Lfd. Nr.: 2012
| Seegebiet: | Norwegen |
| Datum / Zeit: | 28.07.1943 11u50 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | bei Aspøy |
| Verbandsführer (S.O.): | Lt. Andresen (RNoN) |
| Angreifer: | 30th MTB 345 |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | On 24 July MTB 345 had embarked for her second mission to Norway in company MTB 619, 620, 623. The force split up on the way to Norway. MTB 345 and MTB 620 spotted Utvær Lighthouse, and made landfall further south at around 24:00. On 25 July both vessels were spotted by a German BV 138 aircraft, Lieutenant Andresen ordered the junior commander of MTB 620 to return to the Shetland Islands. - Of primary importance for MTB 345 was the acquisition of more fuel from hidden depots along the coast. When MTB 345 reached a depot at the island of Ospa near Bergen, she was hidden under camouflage netting. The fuel at Ospa proved to be of the wrong type for MTB 345's engines, leaving the motor torpedo boat without enough fuel for operations or a return to the Shetland Islands. MTB 345 remained at Ospa waiting for a solution to the fuel situation. - On 28 July, the motor torpedo boat was spotted by VP 5301 ('Seeteufel'), a short time later seven German warships arrived on the scene, surrounding MTB 345's anchorage. As the German ships approached the anchorage, the crew of MTB 345 set their vessel on fire and prepaired a depth charge to scuttle her. Before the depth charge could be detonated, MTB 345 was boarded by soldiers from the German patrol boat RA 202. In the ensuing gunfight, three of the crew members on MTB 345 were wounded. Following their capture, the seven crew members of MTB 345 were taken to the German regional headquarters at Bergenhus Fortress and imprisoned. On 29 July the crew was handed over to the SD (Sicherheitsdienst) on order of Admiral von Schrader, who described the prisoners as "pirates, not soldiers". 12 hours later all seven crew members were executed accordinmg to Hitler's Commando Order, regarding the killing of uniformed saboteurs. MTB 345 was pressed into Kriegsmarine service, renaming her SA 12. The fate of SA 12 since December 1943 is unknown. |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | V 5301, M 411, RA 201, 202 |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | 28.7./1150 Uhr engl. S-Boot "MTB 345" bei Insel Aspoe im Bufjord, am Felsen getarnt, durch VP-Boot 5301 entdeckt und von einem Stoßtrupp dieses Bootes gekapert. Feindboot brennt. Kommandant und 6 Mann wurden gefangen genommen. |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTB_345 ; 2) KTB SKL Teil A, 28.07.43, S.556 |
| Letzte Änderung: | 21.10.2023 |