Coastal Forces Intrude On Enemy’s Doorstep

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1944, Page 3

Coastal Forces Intrude On Enemy’s Doorstep

(8.0. W. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 14. For the third time in a week light coastal forces carried out an attack on the enemy’s doorstep. A flotilla commanded by Lieutenant C. D. Bradford, made another successful incursion into Dutch water.

A recent Admiralty communique an nouncod that Lt. Bradford’s force of torpedoes sank a large auxiliary vessel, damaged a medium tanker and set* fire to an escort ship. “We first came upon the convoy of about 20 ships.” said Lt. Bradford. ”Tak-» ing a chance wo cut across the bow of an escort ship and launched a torpedo attack on three tankers of about 3000 tons each. There was an exchange of fire during which an escort ship was repeatedly hit and silenced. She came to a halt burning fiercely. As we retired we saw that a torpedo had hit one of the tankers under the foremast and blown off the boys.” When the flotilla returned to the attack they found the convoy split up and escorts scattered. Later a large auxiliary vessel was encountered. Torpedoed and sunk. The survivors were made prisoners. Earlier in the week other units of light coastal fences carried out offensive sweeps on the enemy’s doorstep, sinking a supply-ship and trawler and setting fire to a coastal defence vessel, trawler and U-boat.