TNA ADM 199 788 A

Dynaino Duplicate
16
Dynams 22H
13
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H.M.S. Dolphin,
16
Gosport.
June 6th.I940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of the proceedings of HM.S.Dolphin's Power Boat.
2.
The boat sailed from Gosport at 1915 on Wednesday 29th.
May with orders to proceed to Ramsgate with all despatch, remaining overnight at Newhaven, or if it should not be possible to reach there before dark, to make Littlehampton. Owing to delay in sailing and to adverse weather conditions it was only possible to make the latter port at 2200. The Dutch motor launch M73 had arrived about 15 minutes previously.
3.
80 gallons of petrol were embarked from H.M.S. Peregrine and the motor boat proceeded to Ramsgate in company with M 73.
On arrival off Dover at 1400, owing to shortage of petrol combined with the uncertainty of navigation by the boat's compass in the prevailing fog, it was decided to enter the harbour to refuel. Considerable delay was necessary at the contraband control ship before entering and also before fuelling at the petrol jetty, and it was not before 1900 that orders were received from the
Naval Base that the boat was not to proceed to Ramsgate but was to be held in readiness to proceed to sea at short notice.
4.
Orders were given at 0030 on 31st. May for.M.S.Dolphin's boat to proceed with a similar boat from H.M.S. Excellent to La
Panne and Bray Dunes, respectively, the two boats to remain in company until within a short distance of the French coast. Charts and the route were supplied to each boat and information was obtained that if there was a shortage of petrol on reaching the destination it could be obtained from H.M.S.Hebe.
5.
Shortly after passing the North Goodwin Light Vessel it
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was found that more petrol was being consumed than had been estimated, mainly due to yawing caused by a considerable stern sea and swell, and "Excellent's" boat found it necessary to reduce speed to about 8 knots.
6.
Some 8 miles North West of Bray an enemy floating mine was seen

Dynamo Duplicate
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was seen and an attempt was made to sink it by rifle fire but this was impracticable owing to the unsteadiness of the boat. The approximate position of the mine was later reported.
7.
At 1115 the boat arrived off La Panne, and, being short of petrol, closed H. M.S. Hebe but was unable to obtain any from her. As there were no other ships carrying petrol off La Panne, it was thought desirable to return to Bray in order to have a reasonably safe margin of petrol before conveying troops. On arrival at Bray, "Excellent's" boat signalled that she had struck a submerged object and required assistance. As I had been told by a destroyer that the depth of water in that position was 3 feet and had also been told by the Senior Officer at Bray to be extremely careful not to get into shallow water, it was not considered advisable owing to the state of the sea to risk the loss of a second boat. Another shallower draughted boat did, in fact try to assist but ran aground.
8.
20 gallons of petrol were obtained at Bray and the boat proceeded back to La Panne. Before reaching there, however, all ships weighed and left under shell fire from shore batteries from the town which was shortly afterwards OCC-
upied by the enemy. In consequence the motor boat returned to Bray.
9.
Enquiries were made at destroyers and other vessels present as to whether "Dolphin's" boat could be of any assistance, but again, owing to the shallowness of the water and state of the sea it was not possible to go alongside the improvised pier from which all troops were being embarked
(no troops were at this time wading out to boats), nor was there a demand for a boat for towing purposes.
10. as to the usefulness of this boat under the circumstances,
After consultation with the senior officer present it was decided to obtain a tow back to Dover to refuel, and there it was hoped that another tow could be obtained back to Dunkirk, where, it was believed, the boat could be more usefully employed. A tow was obtained from H.M.S.Sargossa at 1415