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 Author  Topic: 5/6 V 1943
crolick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 26, 2008 - 2:44am
Hello,

if it is possible I would like to ask some questions. As far as I know in May 1943 PT Boats from RON 15 were operating from the northern Africa (Bone or Bizerte - BTW when exactly boats were transferred?!). I would like to know if any of the boats reported torpedo attack on the night of 5/6 V N of Algiers on enemy submarine?! Were there any other MTB boats operating in the area?! What allied forces were based in Algiers?!

Thank you in advance for any help!


Regards,
Andrzej


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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 26, 2008 - 12:34pm
Hello Andrzej!

I have the squadron diary but I can't get to it until Monday, so I will look.

Squadron 15 boats were not the only smaller craft on the seas in that area - British boats operated in the same waters, often on the same missions (MTBs, MGBs, MLs, etc.)

If someone in the meantime knows, hopefully they'll post before me.

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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crolick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 26, 2008 - 5:05pm
Hello newsnerd99,

thank you for your reply
As far as I know there was British Coastal Forces Base at Algiers (HMS Razorbill) but I was unable to track down vessels which were based there in May 1943.

I know also that there is a book about MTBs on the Mediterranean - 'Mediterranean MTBs at War: Short MTB Flotilla Operations, 1939-45' by Morgan Giles. Maybe there is anything about the event for which I'm looking for?!


Regards,
Andrzej


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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 30, 2008 - 12:24am
I haven't forgotten about you...I just keep forgetting to pull the diary while I'm at home. I'll get to it!

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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crolick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 1, 2008 - 9:58am
Good to hear that newsnerd99

Hope to hear from you soon!


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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 5, 2008 - 12:44am
Hello again! Sorry for the delay...here's what I got:

In May of 1943 the US PT's were operating out of Bone...and as far as I can tell, no sub was engaged.

MAY 4TH - PT's 203, 206, 207, 208 - underway for night patrol mission in area bounded by Cani Rocks, Cape Zebib and Cape Farina...Numerous Junkers 86 transport planes sighted but not fired upon. No shipping sighted. 0230 ceased patrol and set course for Bone arriving at 0830.

PT's 201, 202, 205, 206 - Moored to dock.

MAY 5TH - PT's 202, 204, 205 - 1610 underway for patrol in Gulf of Tunis...2310 sighted enemy aircraft out of range. No shipping sighted. 0135 ceased patrol and set course for Bone arriving 0805.

PT's 201, 203, 206, 207, 208 - Moored to dock.

MAY 6TH - PT's 201, 205, 206 - Held firing practice in exercise area.

PT's 202, 204, 207, 208 - Moored to dock at Bone.

PT 203 - 1610 underway on mission with British MTB's 265 and 315. 2035 Ras Enghela abeam to starboard, distance seven miles. Patrolled by Cani Rocks and Plane Island to Zembra and Zeinbretta. Ordered to proceed to Sousse. 0130 Cape Bon abeam to starboard. 0605 moored at Sousse.

MAY 7TH - PT's 206, 208 - 1618 underway for patrol off Cape Zebib. 2000 PT's started patrol. No shipping sighted. Heavy seas, wind force 7. 2345 ceased patrol and oriceeded to Sousse. 0330 Cape Bon abeam to starboard. Starboard engine shaft on PT 208 sheared and screw was lost. 0500 one low flying unidentified plane sighted. 0940 arrived Sousse.

PT's 201, 202, 204 - 1605 underway to patrol off Bizerte Harbor... 1719 PT 204 exploded floating ine off Tabarca by gunfire. 2111 arrived patrol area. 2350 ceased patrol, proceeding to Bone. 0200 PT's 201 and 204 became seperated from PT 202 due to heavy weather and proceeded independently to Bone arriving at 0930.

PT 205 - 1647 underway to join Squadron Commander's Task Force. 1918 passed Cape Serrat abeam. Rough sea following. 1940 abeam Fratelli Rocks, passed six British MTB's. 2014 abeam Ras Enghela. Unable to contact PT's 206 and 208. Reversed course and proceeded to Bone. 0430 anchored off noth jetty at Bone. Casualties due to heavy seas were LEES, R.T., GM3c, possible fracture left knee and PATTON, R.E., MoMM2c, cuts and bruises around right eye.

That's all I have! If you wondering where the rest of the boats in the squadron are...they were just getting set up in the theatre and wouldn't be along until later in the month (May of 1943.) The first action report for the squadron wouldn't come along until the sinking of a 3,000 ton merchant vessel off Cape Bon on the night of May 8/9, 1943.

As for Bizerte - May 10th was the famous arrival of PT 205 "seizing the harbor" (they were the first Allied craft in the harbor because they were low on fuel and needed a fill up. After they got what they needed, they were asked to leave and make room for the landing craft that were going to "seize the harbor.") On May 18th, US and UK officers went to Bizerte to investigate using the facilities as a base of operations. US PT's started arriving at their new home on May 20th.

Even though this wasn't what you were looking for - I hope it helps!


Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Aug 5, 2008 - 6:42am
Nothing in my records to indicate that Ron 15 tangled with a Sub during that time. I do remember, Lt. Vic Kodis from PT 213, telling me they made an attack on what they thought was a sub. Turned out to be a formation of Rock. He commented on how expensive it was to blow up a rock pile. I think this was late 1944 or early 45. I do not have reports to substantiate this claim by Mr. Kodis, but it came right from the horses mouth............


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newsnerd99

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 5, 2008 - 3:28pm
Edwin Pink, who was quartermaster on the 206, mentions in his journal about coming across an unidentified sub at night while on patrol, but they didn't know who's it was, so they left it go. like Frank's note though...wrong dates, wrong area as far as Andrzej's search goes.

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

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crolick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 5, 2008 - 4:04pm
Hello newsnerd99,

thank you very much for your detailed answer! Although no information on the attack on enemy submarine this is also very helpful!

BTW. Do you happen to know which British MTBs units might be involved in the operations in this area at that time?!

Thank once again


Andrzej


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