Lfd. Nr.: 3015
| Seegebiet: | Mittelmeer |
| Datum / Zeit: | 15./16.02.1943 23h30 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | S Marettimo |
| Verbandsführer (S.O.): | Lt. Hennessy |
| Angreifer: | 7th MTB 77 61 82 |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | MTBs sichten Geleitzug südl. Marettimo (Sizilien). Torpedo-Angriffe MTB 77 und 62 von Seeseite wie von Küstenseite her ohne Erfolg, danach Rückzug. 61 (Lt. Bligh), ohne T-Rohre und durch Maschinenprobleme behindert, feuerte mit Artl., wurde durch Abwehrfeuer in Brand geschossen und drehte erst gegen 02h10 ab [1]. -- On 15.02.1943 MTB 61, 77 and 82 depart Malta for a patrol off the island of Marittimo (South West Sicily). MTB 307 and MTB 315 are to rendezvous in the patrol area. MTB 61 has been converted into an MGB by landing the torpedo tubes and fitting three captured Italian Breda 20mm guns. MTB 61 suffers a failure of the hydraulic steering gear and goes to tiller steering. At 21h45 MTBs received wireless report of a merchant ship, with an escort of two destroyers heading south west towards Marittimo. Senior Officer decides to intercept at the planned rendezvous. MTB 6l is forced to stop engines due to a dynamo failure and stops to effect repairs. MTB 77 and MTB 82 also stop. POMtrMch Thomas Frederick Mathews predicts a wait of thirty minutes. An aircraft sighting report is received indicating four merchant ships and a number of destroyers in the area. The convoy is sighted less than two miles away and coming towards the three vessels. MTBs start their ‘silent engines’. MTB 61 is sent to the port side to stage a diversion whilst MTB 77 and MTB 82 attack with torpedoes. There is a gun action.. MTB 77 and MTB 82 disengage. MTB 61 stops and a destroyer passes her at 600 yds possibly believing her to be an E Boat. Flares are dropped in an unsuccessful attempt to entice an E Boat to try to rescue survivors from an apparently burning boat. At 02h10 MTB 61 disengages. At about 02h30 MTB 61, 77 and 82 rendezvous and return to Malta [3]. |
| erkannte Gegner: | Konvoi mit 4 Handelsschiffe |
| alliierte Erfolge: | keine |
| alliierte Verluste: | keine |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | Geleit „Alcamo“ mit TB Sirio, Monsone und PE Gabbiano, Antilope |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | 15./23h30 Konvoi "Alcamo" (von Palermo nach Bizerta) wird von 3 Feindbooten angegriffen, alle Einheiten bleiben bei dem Gefecht weitgehend unbeschädigt [2]. - The merchant vessels were Prosimone, Alcamo, Chieti and Labor. The escort consisted of the torpedo boats Monsone and Sirio and the corvettes Gabbiano and Antilope [3]. |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) Flag Four (Pope), p. 70-73 ; 2) Difesa dell' traffico (II) p. 195-197 ; 3) https://cfv.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=535#p2169 ; 4) https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/LondonGazette/38432.pdf, p.5493-5497 ; 5) Bryan Cooper, Battle of the Torpedo Boats (1970), p.193f-195 ; |
| Letzte Änderung: | 15.11.2024 |