SOLFERINO


By Aris Bilalis and Nikolas Sidiropoulos

 

In the late 19th century, Robert Whitehead invented the torpedo, the weapon that would forever change the way navies waged wars. With the advent of the submarine, it was to have a dramatic impact during both world wars. Indeed, the lethal combination almost turned the tides of war in favor of the Axis powers as it threatened the UK’s Atlantic supply lines and threatened submission through the starvation of raw materials and vital supplies. Before its invention, the only viable way of sinking a large ship in battle was with an even larger ship with bigger guns and heavier armour. Any navy which was capable of building such vessels automatically had the upper hand, which explains why the British Empire indusputably ruled the waves for so many years.

Η ατμοκίνητη τορπίλη κατασκευής Robert Whitehead Πηγή: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitehead_torpedo#/media/File:Torpille_Whitehead.jpg

The torpedo meant that small vessels could now launch an attack on shipping targets many times their size. The days when warships ran their enemy down in a firestorm of gunfire and a blaze of heroic glory were no more. Early torpedoes allowed a furtive attack from a distance of 400 metres, followed by escape without necessarily being noticed, especially if undertaken under the cover of darkness. Moreover, as torpedos hit a target below the waterline where a surface vessel was most vulnerable to damage, they could be devastatingly effective. A single strike by a torpedo was sometimes enough to sink a capital ship, which was a feat impossible with surface guns. A typical example is the torpedoing of the Ottoman ironclad warship Fethi-Bulend in the port of Thessaloniki by Lieutenant Votsis of the Royal Hellenic Navy on the 31st October 1912 during the First Balkan War.

Model of the first torpedo boat, the HMS LIGHTNING. The original ‘drop collar’ external launching system (not seen here) was replaced by a single torpedo tube at the bow. Only two torpedoes were carried onboard.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Lightning_(1876)

Initially, the new weapon was deployed on especially constructed small, fast boats which were cheap and relatively easy to built. They had steam-powered mechanisms necessary for launching torpedoes. The first attacks were against moored ships but as the range and design of the torpedo improved, attacks on the high seas became possible. Picket boats around a potential target, as well as the use of small, fast boats patrolling harbour installations became the de facto countermeasure. However, to stave off attacks at sea, the development of faster, larger vessels which had both the speed and the armament to cope with an escort role became necessary. This new type of vessel became known as a cacciatorpediniera (torpedo boat hunter) by the Italians, a torpedo boat destroyer by the British (later shortened to TBD or simply destroyer), and an αντιτορπιλικό (anti-torpedo boat) by the Greeks.

Regia Marina’s SAN MARTINO of the PALESTRO class

Source: Mussolini’s navy, a reference guide to the Regia Marina

In May 1912, the first large Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) destroyer, the INDOMITO of the class baring the same name, was launched. The 672 Ton destroyer was the first Italian warship equipped with steam turbines, thenceforth the propulsion system used on all Italian destroyers. Indeed, both ensuing designs, that is the Audace class and the larger, more improved Palestro class, would be based on the Indomito class. Eight Palestro class destroyers were ordered in December 1915. These were laid down two years later. However, only four would eventually be built due to chronic war shortages, particularly a dearth of steel. The first was completed in 1921 and the last as late as 1923.

cacciatorpediniera solferino

The flag-raising ceremony on the Italian destroyer SOLFERINO took place on December 3, 1921 in Monaco. It was attended by a large number of the local Italian community. The ship was given the motto “Osare”, meaning “Dare”.

Source: αρχείο ΟΕΑ

Among there number was the SOLFERINO. Construction of the 1,047 ton (GRT) vessel at the Orlando Brothers shipyard in Livorno began in April 1917. It was launched on the 28th of April, 1920 and completed in October 1921. The ship was equipped with four Thornycroft boilers and two Zoelly steam turbines producing 22.000 HP. The turbines were moving two propellers giving the vessel a maximum speed of 32 Knots.

The stern of the SOLFERINO. The armament of the two 102 mm guns as well as one torpedo tube can be distinguished.

