Lfd. Nr.: 3025
| Seegebiet: | Mittelmeer |
| Datum / Zeit: | 01.04.1943 00h10 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | N Cap Zebib // Cani Is. |
| Verbandsführer (S.O.): | Lt. Smith (in Vertretung) |
| Angreifer: | 10th MTB 266, 315 |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | 31st March: M.T.B's 266 and 515 on a sweep from Bone carried out an unseen attack on a convoy of 3 merchant vessels heavily escorted south of Cani Rocks at 2345. The M.T.B's attacked through a screen of 4 destroyers and 6 E-Boats. M.T.B. 266 fired torpedoes at one target which sank. M.T.B.315 proceeded through survivors to fire at her target, which received 2 hits and is estimated also sunk. The escorts then engaged each other. M.T.B.266 sustained damage from a heavy sea on the return journey.[5]. - Torpedo-Angriff auf 2 Frachter im Geleit, beide sanken sofort. Auf dem Rückzug gerieten beide MTBs unter Beschuss der Eskorts, blieben aber unbeschädigt. [1][2]. -> On 31/17h00 MTB 265, 266, 315 and 316 departing Bône to intercept a reported convoy. Senior Officer Lt Denis Jermain embarked in MTB 316. At 20h50 MTB 265 is detached and at 21h50 MTB 316 develops engine problems and has to drop out. The sea is too rough to transfer the Senior Officer and MTBs 266 (Lt. Smith) and 315 (Lt. Newall) continue the patrol with the Commanding Officer of MTB 266 acting as Senior Officer. At 23h10 MTBs 266 and 315 reach a position one mile north of Cape Zebib where they cut engines and wait for the convoy. // At 23h50 ships are sighted approaching from the east. Both MTBs start engines and slowly approach the convoy which is estimated as three merchant ships with an escort of two destroyers and several E Boats. MTB 266 fires both torpedoes at the second merchant ship observing a hit between funnel and bridge whilst turning away. The target is believed to have been sunk. As next MTB 266 attempts a depth charge attack on one of the destroyers but is beaten off and disengages. Both MTBs set course for Bone. Because of the gale, speed is reduced firstly to 13 kts and then to 8 kts. MTB 266 is leaking in the engine room and after compartments. The bow and stern are sagging when on the crest of a wave. At 11h00 both vessels reach Tabarka [4]. |
| erkannte Gegner: | 2 Handelsschiffe im Geleit |
| alliierte Erfolge: | D Crema und Benevento versenkt |
| alliierte Verluste: | keine |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | 3 Handelsschiffe mit 8 Escorts |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | Am 1.4. werden aus einem Konvoi mit den Transportern Nuoro, Crema (ex-franz. Hébé, 1684 BRT) und Benevento (ex-franz. Fort de Souville, 5528 BRT), gesichert von den T-Booten Cigno, Cassiopea, Clio, Cosenz, der Korvette Cicogna und den dt. U-Jägern UJ 2203, UJ 2210 und UJ 2207, der 1. Dampfer durch Lufttorpedo, die beiden anderen von den brit. MTB 266 und MTB 315 versenkt.[3] |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) Flag Four (Pope), p.76/77 ; 2) Mediterranean, page 59: MO 5893 ; 3) Chronik des Seekrieges ; 4) https://cfv.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581#p2276 ; 5) Admiralty War Diary, 31.03.1943, page 1217 (NHB, Scan 641) ; 6) Bryan Cooper, Battle of the Torpedo Boats (1970), p.196 ; |
| Letzte Änderung: | 15.11.2024 |