12 August 1944 Part 2

12 August 1944 US Navy PT 500 and PT 502 attack off La Corbière

12 August 0300 Two ships sighted

The port lookout sighted two ships five miles due east, about ¾ mile off Point La Corbière, moving around the point and up the coast at 12 knots. Kennedy ordered an intercepting course of 060° and closed to three miles at 1200 rpm. The time is assigned to 12 August because the report describes the night of 11–12 August; it does not separately date the 0300 entry. The time standard is not specified. [A page 2]

After 0300 Approach and identification

The OTC ordered deployment to port and changed course to 035° at 800 rpm, closing to two miles. When the enemy changed course south, he altered course to 140° and proceeded to within one mile. At ¾ mile, enemy starshell illumination allowed the targets to be identified as “M” class minesweepers. Radar also showed three small targets one mile to the north, apparently uninvolved, and a large return 1½ miles to the southeast, assessed as probably another “M” type minesweeper. Exact times for these movements are not recorded. [A page 2]

Torpedo attack Exact time unrecorded

When the target fired its third starshell, Kennedy ordered PT 500 and PT 502 to release their port and starboard torpedoes and retire to port. PT 500 fired at the first ship and PT 502 at the second. The enemy opened fire as the torpedoes were released. PT 502 returned fire; PT 500 was ordered to hold fire and expended only a few rounds. [A page 3]

Withdrawal under fire Exact time unrecorded

Enemy fire was accurate in deflection but tended to be high. The report describes concentrated 20 mm fire and a heavier automatic weapon, probably 40 mm. The boats sustained slight damage; 20 mm shrapnel wounded three men aboard PT 502 and one aboard PT 500. Both boats used smoke and withdrew at maximum available speed. Fouled engines held speed to 1500 rpm until well away from the enemy. Enemy fire continued until the boats were out of range. [A pages 2–3]

Observations during withdrawal

PT 502’s 40 mm crew and torpedoman observed a large amount of smoke in the target area; PT 500’s crew reported similar observations. PT 504 and PT 506, three to four miles from the engagement, reported a burst of flame and smoke at the enemy position followed by a column of grey smoke visible in the light of flares. [A page 3]

Reported outcome

The report recorded light gunfire damage to one minesweeper and a possible torpedo hit on one minesweeper. These observations do not establish a confirmed torpedo hit or sinking. PT 500 and PT 502 suffered slight damage from machine gun and 20 mm fire. The casualty summary lists one minor casualty aboard PT 500 and three aboard PT 502. [A page 2]

Ammunition expended by PT 500: two torpedoes, six rounds of 37 mm and fifty rounds of .50 calibre machine gun ammunition. PT 502: two torpedoes, six rounds of 37 mm and two hundred rounds of .50 calibre machine gun ammunition. [A page 2]

PT 500 and PT 502 action on the night of 11–12 August 1944. The original sketch shows Jersey, La Corbière, the approach and enemy tracks, compass directions and a scale in miles. [A page 4]

These are isolated pages from wider narratives whose dates and authors are not visible. Page 27 retrospectively claims a torpedo hit in the 11 August action; Kennedy’s detailed report calls it only a possible hit. The stronger retrospective claim does not resolve the contemporary uncertainty. [H page 27; A page 2]

US Navy — original rough track sheet for PT 500 and PT 502, night of 11–12 August 1944, source set A page 4. Original image retained at source resolution.

US Navy. Lt D. S. Kennedy, PT 500 and PT 502 action report, source set A, pages 2–4; H page 27. Supplied compilation: Jersey Convoy Action 13 to 14 August 1944.docx. Set letters and page or screenshot numbers refer to that compilation.