Source: http://associazione-venus.it/galleriafotografica/index.php/ISTITUZIONI-ED-ENTI/MUSEO-TECNICO-NAVALE/COLLEZIONE-ACCORSI/REGIA-MARINA/Cacciatorpediniere/CLASSE-PALESTRO/SOLFERINO/R-128D-Regio-cacciatorpediniere-SOLFERINO-in-Arsenale-Venezia-20_10_1945-ottobre-1941

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, it plied the waters of the Mediterranean performing its military duties. In the late 1930s, it would be reclassified as a torpedo class boat, due to its light armament in relation to more modern destroyers of the time. Thus began its decline into increasing obsolescence in relation to other vessels in Benito Mussolini’s rapidly growing Italian fleet. However, with the outbreak of World War II, a new impetus was found and it would undertake ship escort and convoy protection missions.

cacciatorpediniera solferino

The SOLFERINO pictured after the extension of the forward of the funnel to avoid visibility problems during gun firing due to billowing smoke.

Source: αρχείο ΟΕΑ

On the 8th of September 1943, Italy capitulated to the Allies. At that time, the SOLFERINO was in the port of Souda, Crete with its sister ship, the CASTELFIDARDO and the motor torpedo boat MS-43. To forestall any chance of the Italian commander sabotaging and/or scuttling the ships, the German administration immediately took control of all vessels. The SOLFERINO was transferred to Piraeus, where it was temporarily given the name AGAMEMNON and on the 20th of September became part of the newly formed Kriegsmarine 9th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (9th Torpedobootsflottille), which included all other Italian torpedo boats so captured in Greece at that time. It was initially designated the name TA-17, but soon became TA-18 (TA being an acronym for Torpedoboot Ausland, meaning that it was a foreign torpedo boat incorportated into the German navy). It was transferred to Piraeus, where it was partially cannibalized for parts and remained disused until July 1944. With Allied attacks seriously depleting the number of available ships, the SOLFERINO was hastily returned to service on the 25th of July under the command of Lieutenant Günther-Werner Schmidt. The ship is now equipped with three silngle 102 mm guns, a 37 mm antiaircraft gun, a quad-mounted 20 mm gun and eight sinlge 20 mm guns. It retained the triple 450 mm torpedo launchers and depth charges. On the 31st of August it hastily returned to service to take part in convoy escort missions.

In German service, the SOLFERINO was renamed the TA 18, an acronym standing for Torpedoboot Ausland (a foreign torpedo boat).

Source:Zvonimir Freivogel, “Beute-Zerstoerer und -Torpedoboote der Kriegsmarine”, Marine-Arsenal Band 46, Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 2000

Following the loss of TA-19 (formerly Italian CALATAFIMI) in August 1944, the Germans were forced to redeploy three former Italian torpedo boats from the Adriatic to the Aegean. The TA-37 (formerly GLADIO), TA-38 (formerly SPADA) and TA -39 (formerly DAGA) were all hastily sent to reinforce the Kriegsmarine 9th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, which had been left with only one serviceable vessel, the TA-18. On September 30th, the TA-18 sailed from Piraeus to accompany the steamships ZAR FERDINAND (formerly FRANCESCO MOROSINI) and BERTIA (formerly TRENT, BACCHUS) to Thessaloniki. On the 2nd of October, the convoy was 10 nm north of Skiathos when the ZAR FERDINAND was hit by two torpedoes fired by the French submarine FNFL CURIE. The steamer sank ten minutes later. The TA-18 counterattacked with depth charges, but without result. It then returned to rescue some 270 ZAR FERDINAND survivors from the water before continuing the voyage to the north. At 01.18 hrs, it was the British submarine HMS UNSWERVING’s (P63) turn to attack the convoy. It sank the BERTΗA in short order and the TA-18 found itself rescuing survivors yet again. Most were saved and safely transported to Thessaloniki. On the night of October 3rd, the TA-18 accompanied the river boat ENGERAU from Thessaloniki to Trikeri. On its return, it escaped a torpedo attack.

The last naval battle in the Aegean.

