TNA ADM 199 790

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B1461
366
VICE ADMIRAL DOVER.
Liquamiz10
&
1225
.
11th June, 1940.
372
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report
of proceedings during operation Dynamo. Individual reports
of Commanding Officers of M.T.B's and M.A.S.B's employed
will be forwarded as soon as received.
I took over command of N.T.B. Base Dover on 27th
May, having under my command M.T.B.'s 67, 68, 102, 107 and
M.A.S.B.'s 6, 7, 10. During the operation I was at Dunkirk
each day and night with the various boats of the flotilla.
Having served in C.M.B.'s at Dunkirk and Dover in
1917 I was in a position to compare the notes of these boats,
and I would submit the following:-
1. M.T.B's are an invaluable craft for such operations.
2. Aircraft are quite unable to destroy them. Innumerable
dive bombing and machine gunning attacks were made and no boats
were lost.
3. Spare crews are essential during a prolonged operation
as the strain of running these high-powered boats, even in
peace time, is very severe on the crews, especially engine
room staff.
4. Auxiliary engines are a great advantage. I entered
Dunkirk in M.T.B. 102 on the night of the 30th May on auxiliary
engines and we were unobserved by either British or enemy
craft or batteries. Boats fitted with auxiliary engines are
also very manosuvreable in a harbour such as Dunkirk.
5. A really efficient V/S rating is essential.
I cannot say enough of the Officers and crews of
all the M.T.B's and M.A.S.B's and it was an honour to command
them. I consider that the young Officers who commanded these
boats acted with great skill and courage and handled their
boats in a cool and unhurried manner under heavy artillery