The second instalment of a report on Royal Indian Navy Coastal Forces by Lieut. Comdr.T.H.L.MacDonald DSC.,JP., abridged by Lieut.Comdr (S) P.J.Edwardes, MBE., who kindly gave permission for the publication of this report.
At the end of l943 the 121st Flotilla arrived at Chittagong and, on 7th January l944, HDML's ll20 (Lieut E.W.Oakley, RINVR) and lll5 (Lieut.A.R.S. Pritchard- Davies, RINVR) sailed on Operations "Blast" "Brisk" and "Bandoola". These entailed entering the lrrawadi, a voyage of over 1000 miles in enemy waters. They were unable to communicate with the Base, so ML 477 (Lieut. A.l~l.Russell, RTNVR), anchored off Calventures lsland to act as a W/T Link.
Shoals made it impossible to enter the lrrawadi, but there were other successes before the Flotilla was attacked by enemy bombers off Bassein Point. The Japanese dropped about six bombs but disengaged following accurate 3-pdr. fire from the Coastal Forces Vessels. Two days afterwards ML's 475, 438, 440 and 441 carried out the successful Operations "Birdline" and "Bate".
At this time Captain J.Ryland, ClE.,RlN., (Captain Coastal Forces) and his staff arrived in Chittagong, Lieut. P.Munro, RINVR., was preparing the Advance Base on the Naaf River.
ln January 1944, Arakan Coastal Forces were strengthened by the arrival of two RN and one South African Navy Flotilla. The enemy were now very aggressive ashore and heavy air attacks were being aimed at Chittagong.
ML's 477, 441, 474 and 476 carried out operation "Harrass". Which was a bombardment of Ramree Island on 25th January and again on 2nd February 1944. Whilst they were doing this, Lieut Gratten, RN., was taken to St. Martin‘s island to survey the approach to the Naaf River.
The 56th Flotilla, led by Lieut. A..J.Howard, RlNVR.. carried out their first operation at the beginning of February 1944, when ML's 412, 419, 416
and 413 bombarded Minbyin. During the bombardment ML 419 lost contact and was attacked by eight aircraft. One bomb struck the armour plating on the bridge, went through the deck and ship’s side to explode in the sea.
A few days later, enemy aircraft attacked ML 416, which was on a Secret Mission south west of Coxs' Bazaar, The gunners opened accurate fire, which caused one of the planes to disappear in a steep dive. In order to obtain information and to harass the enemy, an Amphibious Force (290th Special Purpose Company) was formed under the command of Major Firbank. This force was escorted on operations by ML's who got a great deal of amusement from orders they heard given to the wheel and the navigational methods of the Military Commanding Officers of their five old steamers.
On 12th February 1944. ML 413 was to have convoyed two of the 290th Special Purpose Company ships with the X1th West African Recee Regiment and V-force Scouts on an operation. One of the Special Purpose Company ships did not arrive, so the raiders were embarked in ML 413. They proceeded to a point south of Sitaparokia, which was known to be strongly held by the Japanese. The Raiding Party was landed just before midnight and re-embarked just after 2.00 a.m. having been in action and obtained much useful information.
ML's 439. 438, 476 and 440 then carried out operations "Bowsprit" and "Pickup". At the same time ML 413 took the 290th Special Purpose Company and landed them in a dinghy two miles south of Donbaik. The operation was successful and they returned to Teknaaf on 15th February.
Shortly after this, the Japanese started a major offensive by land, sea and air in an attempt to capture the whole of the Mayu Peninsula. It was estimated that the enemy air offensive numbered 200 plus at this time and Tek Naaf Base was frequently machine gunned.
At the end of February 1944, Captain Ryland, CIE., RIN., (Captain Arakan Coastal Forces) and his staff moved to the Advance Base, Tek Naaf, which was being run by Paymaster Lieut. P.], Edwardes, RINVR., and his staff (known as the Tek Naaf Highlanders).
The Army now wished to keep as many of the enemy on the coast as possible, so Lieut. Commander H.M. Darbyshire, RINVR.. (ML 477) sailed with the 55th Flotilla, augmented by two ships each from the 56th and 49th Flotillas and carried out a bombardment of Akyab on the night of 26th February. There was opposition from machine and 75 mm guns, but the Force returned to Tek Naaf at dawn without casualties or damage.
Very efficient communications were maintained in Mobile W/T trucks operated by Lieut. P.C. Pinfield. RINVR., and Lieut. J.Bingham. Burma RNVR. There were frequent alarms of enemy attacks by land and a fair amount of enemy air activity with the Advance Base as target.
During operations carried out by the 55th and 56th Flotillas to intercept enemy sea traffic, some small craft were found to be carrying cargoes of vegetables to the Enemy Garrison on Round Island! When the two Flotillas returned to the Base, they brought back 24 P.O.W's and had sunk six boats.
