E-BOAT MARAUDERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 84, 10 April 1945, Page 5

E-BOAT MARAUDERS

British Light Naval Craft Beat Enemy In North Sea CONVOY LANES ASSAILED Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, April 9. One of the fiercest and closest fought battles for the licrht coastal forces flared up' at the week-end in the North Sea when the Germans stepped up their E-boat activity, reports a " joint" Admiralty and Air Ministry communique. The enemy on two successive nights sent out strong forces of E-boats against the Allied convoy routes between England and Europe. On both occasions they were intercepted, hotly engaged and dfiven off. At least three of the E-boats were sunk and five severely damaged. Two of our. motor torpedo boats were sunk. ' Wellington bombers of Coastal Command on the first night observed the E-boats. They attacked them with bombs and then shadowed them, until the British light coastal craft attacked. The E-boats. two .of which were severely damaged, escaped under a smokescreen but another force of light coastal craft located and engaged them. . . _ One British vessel rammed and sank an E-boat. Two E-boats were sunk in a five-minute action during the second night's fighting.