On the 6th of October, the HMS TUSCAN was placed under the command of fellow T-class British destroyer HMS TERMAGANT and both vessels were ordered to carry out operations against the enemy in the Aegean Sea north of the Sporades islands. From August 1943, the TERMAGANT had been commanded by Captain Scatchard, [1] a distinguished officer of the British Royal navy, respectfully known to his crews as “Black Jack”. Scatchard was a veteran of the Norwegian campaign and the Battle of Crete. During the latter, the ship he was serving on as a First Lieutenant, the destroyer HMS KASHMIR, was sunk by Luftwaffe “Stuka” dive bombers of the STG-2 (Sturzkampfgeschwader-2) south of Crete on the 23rd of May 23, 1941.

HMS TERMAGANT

The HMS TERMAGANT. Notice the mast with a perspex radome housing the Type 272 radar antenna. Above is the X-shaped antenna for the Type 291 radar.

Source:https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205120762

Both destroyers [a] sailed into the area shortly after midnight on the 7th and began sweeping the region between Trikeri Channel (and the entrance to the Pagasitikos Gulf, leading to Volos) and south of Cape Kassandra (and the entrance of the Thermaikos Gulf, leading to Thessaloniki). They almost immediately spotted two enemy vessels, [3] sinking both with main ordnance fire before the enemy could engage. At 01.30 hrs a new target was identified which turned out to be torpedo boat TA-37 (ex GLADIO). The destroyers opened fire. The TA-37 managed a few erratic shots while gaining speed in its attempt to flee. However, the destroyers hunted it down, thereby hitting the TA-37, which erupted into flames. It sunk about 8 nautical miles south west of The Temple of Poseidon, Cape Kassandra in the early hours of the morning (approximately 02:00 hrs). Within minutes, a new destroyer-like target was identified.[4]Both destroyers opened fire, but the enemy vessel created a smoke screen and headed for the coast in a bid to escape. Guided by radar, the destroyers continued firing until until their target was deemed to have run aground. To mitigate the risk of coastal artillary attack or inadvertedly running into a minefield, the destroyers then disengaged. At dawn, they left the area and headed south east for the island of Psara, where they were to join British Force “A”. The German Naval Command of the Aegean was duly alarmed by the presence of enemy warships in the northern Aegean and realized that the convoys sailing from the islands of Leros and Lemnos to Thessaloniki were now in grave danger. Despite the general evacuation of Wehrmacht forces from Greece being well underway at the time (it was ordered by Hitler on the 23rd of August 1944), all ships harbouring in the Port of Volos were ordered to remain until the situation was clarified. Moreover, any antisubmarine vessels on patrol were to seek landcover at night.

During the afternoon of October 9th 1944, the TA-18 was steaming along at a speed of 14 knots from Thessaloniki to Chalkida when mechanical problems resulted in intense smoke and sparks. Two hours later, starshells and cannon flashes were seen as a British force lay barrage to the Kassandra area. Unable to go unnoticed due to the billowing smoke and sparks, the TA-18 reversed its course, managing to return to Thessaloniki at two in the morning. After repairs, the TA-18 set sail again on October the 12th to accompany the minesweeper ZEUS on a minelaying mission off Cape Kassandra. However, the TA-18 suffered a steering issue, forcing the crew to make use of the manual rudder to keep the vessel on course, albeit with great difficulty. They returned to Thessaloniki at 04.00 hrs the next day and repairs followed.

After the sinking of the TA-37 off the Thermaikos Gulf, the Kriegsmarine 9th Torpedo Boat Flotilla had all but disintegrated. Just three days later TA-38 (ex SPADA) was grounded and suffered damage. After recovery efforts, it was towed by TA-39 (ex DAGA) to the Port of Volos where it remained crippled until sunk on the 13th of October 1944 by Ventura bombers from the 25th Squadron of the S.A.A.F. (South African Air Force). A day earlier, TA-17 (ex San Martino), previously damaged by a mine and later crippled by an air attack, was never properly repaired and eventually had to be scuttled in Pireaus. TA-39 managed to reach Thessaloniki but was sunk during a mission to transport wounded as a result of a (most probably German) mine on the 16th of October near cape Dermata. With these losses, the 9th Flotilla had almost been decimated out of existence. The only vessel left was TA-18.

