, Co. Durham.

Able Seaman Joseph Eli Hulme Service No: P/JX 276656, Royal Navy, Age: 22, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 75, Column 1.), Next of Kin: Son of Evan and Elizabeth Hulme; Husband of Constance Hulme, of Edgworth, Lancashire.

Able Seaman Leonard Murrin King Service No: D/JX 288644, Royal Navy, Age: 20, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 79, Column 2.), Next of Kin: Son of Alfred J. and Frances M. King, of Braunton. Devon.

Petty Officer Motor Mechanic Alfred Henry Page Service No: P/MX 79987, Royal Navy, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 78, Column 3.)

Telegraphist John William Rookwood Service No: D/JX 236003, Royal Navy, Age: 22, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 81, Column 1.), Next of Kin: Son of George James Rookwood and Lilian Alice Rookwood, of Luton, Bedfordshire.

Sub-Lieutenant Michael Thomas Russell Yeo Service No: 316, Royal Navy, Age: 23, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 84, Column 2.), Next of Kin: Son of Frank Russell Yeo, and of Evelyn Mary Yeo, of Thurlestone, Devon.

MTB 313

Sub-Lieutenant John Basil McKim, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Razorbill, Age: 22, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 80, Column 1.) Next of Kin: Son of Frederick George and Helene Marcella Mckim, of Putney, London.

Lest we forget

References

The War at Sea 1939 to 1945: Volume III: The Offensive Part I: 1 June 1943–31 May 1944 (Roskill)

Mediterranean MTBs at War (Reynolds)