Lfd. Nr.: 1128a
| Seegebiet: | Westraum |
| Datum / Zeit: | 08.09.1942 03u25 |
| Zugehörige Angriffe : | Angriff 1 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | SW Cherbourg / BF 3551 |
| Angreifer: | 11th MTB 50 55 49, 14th MGB 312 326 |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | 07.09.1941 A large tanker, later identified as whale oil factory ship SOLGLIMT was photographed by P.R.U. at 12h30 yesterday, 2 miles S.W. of St. Helier, Jersey; she was still in the same position at 1720. C. in C. Plymouth asked that she might be bombed in daylight but this does not appear to have been done. Two Beaufighters were sent to attack at dusk, but the attack was unsuccessful. -- During last night M.T.Bs were sent from Plymouth to attack and Portsmouth sent M.T.Bs and M.G.Bs. The latter forces at 0230 today sighted a large escorted merchant ship steering for Cherbourg from the westward. The M.G.Bs attacked with gunfire and hit the enemy hard; they were themselves simultaneously engaged by the shore batteries; only one M.T.B., No.55, managed to fire torpedoes at a range of 1100 yards, and it is believed obtained a hit. Our light craft had no casualities, MGB 312 was slightly damaged. -- [Once more], the ship was attacked at Cherbourg at 18h45 by six Bostons, escorted by fighters, but no hits were reported [1] -> 08/01h47 Our M.T.B.s 50, 55 and 49 and M.G.B.s 312, 326 stopped in position four miles North of Cherbourg and cut out main engines. At 0230/8 enemy consisting of one large Merchant vessel with escorts was sighted distant 1,5 miles on a course for Cherbourg breakwater, from westward. Course was set to intercept on his beam. M.G.B.s led, remainder in single line ahead. Enemy was interrupted about 1 mile from Cherbourg. M.G.Bs and shore batteries opened fire simultaneously, the enemy using some very effective rocket flares and star shell which illuminated attacking force very efficiently. A sustained gun action then took place in which the M.G.B.s were seen to be hitting the enemy hard. Meanwhile M.T.B.s manoeuvred for position. M.T.B. 55 at a range of 1,100 yards fired two torpedoes, one minute later a thump totally different to gun fire was heard and felt but owing to the amount of fire works in the vicinity it was quite impossible to observe results. M.T.B 50 only fired one torpedo owing to a fault in one of the tubes. M.T.B 49 although she returned to the attack three times saw nothing except three R-Boats and a small trawler. Although M.G.B.s attacked from 450 yards, enemy fire was very erratic and high to begin with. M.G.B. 312 was hit in the petrol tank by a 3mall shell. No casualties in any boats. Enemy challenged with Pendant 1 on a blue box lamp several times and also used a three star cartridge with two red and one green. Navigational coastal lights were working at full brilliancy and searchlights were much in evidence [2] |
| erkannte Gegner: | Walfabrikschiff "Solglimt" |
| alliierte Erfolge: | keine |
| alliierte Verluste: | keine |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | Walfabrikschiff "Solglimt" |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | 08/03u25 hatte Geleit D. "Solglimt" Gefechtsberührung bei Cherbourg mit 2 engl. S-Booten, die durch sichernde M-Boote angedrängt wurden. Durch 2 cm Beschuß von "Solglimt" sind auf M 10 zwei Tote, darunter Flottillenarzt, 5 schwer und 7 leicht Verwundete zu beklagen [3] |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) Admirality War Diary, 8. Sep. 1942, page 196 (NHB, Scan 219) ; 2) Admirality War Diary, 8. Sep. 1942, page 202 (NHB, Scan 226) ; 3) KTB SKL Teil A, Band 37, 08.09.1942, S. 160 |
| Letzte Änderung: | 27.08.2024 |