ENEMY SURPRISED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 5

ENEMY SURPRISED

Nazi Minesweepers Attacked By British Craft OUR BOATS MAKE PORT British Official Wireless. RUGBY, July 21. A surprise attack on German minesweepers In which two British craft opened fire at close range is described in fuller detail. A successful action was fought off the French coast on Sunday night. British craft were patrolling when Lieutenant Ritchie, commander of the leading boat, saw two "minesweepers vaguely outlined in the darkness. He surprised the Germans by opening fire from 150 yards on the nearest minesweeper. The second British boat, commanded by Lieutenant Griffiths, also opened fire on the same minesweeper, which blew up with a terrific flash. Lieutenant Ritchie then engaged two more minesweepers. Both were heavily hit. One turned toward him, out of control, and struck the British craft on the port bow, then swung around and slid alongside. The British gunners raked her from stem to stern and nothing could have lived in the hail of fire. The minesweeper slid clear and sank.

By this time two more minesweepers had appeared. These were hotly engaged. Two others a short distance away engaged each other, but made off when the British boats opened on them. . Lieutenant Hitchie's boat, in which a hole had been made in the collision. lost touch with that of Lieutenant Griffiths. The forward compartments were filled with water and she was immobilised through the propeller and rudder rising out of the water. The crew succeeded in trimming her and both boats reached harbour without suffering any casualties.