"Dog" boat found. |
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Pioneer
Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675 |
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Posted: 18 January 2008 at 4:14pm |
Exciting news from Philip Simons that the remains of MTB 715 have been found in Norway. These two shots showing the unmistakable lines of the Fairmile "D" were taken by Arild Overa who has kindly given permission for them to be reproduced here. |
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Jim
Senior Member Joined: 17 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 116 |
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Pity she is not in better condition :( Fantastic to see there is still one about.. Seems she was busy... Re: 12 February 1945
Posted by: Erling Skjold (IP Logged)
Date: November 04, 2007 12:45PM Hello, "It is an established fact this M-boot was torpedoed that day by HM SS Venturer" I would state that as a myth, and certainly not a fact :-) The loss of the M-381 has to be seen in comparison with the loss of her sister M-382 31.01.1945. That day the M-381 and M-382 sailed towards Bodö to escort the German tanker Ditmarschen, ordered back to Germany, but was attacked by the lurking MTBs MTB-715 and MTB-717. MTB-717 missed with both her torpedoes, while the MTB-715 scorted a hit with one torpedo 21:30 in the aftpart of the M-382 that sank in 2 minutes with 22 casualties. The MTBs claimed a destroyer sunk... As the MTBs weren't seen, the loss was first belived to be a mine, but this was changed to a MTB torpedo when the withdrawing MTBs were reported. 12.02.1945 was the convoy with MT Ditmarschen (Trondheim - Aalesund voyage, with M-381 and R-238 as escorts) seen by the lurking MTBs MTB-716 and MTB-717, and both fired their torpedoes against the tanker. MTB-716 missed with her torpedoes, while the MTB-717 hit the M-381 at 22:45. The M-381 blew up, and sank imidiatelly with 45 casualties. R-238 took the tanker into safety, while R-122 and R-124 arrived later to search for survivors (only 16 men survived). The MTBs withdrew after the attack without being seriously shelled. The MTB-717 was then involved in the sinkings of both M-381 and M-382. Both minesweepers belonging to the 22. minesweeper flotilla. Best regards, Erling Edited by Jim |
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Pioneer
Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675 |
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Please note the date on the above images - quite a lot could happen in 3/4 years - more news to follow.
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johnk
Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355 |
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Hello again,
Got cut off trying to reply, said I see she is more intact that the one at Chatham, had no luck in getting response from port authority, well done Phil for finding her, also noted the time since picture was taken, oh to get a least a good part of a D to dislpay for people to see, would love to her any more news of her, who knows, with this find perhaps.....you never know. Great stuff,
Johnk |
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tramontana
Senior Member Joined: 06 April 2007 Status: Offline Points: 418 |
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It just show's you that there are still boats to be found up some creek somewhere in the World, I have 715 down as being built by Woodnutt of St Helen's and am suprised the R.N.N. have not picked her up bearing in mind her War History with their own Countrymen on board. she was disposed of in 1945 after being damaged.
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northeastuser
Senior Member Joined: 10 June 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 446 |
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From john Lambbert’s Anatony of the ship (The Fairmile ‘D’) 715 9.12.43 R Nor N 1944. Lost by explosion , Norway 19.5.45 I see there’s no visible evidence of the normal doghouses or‘felt’ on the decks that older boats seem to acquire in later life. She seems very original but striped from the outside. Wonder if she was beached in ‘44 and striped then left where she lies. Totally original. If so then a very valuable historical artefact. |
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tramontana
Senior Member Joined: 06 April 2007 Status: Offline Points: 418 |
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From what I understand from another reliable source the boat next to her exploded and damaged her, she was then sold out to be a Private Yacht in 1945, despite the fact that she has laid where she is for many years when somebody else takes an interest they most probably will shut the door fairly sharpish when they realise it is the last one around unless someone knows where there is another one. From my runs up to Narvik in the early 70's they were very keen on preserving their War history and had a superb museum centred around the two Battles for Narvik as well as the German occupation they had various bits salvaged from the British Destroyer's as well as numerous weapon's which at that time were not bolted down or behind glass and you could pick them up, there was a chap sat in a glass fronted booth who took the entrance fee on behalf of the Norwegian Red Cross and watched over the exhibits, I did a trip to Hell and back to pick up much needed boiler feed pump spares and the amphibian that took me there took off over the wrecks that are still underwater.
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johnk
Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355 |
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Hi Billy and Tramontana, Very interesting points from both of you, as you say, as ex RNN, they perhaps might well want to take hold of her, perhaps best at least she would be save and as mentioned on display.
Johnk |
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northeastuser
Senior Member Joined: 10 June 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 446 |
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who knows, perhaps they have started to save her already! what ever her history, she looks quite original. |
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tramontana
Senior Member Joined: 06 April 2007 Status: Offline Points: 418 |
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Having a closer and longer look at the photo's I reckon she has been underwater for some time and has been lifted out and beached for disposal, she seems to be pretty devoid of deck fittings, it would appear to me that at sometime she was stripped of anything useful and scuttled. The hole in the deck looks like either a large rock or an anchor has gone through it, perhaps she was in the way of a pipeline or a marina developement. Bearing in mind the date of the photo and it looks like the chainsaws have been at her stern I would be suprised if she still exists today, so the Chatham embers may still be the last sign of a Dog boat. On the subject of Dog Boats I "googled" the Bitter lakes and there are boats on the beach next to the old airfield but it is difficult to see what they are |
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