Thema: Sinking of DONIZETTI and TA 10 off Rhodes, 23 Sept 1943

[LColombo]

On the night of 23 September 1943 the Italian MV DONIZETTI (under German control and loaded with over 1,500 Italian prisoners from Rhodes) and the German torpedo boat TA 10 (formerly French LA POMONE) that was escorting her from Rhodes to Piraeus, were attacked and sunk off Cape Prassonisi (Rhodes) by the destroyer HMS ECLIPSE. Everyone on board DONIZETTI died. Some time ago I copied the following entry from KTB Admiral Ägäis, from an old thread that I cannot find anymore:

[...] 23.09. 00.28 Uhr Steuerbord achteraus im leichten Dunst der Küste Leuchtgranatenfächer eines Feindzerstörers, der "TA 10" und "Donizetti" in 3545 N, 2754 Ost hell erleuchtete.[...]

Would it be possible to have the full KTB entry about this event?

[t-geronimo]

Yes. 

[t-geronimo]

And the war diary of TA 10.

[LColombo]

Thank you!

[cam]

Hi,

Colleagues,

Is there a report about the Eclipse commander’s fight or some other English document about this fight? It is not clear whether the battle was conducted by Eclipse alone, or Fury was with him.

cam

[LColombo]

I don't have any British reports (which would be interesting to see), but according to "War in the Aegean" by Peter C. Smith, FURY and ECLIPSE were patrolling the northern and southern ends of the Karpathos Strait, respectively; only ECLIPSE carried out the attack on DONIZETTI and TA 10. "Struggle for the Middle Sea" by Vincent O'Hara says that FURY and FAULKNOR were patrolling the Kasos strait, ECLIPSE the Karpathos strait, and only the latter found and engaged DONIZETTI and TA 10.

[cam]

English researchers have a lot of incomprehensible. Here is what is written about HMS Faulknor

20th        Deployed with HMS FURY, HMS ECLIPSE and QUEEN OLGA to take troops and Bofors guns to Leros from Haifa.
22nd       Carried out interception patrols off Scarpanto Straits with HMS ECLIPSE.                             In action with HMS ECLIPSE against mercantile with destroyer escort during which the mercantile was sink and a destroyer set on fire.
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-22F-HMS_Faulknor.htm
Of all the information from them, it is only clear that НMS Eclipse participated in the battle. TA-10 saw two attacking convoy of English destroyers. Was the second destroyer, you can find out only with the help of English documents.

ADMIRALTY WAR DIARIES of WORLD WAR 2
LEVANT COMMAND - September to November 1943
September 23rd
H.M.S. ECLIPSE patrolling south of Scarpanto Straits sank an M.V. close inshore under Cape Prasonisi at 0130 and damaged an escorting destroyer which beached itself.  The 8th D/F returned to Alexandria with 128 German P.O.W.s from Stampalia.
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-Levant1943d.htm
It says here that Eclipse was alone.

[Darius]

So we have to track the war diary of VASILISSA OLGA? I don´t think it had survived her sinking a few days later.
But there must be an allied action report for the whole campaign in the Dodekanes.

@ FAULKNOR: http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-22F-HMS_Faulknor.htm
I think this is only a summary, no details here - in my opinion.

@ ECLIPSE: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-Levant1943d.htm
See 22nd:

H.M.S. FAULKNOR ( D 8 ), FURY, ECLIPSE, and H.H.M.S. QUEEN OLGA landed 1200 personnel and stores at Leros.  They sailed after dark with forces divided for an anti shipping sweep to the South.

WEEKLY RESUME No. 213, 23.-30.09.1943:

On the night of the 22nd/23rd H.M. destroyer Eclipse sank a westbound ship off Rhodes and damaged an escort ship which was driven ashore and subseqently sunk by aircraft.

Regards & 

Darius

[Darius]

Admirality War Diary

22.09.1943:

FAULKNOR ( D.8 ), FURY, ECLIPSE and QUEEN OLGA arrived at Leros this morning without incident (see 21st September) and sailed after dark tonight for Alexandra, FAULKNOR and QUEEN OLGA sweeping west of Stampalia and through Kaso Strait; and FURY and ECLIPSE patrolling the north and south ends of Scarpanto Strait.

23.09.1943:

ECLIPSE (see 22 Sept), sank a westbound enemy merchant ship at 0111 today, off the south-west point of Rhodes (C.in C. M.E. states that the ship was carrying Italian prisoners of war). ECLIPSE was engaged by shore batteries but had no casualties. One damaged enemy escort vessel escaped inshore, but was subsequently located by aircraft aground near Cape Prassonisi, Rhodes. ECLIPSE and destroyers returned to Alexandria at 1430 with 130 German prisoners captured in Stampalia.

ECLIPSE M/V sunk.
Operating under orders of Capt. (D) 8th D.F. ECLIPSE sank westbound enemy merchant ship at about 0200/23 off south-west point of Rhodes. She was engaged by shore batteries. One enemy escort escaped inshore. No British casualties. Ship returning Alexandria. (C.in C. Levant, 230935C to Admty., (R) C. in C. Med., C. in C. Med. (A).)

Situation Report No. 60.
FAULKNOR ( D.8 ), FURY, ECLIPSE, QUEEN OLGA left Leros after dark 22nd for Alexandria. FAULKNOR and QUEEN OLGA sweeping west of Stampalia and through Kaso Strait, FURY and ECLIPSE patrolling North and South ends of Scarpanto Strait. At 0111/23rd ECLIPSE sighted and sank westbound enemy M/V off south-west points of Rhodes under fire of shore batteries no British casualties. One enemy escort damaged escaped inshore.* Destroyers arrived Alexandria 1430 with 128 German prisoners captured in Stampalia. 6 M.L.s now operating at Leros.[...]

* Later information, 242050C.

 

Darius

[cam]

Thank you, Darius! 

It is now clear that Eclipse was alone.
The British probably took the shooting of the TA-10 for coastal artillery fire
fire of shore batteries

[Darius]

Maybe more details in Royal Navy Staff History: Battle Summary Number 36: Aegean Operations, 7 September 1943-28 November 1943


 

Darius

[Dido]

So we have to track the war diary of VASILISSA OLGA? I don´t think it had survived her sinking a few days later.
But there must be an allied action report for the whole campaign in the Dodekanes.

Although the question on which ships sunk DONIZETTI has been answered, let me add that VASILISSA OLGA patrolled in the area between Kasos and Krete as suggested by the Admiralty diaries. She ventured as far as Koufonisi island to the south and Dionysades islandes to the north without finding any target.
This is mentioned in the book "Vasilissa Olga - a destroyer in the perils of war" written by Admiral K. Metalinos, then a officer onboard. He mentions that the other destroyers also did not made any contact as apparently he was not informed of ECLIPSE's success.