At 16.00 hrs on the 19th of October, TA-18 headed from Thessaloniki for the small island of Argyronisos north of Euboea and close to the entrance of Trikeri Channel. The Kriegsmarine minesweepers GA-73 and GA-76 (ex Regia Marina R-17 and R-159) had been sunk there by British aircraft the previous day. Somewhere between 80 and 100 shipwreck survivors had been marooned on the island and were waiting for help. . It was the 15th operational mission for the torpedoboot under the German command. On the afternoon of the 19th, Captain Jack Scatchard, RN received an order to lead the TERMAGANT (R89) and TUSCAN (R56, postwar F156) on an offensive patrol north of Skiathos, thus setting the stage for a potential clash.

Lieutenant Schmidt, Commander of TA-18, hugged the coast while moving under the cover of darkness. His hope was to reach Argyronisos around midnight, collect the survivors as quickly as possible, and return by dawn to the relative saftey of defensive mines in the Thermaikos Gulf, some of which had been laid by TA-18 and the minesweeper ZEUS as recently as the 12th of October. Upon their return to Thessaloniki, TA-18’s three officers and 129 non-commissioned officers and ratings would disembark and join the evacuation to central Europe by land. The torpedo boat itself would share the same fate as many other Kriegsmarine vessels left behind during the hasty rout; it would be scuttled, most probably as a block ship, as was the case with ZEUS. The TA-18 continued its course close to the Thessalian coast of Pelio at a speed of 15 knots. Speed was resticted due to the deteriorating mechanical condition of the vessel caused by use and worstened by war shortages. Under a newly waning moon obscued by heavy clouds, the night was dark and advantageous. The wind was down and the sea was calm.

HMS TERMAGANT

The battle map of engagement detailing the attack on the TA-18, as found in the Admiralty records filed by Lt. Cmdr. Jack Percival Scatchard, RN of the HMS TERMAGANT.

Source:ADM 199

At 20.25 hrs, the HMS TUSCAN detected a potential target by radar. It was moving parallel to the coast of Pelio on a southern heading. After the HMS TERMAGANT had verified the contact just a few moments later, both destroyers turned about and developed speed, thereby starting the process of approaching the target from a position which would delay the likelihood of detection for as long as possible. About twenty minutes later, with the range reduced to around 5,000 meters and the destroyers approaching the target’s port quarter, they fired a salvo of three starshells. In the bright glare, their target was revealed as German warship, probably a destroyer.

HMS TUSCAN

The HMS TUSCAN was the first ship to test the new Type 276 radar in November 1943. The Type 276 radar detected the TA 18, the “cheese” type parabolic mirror antenna can be seen in the middle of the mast.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Tuscan_(R56)#/media/File:HMS_Tuscan_SLV_AllanGreen.jpg

