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Re: USS MEREDITH (DD 726)
Posted by:
ROBERT M.
()
Date: August 26, 2004 11:14PM
Eric, et al:
"Bombarding Force "D" was on the flank to port of "S" Force,
preparing to engage enemy batteries between Ouistreham and Villerville, and screened by smoke from the observation of LeHavre gunners. At 5:15 AM the enemy made a half-hearted attack on this Bombarding Force. Three torpedo boats suddenly emerged from the smoke-screen, fired a number of torpedoes and
hurried back into the cover of smoke. One torpedo could be seen approaching HMS LARGS. The Divisional Commander's ship was saved by putting her engines to full astern, and the torpedo passed
a few few feet ahead. A second torpedo hit the destroyer SVENNER of the Royal Norwegian Navy; the SVENNER, sailing but 200 yards astern of LARGS, sank almost immediately."
German 'E" boats, however few in number, did launch torpedoes
at the invasion fleet. The most likely cause of USS MEREDITH'S
explosion, was a German mine, probably an acoustic type.
I have not found any evidence that "glider bombs" were used at
that time.
After WWII, The USS DOUGLAS H. FOX (DD-779), a 2200-ton
SUMNER-class destroyer struck a mine near Trieste. A photo of the damage to her port quarter can be seen at:
[www.destroyersonline.com]
The damage was definitely not as severe as that occuring to USS MEREDITH. Perhaps the explosion did trigger a larger explosion of the ship's boilers; who knows..........
Regards,
ROBERT M.
"Bombarding Force "D" was on the flank to port of "S" Force,
preparing to engage enemy batteries between Ouistreham and Villerville, and screened by smoke from the observation of LeHavre gunners. At 5:15 AM the enemy made a half-hearted attack on this Bombarding Force. Three torpedo boats suddenly emerged from the smoke-screen, fired a number of torpedoes and
hurried back into the cover of smoke. One torpedo could be seen approaching HMS LARGS. The Divisional Commander's ship was saved by putting her engines to full astern, and the torpedo passed
a few few feet ahead. A second torpedo hit the destroyer SVENNER of the Royal Norwegian Navy; the SVENNER, sailing but 200 yards astern of LARGS, sank almost immediately."
German 'E" boats, however few in number, did launch torpedoes
at the invasion fleet. The most likely cause of USS MEREDITH'S
explosion, was a German mine, probably an acoustic type.
I have not found any evidence that "glider bombs" were used at
that time.
After WWII, The USS DOUGLAS H. FOX (DD-779), a 2200-ton
SUMNER-class destroyer struck a mine near Trieste. A photo of the damage to her port quarter can be seen at:
[www.destroyersonline.com]
The damage was definitely not as severe as that occuring to USS MEREDITH. Perhaps the explosion did trigger a larger explosion of the ship's boilers; who knows..........
Regards,
ROBERT M.
