ENGAGEMENT AT SEA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21191, 14 August 1940, Page 8

ENGAGEMENT AT SEA

SUCCESS OF MOTOR BOATS ENEMY SHIPS ATTACKED AT POINT-BLANK RANGE (Ofllcial Wireless) (Received August 14, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 13 An Admiralty communique states: In the early hours of this morning some of our motor torpedo boats made contact with enemy light iorcej. The enemy, when sighted, were only about 100 yards from our boats, which were travelling at about thirty knots. They were two small ships. One of our torpedo boats, thinking that the enemy ahead was an E-boat and being too close to take other action, rammed it. The enemy ships were, however, larger than E-boats, and this motor torpedo boat suffered some damage to the bows. Another of our motor torpedo boats passed between the two enemy ships and engaged them with machine-gun fire and grenades at almost point-blank range. It is considered that this fire took considerable effect. The enemy’s return fire was ineffective. A third of our motor torpedo boats passed beyond these two enemy ships and sighted two larger vessels. She engaged these with machine-gun fire at very close range. Later one of our motor torpedo boats had two running fights with an enemy E-boat. It was too dark to ascertain what damage was inflicted on the enemy during these fights. After this action some of our motor torpedo boats were attacked by a German aeroplane from a height of 500 feet. Our boats opened hot and accurate fire, and when last seen the aircraft was on fire, losing height rapidly. No casualties were suffered by the British forces in any of these engagements and no damage apart from that suffered by one boat ramming an enemy ship. This boat also returned safely.