TA-18 was about 10 nautical miles north of the Skiathos Strait when it was illuminated by the starshells. Within seconds, the 4.7-inch guns on both HMS TERMAGANT and TUSCAN opened fire. The torpedo boat was repeatedly pounded by shells made accurate by radar. One soon hit the radio room, making it impossible to send for help. The close range and inability to develop higher speeds made the torpedo boat an easy target for the experienced British gunnery crews. Desperate, Lt. Schmidt ordered a 180-degree turn, but the fire continued unabated. Boiler Room No. 3 was hit, killing all hands inside. From the bridge of the TERMAGANT, Captain Scatchard made out the silhouette of the enemy warship “with two funnels, the after one being shorter than the forward.” A Greek, Ensign Spyridon Kapsalis was at his post in the aft gun turret. He narrated the events:[5] “During a night patrol we located a German destroyer north of Skiathos and destroyed it. We fired so many shells at it that we had to stop twice to empty the turret floors of all the empty shell casings.” It was obvious to Schmidt that his vessel could not escape the superior enemy forces bearing down on them. His crew returned fire but were so disadvantaged in the exchange that the shots were totally ineffective. Somehow, they did manage to launch a torpedo. However, it turned out to be defective and ended up moving around in circles. It was never seen by, or pose a threat to the British. Schmidt manoeuvred the TA-18 in an attempt to avoid the onslaught, but the Britsh rain of fire proved to be relentless. By 20.50 hrs, Schmidt had run out of options, so he turned ashore. He knew that their only realistic chance of survival was to run their vessel aground. At least this would allow the remainder of the crew to escape and if the British ships did not remain, they might be able to rescue the vessel later. In the dark and under the pressure of enemy fire, and while constantly receiving damage reports, he could not afford to locate a suitable cove such as Fakistra beach or the relatively gentle foreshores found north of Damouchari. Whether it was because of mishandling underpressure, or damage incapacitating the vessel, Schmidt was suddenly confronted with the steep cliffs of Paliokastro towering above the bow of TA-18. There was no time to change course and at 22.54 hrs, TA-18 ran aground on the rocks in the shallows. It was left perpendicular to the cliff face, with its bow protuding into a small cave. Meanwhile, on the British destroyers, their quarry’s radar return was now totally indistinguishable from that of the land.

TA-18’s remaining crew immediately jumped ashore to seek cover. With the radar image gone, starshells were sent aloft and the stranded torpedo boat soon spotted. For half an hour, shells continued to rain down to ensure the vessel’s destruction. Then, as abruptly as it had started, the attack ceased and the British turned about to resume their patrol. However, the crew was far from safe. They had run around just a short distance away from Agios Ioannis (St. John’s) where the 4th Unit [6] of the Hellenic Liberation Navy (ELAN) was based. These resistance fighters were lead by commander Solon Katafygiotis HN.[7]His group had enjoyed considerable success during the war thus far. They had facilitated transportation to and from the coasts of Asia Minor, landed restistance fighters on the Sproades Islands and the surrounding areas, as well as engaging enemy ships. Given the spectical that it must have been, they had become aware of the naval battle from the outset. So, when they saw the torpedo boat heading towards the coast of Pelion, they immediately mobilized their forces in the area. The stranded vessel continued to burn in the night, its demise punctuated by occasional explosions. Solon Katafygiotis reports[8] that the boat had run aground “below Tsagarada”[9]and that it was very quickly approached by two boats and a group from the mainland. He describes the event; “They called on the Germans to surrender over a megaphone. The Germans did not give themsleves up[10] and a fierce fight began in the early hours of the morning. After several hours, they began to surrender little by little between intervals. As time went on, their resistance weakened. Finally, at dusk, the last German group surrendered.”

TA 18 Solferino fakistra

Photo from the book by Nitsa Koliou “Unknown Aspects of Occupation and Resistance 1941-44” showing the torpedo boat’s unmistakable funnels as well as the location of the shipwreck with its bow firmly wedged in the cave at Paliokastro on the Pelion peninsular, Greece.

