FROM.
DATE:
-18-
Commanding Officer MTB 07 and 6th Subdivision.
12th January, 1942.
SUBJECT MTB attack on apanese landing craft in Kowloon Bay.
TO.
Commanding Officer 2nd Flotilla MTB.
187
At 0845 on Friday December 19th, 1941, acting on instructions received through you from DO to "Proceed into Harbour and shoot anything inside" I slipped "o.. in" and proceeded with the other MTB in my subdivision (NT3 09) from Aberdeen uo East Lamma Channel through Sulphur Channel into the harbour at 30
knots. With 09 keeping station 1 cable astern I proceeded along the outside of the boat boom and passed the Naval "Dockyard. On
を
nearing North Point I came under heavy machine gun fire and this was my first indication that the Japanese had actually landed, and established themselves on Hongkong Island. I continued towards Kowloon Bay and sighted numbers of landing craft in threes crossing from East of Holt's Wharf and making for the area west of Taikoo sugar refinery. The se landing craft which appeared very frail (probably portable) were in threes towed by the leading boat of each three which had an outboard motor. Each boat contained from 12 to 15 men:
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I immediately signalled to U9 to attack independently and increasing to full speed (37 knots) I went into attack. Aircraft now started diving on me with machine gun and cannon fire.
I opened fire on the landing craft with all five Lewis guns at a range of 100 yards with excellent effect and passed down the leading string at a distance of about 5 yards firing continuously. I dropped two depth charges which failed to explode owing to insufficient depth of water. However, this made no difference as the landing craft capsized in my wash and there appeared to be no survivors.
I now came under machine gun fire from both shores and from wrecks in the harbour · howitzer and light artillery fire from both shores and machine and cannon fire from aircraft. The boat had, boen", hit several times and now a cannon shell exploding in the engine room put my starboaru engine ont of action and killed my Leading Stoker; The Telegraphist was ordered to the engine room to investigate. My speed was reduced to sk knots. However, I turned and attacked a second bunch of landing craft with machine gun fire at point blank range with most satisfactory effect and all remaining landing craft turned back and beat a hasty retreat for Kowloon. Another cannon shell now put my port engine out of action and my telegraphist was killed by machine gun fire. My speed was reduced to 12 knots and I was making water in the engine room so I had no alternative but endeavour to extricate myself and endeavour to reach by Base. headed for the Naval Yard under intense machine gun and howitzer fire end attacks by three aircraft. I directed my machine gun fire against the diving aircraft and tracer was observed to enter the fuselage of two of them, one of which made off towards Kowloon low down and did not return. After passing the Naval Dockyard firing slackened off, 09 re-joined then and I was able to leave Harbour by Sulphur Channel. After rounding Mt. Davis my centre and last cngine gave out and I ordered 09 to take me in tow. The crew were able to plug most of the bullet holes below the water line and by pumping it was possible to keep the boat afloat.
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