Lfd. Nr.: 5001
| Seegebiet: | Adria |
| Datum / Zeit: | 21./22.09.1943 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | Valona Bucht |
| Verbandsführer (S.O.): | Lt. Barbary / Lt. Scott |
| Angreifer: | 20th MTB 295 290 287 ; 24th MTB 89 85 |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | MTB 89 und 85 versenkten mit Torpedos 2 Handelsschiffe und beschädigten eines. Dies wurde in einem weiteren Anlauf von 295 mit Wasserbomben versenkt. Dabei lief das MTB auf ein Unterwasser-Hindernis und wurde beschädigt. -- At 01h30 MTBs 287, 290, 295 and 85, 89 reached Valona Bay, Yugoslavia where the force split, with the boats from the 20th MTB Flotilla sweeping the southern end of the bay & the 24th MTB Flotilla sweeping the northern end of the bay. MTBs 85 & 89 (24th MTB Flotilla) found a number of ships anchored. Three of the vessels were anchored closely together & made a good torpedo target. MTB 89 fired one torpedo at the right-hand ship, which later sank & MTB 85 fired two torpedoes at the left-hand ship, which was carrying ammunition, which exploded. Shortly after the second ship exploded, the shore defences started firing wildly & MTB 85 was picked up by a searchlight & for five minutes, was hotly engaged by the shore batteries. MTBs 287, 290, 295 (20th MTB Flotilla) found a number of ships anchored & closed on them. MTB 295 fired a torpedo at one ship, which unexpectedly blew-up & smoke obscured the other targets. MTB 295 continued through the smoke after signalling MTBs 287 & 290 to 'keep clear of the smoke'. At 02h23, MTB 295 fired a torpedo & hit a medium-sized merchant ship & then made another torpedo attack on this ship before attacking it with depth charges. MTB 295 the disengage & headed south & five minutes later the merchant ship exploded behind them. During the attack by MTB 295, the other MTBs from the 20th MTB Flotilla came under heavy shellfire from the shore batteries & were forced to withdraw. All five MTBs returned safely to Taranto.[3] |
| erkannte Gegner: | 3 Handelsschiffe |
| alliierte Erfolge: | M/P Rovigno (it., 451 BRT) versenkt |
| alliierte Verluste: | MTB 295 beschädigt |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | ital. Hilfskriegsschiff 'D 29' |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | 23.09.: 4 Feindboote drangen in Valona ein, versenkten einen ital. U-Jäger und entkamen. |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) Mediterranean, p.88-90: MO 12696, ROP in ADM 199/537 ; 2) KTB SKL 23.09.43, S.481 ; 3) https://cfv.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=843#p3939 |
| Letzte Änderung: | 28.10.2022 |