The Prisoners were interrogated by the Military Intelligence Department and amongst other valuable information obtained were details of routes used by enemy Supply Traffic.
In order to cut these supply routes, three of the 55th and three of the 56th Flotillas sailed on 7th March 1944. They searched Andrews Bay and Sandoway Bay without opposition, but, as information from a captured Burman indicated that an enemy gun was mounted near the jetty, range was closed to 800 yards for a bombardment. Enemy opposition was silenced before the Force withdrew to the Naaf River Base.
On 11th March, 1944, Force A, which consisted of three ships from the 56th Flotilla and Force B (three ships from 55th Flotilla) sailed from the Advance Base and bombarded Sitaparokia Rock. The enemy shore battery opened fire, but, apart from very slight damage to ML 438, this was ineffective and soon silenced. Landing craft have now arrived at Tek Naaf and, whilst the bombardment of Sitaparokia Rock had been in progress, the first Commando attack had taken place 12 miles south of Maungdaw. ML's 416 and 417 giving support off the beach-head.
They were also called at short notice to assist in the evacuation of troops, who had met heavy opposition. A smoke screen laid by ML 476 greatly helped to get all back safely.
ML's 412, 419 and 417 entered Gwa Bay without opposition the following week although enemy flash signals were observed round the Bay.
As no enemy vessels were found there Coconut Point and the village beyond were bombarded. They were heavily engaged by enemy mortars as soon as they opened fire, but the enemy was silenced before they had done any damage, although ML 417 had some very near misses.
On the return, they were attacked by enemy aircraft. ML 412 seemed to be the main target, but no damage was done and all returned safely on 19th March.
Operations of 1943-44 ended with a bombardment down the coast by ML's of 49th, 55th and 56th Flotillas, who proceeded independently and met little opposition. They were then rejoined by ML 477 (Lieut. A..H.Russell, RINVR., and Lieut. I..Baber, RINR.), which had been carrying out very dangerous long range secret operations, in the course of which they had suffered a number of casualties.
HDML's 1118, 1119 and 1121) remained to carry out river patrols, but the rest of the Force withdrew to Indian ports for refits on 23rd March 1944.
For the season’s work they had been awarded two DSO’s., and four DSM's.
Thirteen were also mentioned in dispatches.
At the end of l943 the 121st Flotilla arrived at Chittagong and, on 7th January l944, HDML's ll20 (Lieut E.W.Oakley, RINVR) and lll5 (Lieut.A.R.S. Pritchard- Davies, RINVR) sailed on Operations "Blast" "Brisk" and "Bandoola". These entailed entering the lrrawadi, a voyage of over 1000 miles in enemy waters. They were unable to communicate with the Base, so ML 477 (Lieut. A.l~l.Russell, RTNVR), anchored off Calventures lsland to act as a W/T Link.
Shoals made it impossible to enter the lrrawadi, but there were other successes before the Flotilla was attacked by enemy bombers off Bassein Point. The Japanese dropped about six bombs but disengaged following accurate 3-pdr. fire from the Coastal Forces Vessels. Two days afterwards ML's 475, 438, 440 and 441 carried out the successful Operations "Birdline" and "Bate".
At this time Captain J.Ryland, ClE.,RlN., (Captain Coastal Forces) and his staff arrived in Chittagong, Lieut. P.Munro, RINVR., was preparing the Advance Base on the Naaf River.
ln January 1944, Arakan Coastal Forces were strengthened by the arrival of two RN and one South African Navy Flotilla. The enemy were now very aggressive ashore and heavy air attacks were being aimed at Chittagong.
ML's 477, 441, 474 and 476 carried out operation "Harrass". Which was a bombardment of Ramree Island on 25th January and again on 2nd February 1944. Whilst they were doing this, Lieut Gratten, RN., was taken to St. Martin‘s island to survey the approach to the Naaf River.
The 56th Flotilla, led by Lieut. A..J.Howard, RlNVR.. carried out their first operation at the beginning of February 1944, when ML's 412, 419, 416
and 413 bombarded Minbyin. During the bombardment ML 419 lost contact and was attacked by eight aircraft. One bomb struck the armour plating on the bridge, went through the deck and ship’s side to explode in the sea.
A few days later, enemy aircraft attacked ML 416, which was on a Secret Mission south west of Coxs' Bazaar, The gunners opened accurate fire, which caused one of the planes to disappear in a steep dive. In order to obtain information and to harass the enemy, an Amphibious Force (290th Special Purpose Company) was formed under the command of Major Firbank. This force was escorted on operations by ML's who got a great deal of amusement from orders they heard given to the wheel and the navigational methods of the Military Commanding Officers of their five old steamers.