According to the ELAN resistence fighter Stathis Alexiou, it was morning when Katafygiotis ordered the formation of two groups led by Alexiou to move on Fakistra by land. Alexios’ version is also confirmed by German sources which state that the Greeks appeared when dawn broke and began to shoot the shipwrecked survivors. Any escape attempt by lifeboat was curbed as they would be exposed to fire. ELAN resistence fighter Nikos Markou narrated[11] a different version of events; “The destruction of the enemy warship in Karavostasia, which was wedged with its bow on the rocks on the coast […]. […] the Germans, after rendering their boat useless, took their rubber dinghy and made for open the sea in the hope of being saved by their own boats. But they were surrounded by three of our boats, neutralized and taken prisoner.” Alexiou states that the German captain wanted to run his torpedo boat aground on the sandy beach of Fakistra, but “he did not succeed and beached it a short distance further down the coast, on the rocks of Paliokastro, where it got stuck and was, for the most part, destroyed.” He states; “We went to Fakistra and saw the Germans on the hill. They had lit fires and were sitting. We started rounding them up and killed three or four. They resisted. Then we went around, asking them to surrender. We wore English uniforms and I spoke English. […] I lied to them that we are a whole company and they had no choice but to surrender. The German commander believed me and surrendered along with all the men and their weapons. In the meantime, two Germans who had remained on the torpedo boat did not intend to surrender. Repeadted efforts were made and in the end their commander had to come to convince them that their defense was in vain.” In the morning, the British destroyers returned to the area and saw flames and smoke rising from the wreck. They also noticed smoke inland and realised that Greek resistance fighters had taken action. Captain Scatchard then[12] then ordered both warships to leave the area and head elsewhere. Katafygiotis adds that the Germans who remained in the half-sunken TA-18 started firing with a large caliber anti-aircraft gun when two caiques returned with two British officers on board. He also states that he sent Lieutenant Schmidt by boat to convince the non-commissioned officer who was in charge of those still on board to cease fire and surrender. He says: “He [the non-commissioned officer] threatened to shoot him and the Captain left. Time passed and the men in the torpedo boat began to abandon it. As they came ashore, we arrested them. Eventually, the non-commissioned officer surrendered. It was already late in the afternoon.”

In all, about 110 Germans surrendered, ten of whom were injured and transported by animals to Tsagarada for medical attention. Katafygiotis goes to considerable lengths to describe the hospitable treatment the captives recieved during the few days they remained in Ag. Ioannis. They were then taken to the 54th ELAS Regiment near Flamouri Pelion and eventually transferred to a camp in Larissa where conditions were harsh and some were even executed. According to German reports, Lieutenant Schmidt and the ship’s engineer were killed when they were forced to clear mines. Some escaped and eventually the remaining survivors were handed over to the British when Larissa was liberated by Allied forces. They were then transported to Egypt. The exact number of TA-18 personnel who managed to survive the naval battle, the shipwreck, the ensuing struggle against capture, maltreatment, transportation and incarceration remains unknown to this day.

After the abandonment of the partially submerged TA-18, the process of stripping it of anything that might seem useful began. Achilleas Kavouras was in charge of the ELAN detail given the task.[13] He stated that they took all armaments of the grounded vessel. Dimitris Karastergiou, who was a member of the ELAN detail, also took part “in the looting of the torpedo boat that was grounded in Fakistra […]. After we […] removed the Germans, we dismantled and took the heavy armament from the boat.” Karastergiou thought that the Germans who had remained were hoping for a seaplane to save them. Nikos Markou also mentions “Two or three Germans had stayed on the ship and did not surrender.They attacked our men who had gathered on the shore. The next day they were forced to surrender. ELAN scavenged the quick firing gun from the torpedo boat. It was dismantled and set up in Ag. Ioannis.”

Depsite the expectations of the German Naval administration in Thessaloniki, the TA-18 failed to return on the 20th of October. Nor was any message or radio signal received about the fate of the boat. Continuing appeals from the marooned on Argyronisos indicated that the torpedo boat must have been lost during its voyage to them [14].[14]Air reconnaissance on the 22nd did not reveal any trace of the boat and the German Aegean Commander recorded that it had probably sunk due to a mine impact.

The TA-18 wreck is remembered by the local community as “the German battle ship” and to this day, locals recount how their relatives or neigbours, many of whom are now deceased, pulled dozens of shells from the wreck as a source of explosives. Some empty shell casings decorate houses in the area. However, the wreck does not appear in the shipwreck records compiled by the Greek Shipwreck Lifting Organization (OAN) during the first post-war years. Similarly, other shipwrecks found on the Aegean side of the Pelion peninsular fail to appear in their records. Notable examples include, the TETI (ex RIPA, ex AULDMUIR), BYRON (ex JEANNE D’ARC, ex PIONEER) and P.L.M. 24. This is most probably due to the fact that the information about their location and condition did not reach the OAN, which was otherwise engaged in the disposal of hundereds of more obvious wrecks littering Greek coasts. In any case, the wreck’s location virtually guarenteed its destruction because of exposure to the elements.

