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Topic: (almost) OT: color footage of 1944 Schnellboote |
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ducati650
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 3, 2010 - 4:27am
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Cool video. It lead me to this one and at about 2;50 there is a German boat that looks like it has a lot of features of the early Elcos.
The MG turret is obviously different but the rest is kind of close to my untrained eye. Take a peak. What are we looking at?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CDMyd_JTVY
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Dick
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 3, 2010 - 11:47am
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The video shows the Royal Navy MTB 314. I remember not long ago reading a little about it in the Al Ross/John Lambert book "Allied Coastal Forces" Volume II (I might ad an excellent, excellent book). It was apparently old PT-56 or 54 or 55. before it was configured for a series of 77' boats sold to the RN. MTB-314 was captured and operated by the Germans after a failed North African operation. Really cool to see it in the video. That single center turret was a Vickers gun turret.
Al Ross might be able to elaborate on the item.
Dick . . .
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alross2
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Posted on: Feb 3, 2010 - 2:29pm
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Dick hit it on the head. Ex-PT56, ex-BPT8. Assigned to the 15th MTB Flotrilla, she was captured by the Germans at Tobruk, renumbered RA10, and assiged to the 6th Raumboot Flotilla. Eventually, she was sunk by the RAF.
The drawings for this configuration are in ACF V2 and on Dick's DVD.
Al Ross
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 4, 2010 - 4:18am
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Seemed real strange seeing an Elco boat in German hands. Now, until this was mentioned here, I was not aware that any of our PT BOATS were ever captured. I do not recall reading this anywhere. What is the story behind the capture of this boat..............
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 4, 2010 - 5:35am
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Frank;
Here is the story of MTB 314.
The British launched a Commando raid on the harbor at Tobruk on Sept 14, 1942, at the time the RN 10th and 15th MTB Flotilla was based in Alexandria, 14/9/42 Operation Agreement
Commando raid on Tobruk. Force C - MTB 260, MTB 261, MTB 262, MTB 265, MTB 266, MTB 267, MTB 268, MTB 307, MTB 308, MTB 310, MTB 311, MTB 312, MTB 313, MTB 314 and MTB 315 each with 10 troops embarked. ML 349, ML 352 and ML 353 carry demolition teams.
Turning into the objective, Cdr Blackburn orders the force to increase speed to 24kts and the force becomes split. An LRDG(Long Range Desert Group) unit ordered to use signals to guide the force in is delayed. As a result only MTB 261 and MTB 314 are able to enter Mersa es Sciausc cove and disembark troops
MTB 314 grounds on rocks and can not be taken off. MTB 261 rescues the crew of MTB 314. Demolition charges are set but fail to explode and MTB 314 is salvaged by German forces and taken up as RA 10 (6th Raumboot Flotilla.
Returning to Alexandria, MTB 308 is damaged by fighters and then attacked by a Ju 88 bomber which is damaged by anti aircraft fire and crashes into MTB 308 sinking her. There are no survivors
MTB 310 is dive bombed and hit in the bow. The crew abandon ship in an assault boat and head for the coast. When German forces recover them near the coast a week later only three, including the First Lieutenant, are still alive and suffering from thirst, sunburn and dehydration
MTB 312 is strafed by Italian Macchi fighters and set on fire. Survivors are picked up by MTB 266. By coincidence TLt I A Quarrie was rescued two years previously by TLt Richard Routledge Smith when sunk in MTB 106. MTB 266 is near missed by dive bombers and damaged by splinters but returns to Alexandria. It is interesting to note here, that all the MTB's used in the raid were ELCO's (70' Elcos belonged to the 10th MTB Flotilla, and the 77' Elcos belonged to the 15th MTB flotilla). As Al stated as RA 10 assigned to the 6th Raumboot Flotilla . She was sunk by RAF planes off La Goulette on April 30, 1943.
Take care,
TED
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 4, 2010 - 6:14am
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TED
Thanks for the heads up on this interesting but little known story. Knowing that the 70 Foot Elco's were transfered to the British, it is interesting to know that they took part in this Raid.. I wonder why when the charge failed they did not blast the boat with guns. I guess they needed to get out of there in a hurry..........
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Will Day
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Posted on: Feb 4, 2010 - 7:44am
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Don: P56 was built in 1957. It reminds me a little bit of the NASTY class PTFs used by the USN in Vietnam, although they were from Norway and the 56 boat is Swedish.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 4, 2010 - 8:36am
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Don, Thanks for sharing this Video. Awesome boats. They do look a lot like the NASTY CLASS, and listening to the audio, it sure sounds like the were powered by PACKARDS. I WANT ONE....................
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