NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1944, Page 5

NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS

ENEMY VESSELS DRIVEN ASHORE ' Rec. 11.50 a.m. RUGBY, August 15. In the course of three engagements early this morning, a British naval force under the command of Captain W. W. Davis, R.N., in the cruiser Mauritius pursued, engaged, and severely damaged several enemy vessels in the vicinity of the enemyoccupied naval base of La Roehelle, states an Admiralty communique. The first contact with the enemy was made during the hours of darkness when the British ships engaged a small convoy, escorted by one destroyer, and a mine-sweeper which was proceeding southwards towards the entrance of the La Pallice roads. In the course of a running fight which ended inside the northern entrance to La Pallice, the British ships obtained repeated hits on the enemy. One supply vessel was driven ashore in flames and left in a sinking condition. A second supply ship was set on fire, and hits were also observed on an enemy destroyer, which escaped at speed in the darkness. During the action, and as the British ships pursued the fleeing enemy, shore batteries opened fire, but without effect. Just before dawn a small tanker was engaged in the same area. The vessel was driven ashore in a badly damaged condition. Shortly afterwards the British ships encountered another small convoy consisting of two medium-sized vessels which were . proceeding under an escort of two M. class mine-sweepers. Repeated hits were obtained on the enemy vessels, which were driven ashore north of Les Sables d'Olonne and left burning fiercely. The British ships sustained neither casualties nor damage. In addition to H.M.S. Mauritius, the ships taking part in this action were the destroyers Ursa and Iroquois.—B.O.W.