Lfd. Nr.: 1495


Seegebiet: Westraum
Datum / Zeit: 04./05.07.1944 02h14
Ort des Gefechts: vor IJmuiden
Verbandsführer (S.O.): LtCdr. Gemmell
Angreifer: 58th MTB 687 729 723 666 684
Gefechtsbericht A: 04/05 July: M.T.Bs. 687, 729, 723, 666, 684 ordered to attack any shipping found between Ijmuiden and Hook. 05.07./00h47, MTBs 687, 729, 723, 666, 684 made radar contact with German vessels and close the enemy. At 01h32 the boats were one and a half miles off Ymuiden [1]. ->
Plot became confused with land echoes and at 0150 three searchlights at Ijmuiden entrance swept for unit thus silhouetting M.T.B.s for ships to seaward. At 0212 large calibre guns fired from N.W. outside Radar range of 5 miles. Shortly after starshell from same direction showed up another enemy group of 2 T.L.C.'s, 2 trawlers, and a guncoaster. Unit illuminated with rockets and closed. Enemy turned towards but did not present torpedo target. Unit turned north firing all guns and circling action ensued [2]. ->
At 02h14 German units open fire. MTBs 684 and 723 claim hits on two targets. MTB 666 (Lt. Buller) loses contact. MTB 666 is hit by gunfire from a German patrol boat and brought to a stop. The Commanding Officer reports, by radio, that the engines are disabled, some men have been lost overboard, two German vessels are in close company and he is preparing to abandon ship. MTB 687, the Senior Officers boat, elects to make a diversion whilst MTBs 684 and 723 attempt to rescue survivors. The attempt fails due to heavy gunfire. MTB 723 receives a direct hit on the bridge but recovers station [3].->
Gemmell quickly realized that MTB 666 (Lt. Buller) was missing. Over radio Buller finally reported his plight - disabled, surrounded by Germans and in the process of destroying their confidential books prior to abandoning ship. Gemmell ordered his remaining units to close 666, he would draw the enemy's fire while 723 (Lt. McDougall) and 684 (Lt. Storrie) should go alongside 666 to take off her crew. But the alerted Germans recommenced an intense firestorm, targeting Gemmell's forces with uncredible accuracy. Rescue was impossible, and during withdrawal 723 received a direct hit on the bridge. Lt. McDougall was mortally wounded [4]. M.T.B. 723, 684, 687 damaged, time to repair 14, 7 and 2 days respectively [2].
erkannte Gegner: 2 Fährprähme, 2 Trawler, 1 Artillerieträger
alliierte Erfolge: V 1411/ Zeemeeuw versenkt
alliierte Verluste: MTB 666 erbeutet
tatsächliche Gegner: Vorposten-Position 'Rom'
Gefechtsbericht B: 05/03u00 Gefecht V 1411, 1415, 1401, 1418, AF 41 47 mit Feindbooten, davon 1 mit 20 Gefangenen eingebracht. V 1411 durch Torpedo versenkt. V 1415 erbeutete MTB 666, das am 8.7. in IJmuiden explodierte [6] - At 02h14 VPs 1411 and 1413 with AFs 41 and 47 open fire. MTB 666 is hit by gunfire from German patrol boat V 1415 [3].
Ausgewertete Quellen: 0) Dog Boats (PB) p.170-172: MO 7991, Summary of Actions ;
1) https://cfv.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=347#p1132 ;
2) Admirality War Diary, 5.7.1944, page 104/105 (NHB, Scan 104/105) ;
3) https://cfv.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=347#p1132 ;
4) O'Flaharty, Torpedoes, Tea and Medals (2022), p.125/126 ;
5) CFV-Forum "MTB 666" http://cfv.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=364 ;
6) KTB SKL, 05.07.44, S.111 ;
Letzte Änderung: 03.08.2024