Solferino TA18

A map of the shipwreck region with place names. The shipwreck itself is scattered along a field marked by the red line.

The field research undertaken by the U.S.T. (Underwater Survey Team) during 2019 – 2020 assumes that as the bow of the torpedo boat was firmly wedged inside the cave, its stern, although partially submerged, remained unsupported and pendulous. The rocky seabed slopes away from the shore to a depth of about seven metres depth, where (as can be seen in the aerial photograph) there is a sudden drop to a sandy bottom at about forteen metres. About forty metres of the vessle’s aft would have floated above this topography, allowing each changing tide to exert forces on the hull which could easily affect the position of the vessel. The fact that the entire wreck was made lighter after cannibalization by the resistance fighters, gives credence to the assumption that it eventually detached from the shore and floated away, stern first. Indeed, the cave is completely devoid of wreckage. The remains found today on the sandy bottom along an imaginary line which stretches north to south for a distance of about 150 meters indicate that the partially submerge wreck drifted by wave and current to finally settle not too far away in a position parallel to the coast.

Video showing the cave in which the bow of the TA 18 was wedged, as well as the steep cliffs of the Paleokastro area.

This probably occured during the first winter when the effect of wind and waves are greater. and six and a half metres at the stern, was lashed by the elements and tides over the years, causing it to disintegrate. and six and a half metres at the stern, was lashed by the elements and tides over the years, causing it to disintegrate. a phenomenon which is characteristic of shipwrecks on the Aegean side of the Pelion area due to the prevailing conditions Only a few pipes that protrude through the sand and small pieces of corroded metal remain.

 

The authors would like to thank Ross J. Robertson for the translation and editing for the English version and Byron Tezapsidis and Platon Alexiadis for their valuable contributions.

 

Notes

[1] Jack Percival Scatchard CB, DSC, 2 Bars, RN (1910-2001) joined the navy as a probationer at the age of 13, was honored three times with the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his work and finally retired in 1964 as a Vice Admiral. He earned the nickname “Black Jack” because of the strict control he maintained over the ships he commanded. He earned the nickname “Black Jack” because of the strict control he maintained over the ships he commanded.

[2] HMS TERMAGANT and HMS TUSCAN where T class destroyers built in 1943 in Britain They where equipped with four 4.7 inch main guns, two 40mm Bofors, eight 20mm antiaircraft guns and two quadruple 21 inch torpedo launchers. Their maximum speed was 36.75 Knots

[3] This was the German patrol vessel GK-62, a former Greek fishing vessel

[4] In part of the international bibliography it is reported that the ship was the antisubmarine ship UJ 2102, which sank that night by the two destroyers near Cape Kassandra. UJ 2102 was was sank by allied bombers in the port of Volos on the 10/13/1944

[5] Quoted by Anastasios Dimitrakopoulos in the book “World War II – Navy Warriors Remember…”

[6] The 4th Unit ELAN, Thessaly joined the 1st Division of ELAS. The 4th Unit ELAN, Thessaly commanded by S. Katafygiotis was established in November 1943.

[7] Solon Katafygiotis graduated from SND in 1940 and joined ELAS in 1942.

[8] Found in an article in Nitsa Koliou’s book “Unknown Aspects of Occupation and Resistance 1941-1944” published in 1985.

[9] In interviews given in 2008 to A. Dimitrakopoulos, the 88-year-old Katafygiotis presents the facts differently, stating that “the German ship hit hard in the area of the engine room […] grounded about 1,500 meters south of Ag. Ioannis, in Damouchari, where a river known as Papa Nero follows into the sea.” However, the shoreline of Damouchari does not merge with Ag. Ioannis. “You had to go up and then go down to the beach again.” It is thought that Katafygiotis confused Damouchari with Fakistra. There is a mountain range between it and Ag. Yiannis. Papa Nero is actually located at Ag. Ioannis.

[10] In interviews in 2008, Katafygiotis stated that he was aboard one of the two boats and that only the captain and the third engineer gave themselves up after they had called for their surrender. He said that the others boarded the torpedo boat again. However, it is thought that the majority of the crew surrendered along with their commander.

