E-BOATS VANQUISHED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1943, Page 5

E-BOATS VANQUISHED

BY DESTROYERS AND PLANES British Official Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. . RUGBY, April 16. The Admiralty states that naval aircraft, operating under the R.A.F. Fighter Command, sighted and reported the positions of strong forces of E-boats off the east coast of England yesterday morning. This force was engaged by the destroyer Westminster and the sloop Widgeon. During the sharp actions which followed the Westminster set two E-boats on fire. One was seen to blow up and the other disengaged behind a smoke screen.

The remaining E-boats also disengaged and the pursuit of the enemy was taken up by Fleet Albacore aircraft, which bombed the fleeing E-boats, two near misses being observed. The Westminster and the Widgeon sustained neither casualties nor damage.

The Admiralty states that last night light coastal forces under Lieutenant-Commander Peter Markham Scott, engaged three armed enemy trawlers about 20 miles off the west of Le Havre. Fire was concentrated on the rear ship of the enemy line and many hits were scored. Although not seen to sink, she was left stopped with her engines silenced. She was burning. All our ships returned safely. Their casualties were one killed and four wounded. Lieutenant - Commander Scott is the son of the famous explorer, Captain R. F. Scott, who died in the British Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole in 1912.