German E-boat Operations in "Vigorous"
(14 and 15 June 1942) and Sicilian Landings (July 1953)
November 1999
Harro Garmsen of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada has an uncle
who was in E-boats in the Med in WW2, and has written a book
about his exploits. He sent me some excerpts about enemy actions
mentioned in my book.
His uncle was in the 3rd E-boat flotilla based in Derna, Cyranaica,
in June 1942. It was composed of 6 boats, each carrying four
torpedoes. The flotilla was despatched to intercept the "Vigorous"
convoy on the night 14 June 42. They were quickly in action,
splitting into two sections to attack from the north and from
the south. At 1952 they were bombed by their own aircraft. The
convoy was lit by flares from German aircraft and by British
star shell, which they didn't like. Too risky to close the enemy
as they would be seen. At 2140 they became involved with the
British destroyer screen and fired their torpedoes at targets
and retired making smoke. They had noticed a bigger ship and
fired at it too.
They returned next night but were driven off. Actually, unbeknownst
to them, they had sunk the British destroyer Hasty and slightly
damaged the cruiser Newcastle which was able to continue at
full speed. During the night, I had heard them talking to each
other on radio in the destroyer leader Jervis. A strange experience,
hearing the enemy so near.
Much later,the flotilla left its base at Bizerta, Tunisia in
a hurry, just before the Allies entered the port on 28 November
1942. It went to its new base at Porto Empedocle across the
water on the south shore of Sicily. Here S59 was sunk by aircraft
attack.
The Mediterranean naval war was now swinging vastly in favour
of the Allies. The flotilla was moved to Augusta on the east
coast on 9 July, the night that the Allied invasion took place.
It ran into Allied MGBs and was luck to escape, being diverted
to Palermo. The next night it was sent via Messina to attack
the landings off Syracuse. They ran into MGBs again but were
ordered to retire and go to Salerno, Italy, which was to be
their new base.
On the night of 12 July, three boats attacked the landings
without success. Then only one boat was operational because
the two skippers of S61 and S33 were sick with jaundice. On
19 July 4 boats were mustered plus three from the newly arrived
7th flotilla and some merchants ships and destroyers were attacked
off Syracuse and two destroyers and two transports were claimed
as sunk which was totally in error.
Two more sweeps were unsuccessful and there was no more action
after this, as the boats and their crews were worn out with
changing their base all the time plus considerable action. Also
air attack was almost continuous and the Italian Railways were
now brazenly conveniently losing shipments from Germany, especially
much-needed torpedoes. The flotilla was split up, being sent
to Greece, Marseille,Naples and Sardinia for overhaul. Late
in 1943 the flotilla was re-united in the Adriatic with three
new boats being transported overland from Germany.
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