[11] Ibid Nitsa Koliou.

[12] For the sinking of the two German torpedo boats, Captain Scatchard, RN was awarded the Distinction Service Cross for the third time to mark his exemplary bravery against the enemy in seperate naval operations.

[13] Ibid Nitsa Koliou.

[14] In response to the calls, the German administration decided to send small barges to rescue the marooned men on the 22nd of October, but the operation was canceled when they encountered mechanical problems. That they be picked up by the hospital ship TUEBINGEN (ex DETAILS), which was due to sail from Thessaloniki 24th, was considered but never implemented. The Admiral of the Aegean finally sent an open signal to the British asking them to intervene and effect a rescue, a request which the British accepted. However, before this could be undertaken, ELAN forces landed on Argyronisos and captured them.

 

References:

  • Anastasios Dimitrakopoulos in the book “World War II – Navy Warriors Remember…” Naval Greek museum, Pireaus, 2011.
  • Nitsa Koliou, “Unknown Aspects of Occupation and Resistance 1941-1944” 1985, vol 2.
  • Tezapsidis Byron, Die Kriegsmarine in der Agais im II.WK 1941-1944: Schiffe, Einheiten, Fp.Nr., Offiziere, Gefechte, Thessaloniki, 2008.
  • Παπαδόπουλος Δημήτρης, ΕΛΑΝ 1943-1945, Πολεμικές Σελίδες, Αύγουστος-Σεπτέμβριος 2007.
  • Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships, 1906-1921
  • Mussolini’s Navy. A reference guide to the regia marina 1930-1945.
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Author: Nikolaos Sidiropoulos

Βιογραφικό Ο Νικόλας Σιδηρόπουλος γεννήθηκε στην Θεσσαλονίκη το 1977. To 2002 ξεκινάει την ενασχόλησή του με τις καταδύσεις και παίρνει το 1ο αστέρι από τον καταδυτικό οργανισμό CMAS. Θα ακολουθήσουν το 2ο αστέρι καθώς και η ενασχόληση με τις τεχνικές καταδύσεις που θα τον οδηγήσουν στην απόκτηση του TECREC 50. Το 2013 με τέσσερις συνδύτες του ιδρύουν την Ομάδα Εναλίων Αποτυπώσεων οπότε και ξεκινάει την ενασχόληση του με την αρχειακή - ιστορική έρευνα για την ταυτοποίηση και την ανάδειξη της ιστορίας των προς μελέτης πλοίων. Με τις πληροφορίες που αποκτάει από την έρευνα, συγγράφει άρθρα καθώς και αναφορές πεδίου, σχετικά με την υπηρεσία του πλοίου, τα ναυπηγικά χαρακτηριστικά του, τις συνθήκες βύθισης του και τον αντίκτυπο που έχει στην εκάστοτε περίπτωση στις ζωές των ανθρώπων και των τοπικών κοινωνιών. Έχει δώσει διαλέξεις σχετικά με την ιστορία των μελετημένων ναυαγίων σε συνέδρια που έχουν διοργανωθεί από την Ομάδα Εναλίων Αποτυπώσεων σε ποικιλία ακροατηρίων, από καθαρά ακαδημαϊκά συνέδρια μέχρι ναυτικά μουσεία με κοινό χωρίς επιστημονικό υπόβαθρο. Τα άρθρα αυτά δημοσιεύονται στην ιστοσελίδα της ομάδας. Παράλληλα από το 2013 είναι υποβρύχιος και επίγειος εικονολήπτης της ομάδας, για την δημιουργία ντοκιμαντέρ μικρού μήκους σε σχέση με τα πλοία που μελετάει η ομάδα, με στόχο την διάδοση του έργου της μέσω των οπτικοακουστικων μέσων. Τα Έχει συμμετάσχει σε ερευνητικά προγράμματα για την δημιουργία τρισδιάστατων μοντέλων ναυαγίων μέσω της μεθόδου της φωτογραμμετρικής αποτύπωσης.