On 12th February 1944. ML 413 was to have convoyed two of the 290th Special Purpose Company ships with the X1th West African Recee Regiment and V-force Scouts on an operation. One of the Special Purpose Company ships did not arrive, so the raiders were embarked in ML 413. They proceeded to a point south of Sitaparokia, which was known to be strongly held by the Japanese. The Raiding Party was landed just before midnight and re-embarked just after 2.00 a.m. having been in action and obtained much useful information.
ML's 439. 438, 476 and 440 then carried out operations "Bowsprit" and "Pickup". At the same time ML 413 took the 290th Special Purpose Company and landed them in a dinghy two miles south of Donbaik. The operation was successful and they returned to Teknaaf on 15th February.
Shortly after this, the Japanese started a major offensive by land, sea and air in an attempt to capture the whole of the Mayu Peninsula. It was estimated that the enemy air offensive numbered 200 plus at this time and Tek Naaf Base was frequently machine gunned.
At the end of February 1944, Captain Ryland, CIE., RIN., (Captain Arakan Coastal Forces) and his staff moved to the Advance Base, Tek Naaf, which was being run by Paymaster Lieut. P.], Edwardes, RINVR., and his staff (known as the Tek Naaf Highlanders).
The Army now wished to keep as many of the enemy on the coast as possible, so Lieut. Commander H.M. Darbyshire, RINVR.. (ML 477) sailed with the 55th Flotilla, augmented by two ships each from the 56th and 49th Flotillas and carried out a bombardment of Akyab on the night of 26th February. There was opposition from machine and 75 mm guns, but the Force returned to Tek Naaf at dawn without casualties or damage.
Very efficient communications were maintained in Mobile W/T trucks operated by Lieut. P.C. Pinfield. RINVR., and Lieut. J.Bingham. Burma RNVR. There were frequent alarms of enemy attacks by land and a fair amount of enemy air activity with the Advance Base as target.
During operations carried out by the 55th and 56th Flotillas to intercept enemy sea traffic, some small craft were found to be carrying cargoes of vegetables to the Enemy Garrison on Round Island! When the two Flotillas returned to the Base, they brought back 24 P.O.W's and had sunk six boats.
The Prisoners were interrogated by the Military Intelligence Department and amongst other valuable information obtained were details of routes used by enemy Supply Traffic.
In order to cut these supply routes, three of the 55th and three of the 56th Flotillas sailed on 7th March 1944. They searched Andrews Bay and Sandoway Bay without opposition, but, as information from a captured Burman indicated that an enemy gun was mounted near the jetty, range was closed to 800 yards for a bombardment. Enemy opposition was silenced before the Force withdrew to the Naaf River Base.
On 11th March, 1944, Force A, which consisted of three ships from the 56th Flotilla and Force B (three ships from 55th Flotilla) sailed from the Advance Base and bombarded Sitaparokia Rock. The enemy shore battery opened fire, but, apart from very slight damage to ML 438, this was ineffective and soon silenced. Landing craft have now arrived at Tek Naaf and, whilst the bombardment of Sitaparokia Rock had been in progress, the first Commando attack had taken place 12 miles south of Maungdaw. ML's 416 and 417 giving support off the beach-head.
They were also called at short notice to assist in the evacuation of troops, who had met heavy opposition. A smoke screen laid by ML 476 greatly helped to get all back safely.
ML's 412, 419 and 417 entered Gwa Bay without opposition the following week although enemy flash signals were observed round the Bay.
As no enemy vessels were found there Coconut Point and the village beyond were bombarded. They were heavily engaged by enemy mortars as soon as they opened fire, but the enemy was silenced before they had done any damage, although ML 417 had some very near misses.
On the return, they were attacked by enemy aircraft. ML 412 seemed to be the main target, but no damage was done and all returned safely on 19th March.
Operations of 1943-44 ended with a bombardment down the coast by ML's of 49th, 55th and 56th Flotillas, who proceeded independently and met little opposition. They were then rejoined by ML 477 (Lieut. A..H.Russell, RINVR., and Lieut. I..Baber, RINR.), which had been carrying out very dangerous long range secret operations, in the course of which they had suffered a number of casualties.
HDML's 1118, 1119 and 1121) remained to carry out river patrols, but the rest of the Force withdrew to Indian ports for refits on 23rd March 1944.
For the season’s work they had been awarded two DSO’s., and four DSM's.
Thirteen were also mentioned in dispatches.
The first part of the of our boats' operations in Indian waters was issued earlier (see No.5 of the Index)
Part 2, from Issue number 88 December 1996, now follows. This illustrates the valuable work carried out by MLs, mainly of the Royal Indian Navy
Part 2, from Issue number 88 December 1996, now follows. This illustrates the valuable work carried out by MLs, mainly of the Royal Indian Navy
KG
