Sunday Times of Malta
21st October 1945 Page 4
BRITSH FLOTILLA TO GREEK NAVY
Fine Record of "These Little Ships"
BY A NAVAL STAFF OFFICER
"In taking over the 28th M.L.Flotilla friom the Royal Navy the Royal Hellenic Navy comes into possession of something more than a mere handful of motor launches. They are inheriting part of the very tradition of the Royal Navy, for these are vessels with a record of all those who have served in them are justly proud."
With these words Lieutenant-Commander A.N.Robertson, D.S.C., R.N.V.R., of Gourock, Scotland, bid farewell to a flotilla with a distinguished record in Coastal Forces. With the Greek Ensign replacing the White Ensign, the flotilla is to continue its work as a minesweeping force in Greek waters, the final phase of a brilliant record starting at St. Nazaire.
St. Nazaire
St. Nazaire was the 28th's first and greatest venture. Only three out of eight craft comprising the original flotilla returned from that historical mission. Those survivors, the M.M.L's 307, 341 and 443 were included when the flotilla was reconstituted and brought out to the Mediterranean in August 1942, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander D.L. Platt, D.S.O., R.N.V.R., one of those who survived the heavy toll of St. Nazaire. Converted for the role of anti-submarine craft, they were equipped with torpedo tubes and they had a worthy share in conquering the U-boat to our North African campaign.
In May 1944, the 28th was converted into a minesweeping flotilla under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Robertson. Venturing into waters where larger minesweeping vessels were unable to operate, these "little ships" continued in the fine tradition of their previous roles.
Operating with the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla, commanded by Captain G.N. Rawlings, D.S.O., and bar, D.S.C., R.N. the M.L's started their new career by establishing mine-free channels up the West coast of Italy as the 5th Army battled its way from Anzio to the North, thus enabling vital reinforcements of seaborne men and supplies to reach the scene of battle with negligible losses through the seas-mining. The opening of the ports of Civita Vecchia, San Stefano, Piombino and Leghorn, in which the Flotilla played a part, was among the decisive factors bringing about the final vistory at the Gothic Line.
The flotilla tasted adversity. During operations off Leghorn the M.L. 443, one of the veterans of St. Nazaire, struck a mine.
In the words of Lieutenant-Commander Robertson, who was leading his flotilla from M.L.443 at the time, "Our light wooden craft didn't stand a chance. The whole for'ard structure from the bridge blew up and disintegrated. Miraculously no one was killed, although an officer was seriously injured."
Towed for 35 Miles
The ship's company were rescued by Lieutenant W.G Gren, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Auckland, New Zealand, who, with the object of salvaging what remained afloat of the shattered vessel, took her in tow. The effort had to be abandoned when, after being in tow for 35 miles, and after a gallant bid to keep afloat, M.L.443 became a total loss.
Added to the mine menace were the attentions of enemy shore batteries. Both at Piombino and Anzio the flotilla had to run the gaunlet of shell-fire.
With the 5th Army well entrenched before the Gothic Line and their sea communications assured, the 28th sought new minefields to conquer - the thickly laid waters of the Aegean, barrier to the liberation of Greece. operating with the 5th Minesweeping Flotilla under Commander H.L. Jenkins, D.S.C., R.N. the 28th assisted in the night sweep which preceded the occcupation by our forces of the island of Kythera. For two weeks after the occupation, the flotilla operated from Kythera, reducing the Aegean mine menace and then - another step towards Greek liberation - the minesweepers swept our land forces to the shores of Poros. Enemy shore batteries in the Gulf of Athens were defied during the intensive sweeps which preceded the culmination of a campaign which, according to Lieutenant-Commander Robertson, "never had a dull moment".
"It was a climax we had all been waiting for," continued Lieutenant-Commander Robertson, "when our flotilla formed up ahead of a small convoy of schooners and L.C.T's. and swept them into Pireaeus. It was a night sweep through shallow waters. The M/L's. accounted for 12 mines.
Then came the intensive operation of clearing the sea routes to permit the safe arrival of urgently needed supplies both for the hard pressed people of Greece and the liberating forces. The 28th carried out this task, with the briefest of respites for refits. It has operated in the heavily mined waters of Thermia, Doro, Syra. Milos, Navarino, Heraklion, Suda Bay, Canea, Leros and Rhodes.
On the eve of its being handed over to the Royal Hellenic Navy, the 28th Flotilla cut its 200th mine. In addition the M.L's. sunk or exploded 800 mines cut from their moorings by other minesweepers.
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