Lfd. Nr.: 1276
| Seegebiet: | Westraum |
| Datum / Zeit: | 21./22.09.1943 01u35 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | N Le Havre |
| Angreifer: | SGB GREY SEAL, GREY FOX, GREY OWL |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | S.G.Bs. GREY SEAL, FOX, and OWL carried out patrol in neighbourhood of Le Havre. At 0034, in 7 nm 230° Cap D ’Antifer, 3 large and 4 or 5 small enemy vessels were sighted, range 4000 yards, southbound on the convoy route, speed 8 knots approx. Star-shell was fired over the Force immediately, and heavy fire was encountered intermittently for the next hour. Attempt was made to persuade the enemy to exhaust his starshell and ready-use ammunition by carrying out long range 3-inch bombardment alternating star-shell with H.E. This was successful, and at 0129 Force closed to attack with torpedoes. Unfortunately, the enemy had split up and the largest available target was a Gun Coaster or Trawler with 4 R-Boats. These were close under the cliffs of Cap de la Heve. GREY SEAL fired 2 torpedoes at the Gun Coaster, range 1000 yards, in position 270“ Gap de la Heve 2 miles. One torpedo was seen to explode on the beach beyond the target. On turning away, the target became hidden in gun smoke and the loom of the cliff, and short range weapons were unable to engage as own star-shell was also expended. Shore batteries then Joined in and since they were comparatively accurate, GREY FOX and OWL were ordered to withdraw. Lively action between ship and shore now took place, in which H.M.Ships were not involved. Course was shaped northward aLong the convoy route in pursuit of M class minesweepers, but it is evident that after separating from the remainder of the Force, these ships must have crept close under the cliffs and so escaped. At 0303 in position 6 nm 354° Cap D'Antifer, it was evident that the enemy could not still be ahead and since the wind was N.E. Force 4 - 5 increasing, it was decided to return to Harbour. Force entered Newhaven at 0810. Two slight casualties, and only slight superficial damage was sustained. All boats are operational. |
| erkannte Gegner: | 3 große und 4 kleine bewaffnete Schiffe |
| alliierte Erfolge: | keine |
| alliierte Verluste: | keine |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | 4 Trawler der 38. M- und der 15. V-Flottille |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | 0150 - 0258 Uhr wurden M-Boote 3823, 3829 und VP-Boote 1516, 1523 nördlich Le Havre von 4 feindlichen S-Booten mit Torpedos und Artl. wirkungslos angegriffen. Ein Gegner schied nach mehreren Treffern aus dem Gefecht aus. Sinken wurde jedoch nicht beobachtet [2] |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) Admirality War Diary, 22.09.1943, page 720/721 (NHB, Scan 221 f.) ; 2) KTB SKL Teil A, 22.09.1943, S.450 ; 3) Frädrich/Naims, Seekrieg im Ärmelkanal, S.113 ; |
| Letzte Änderung: | 31.08.2024 |