The U.S. Navy War Diary 
of 
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 35

8 June 1944

At 2245 hours, while anchored one mile from shore off France on screening line, PT514 was fired on by enemy shore battery, size unknown. PT514 answered fire with 15 rounds of 40 mm ammunition. Shore battery ceased firing. No damage to boat or personnel.

9 June, 1944

While anchored on screening line, at 2200, PT514 observed movement of small group of enemy troops on beachfront. At range of 500 yards, PT514 fired five rounds of 40 mm ammunition at them who, seeking cover, disappeared from view. Damage to enemy unknown.

14 June, 1944

At 0135, PTs 516, 517 and 521 closed two unidentified targets on port run without firing. Executed 360 degree turn and closed on starboard firing run. Opened fire at 0206 hours, from distance of 50 to 70 yards which was answered by heavy fire from targets. PT517 following PT521 retired from the area to rejoin PT516 at which time targets faded from screen. Damaged to target unobserved. Damage sustained by PT517 included 30 caliber holes through radar mast, starboard 50 caliber turret mount, forward part of dayroom and immediately abaft bridge. Shrapnel hit on starboard torpedo rendered it unusable. Fire was started in the armory and was extinguished. Two men on PT517 were wounded during this action. PT516 also sustained small caliber holes in the forepeak, armory and radar mast.

26 June, 1944

At 0014 hours, PT520, along with PT458 and U.S. destroyer McCook, arrived on station off Point Levi. At 0225, German shore batteries opened fire. Several rounds of large caliber fire landed within from 100 yards to 50 yard of PT520. Only minor damage occurred to PT520 as a result of a minor collision with PT458.

27 June 1944

PT521 and PT510, in company with a U.S. destroyer, DD624, were operating off the Cherbourg harbor entrance. The mission of the PTs was to attempt to enter the harbor or, if not that, to draw fire from the German guns on the breakwater. At 1945 hours, the PTs began their approach from five miles off shore and approached on a zig-zag course at 1900 RPMs. At 150 yards from the entrance it became apparent that the entrance was protected by a net. The PTs maneuvered about the area for 25 minutes before being fired upon by the heavy caliber guns of the breakwater fort. The shells were so close to PT521 that its port torpedo was half torn from its mount and the boats engines all stopped. It took five minutes to restart them. In the mean time, PT510 laid a smoke screen to assist PT521. After getting underway, at reduced speed, PT521 was ordered to fire its port torpedo at the harbor entrance. While there was considerable damage to PT521, PT510 was unharmed and no personnel were wounded.

22 July 1944

At 0430 hours, PT509 reported a radar sighting that appeared to be a partially surfaced submarine. Her position at the time was the #2 position on the Mason Line. On order of the TFC, all PTs on the Mason Line, which included PT515 and PT519, to the area and attacked, dropping one depth apiece. At 0505, all units observed a large oil slick extending five miles. The source of the slick was not confirmed.

4 August, 1944

PTs 510, 512, 514, 516, 517 and 519 departed Portsmouth, England along with the British frigate, HMS STAYNER and some British Motor Torpedo Boats for operations in the La Harve area. At 2230, the STAYNER had a underwater sound contact identified as a German submarine. While the PTs stood clear, the STAYNER made repeated depth charge and hedge-hog projectile attacks. At 0330 the target was destroyed. It was subsequently identified as U-boat U-691. Four survivors and one body were recovered from the Channel.

6 August 1944

PTs 510, 512, and 514, with Lt. James C. Mountecastle, USNR as SOP, were vectored by H.M.S. Thornborough toward 3 E-Boats. PTs opened fire at 650 yards on a port firing run. The E-Boats laid a smoke screen and ran for the French Coast. The three PTs fired approximately 1200 rounds of 40mm, 37mm and 20mm and 50 cal. Results of PT fire was undetermined.

9 August 1944

PTs 521, 520 and 511, with Lt. S. I.. Saltsman, USNR as SOP, were vectored to an enemy convoy south of Cap d'Antifor. PTs made visual contact at 2000 yards and were illuminated by enemy star shells, obviating the chance of a successful torpedo attack. PTs opened fire on a parallel course continuing for 2-3/4 minutes and then circled to starboard for another firing run. PTs 520 and 521 both sustained hits. (PT521 suffering stoppage to two engines.) PT511 covered with smoke and three PTs withdrew. Heavy caliber shore fire was experienced during both of these runs. Targets were 5 E-Boats and one large auxiliary. Results of damage to enemy not determined although in confusion enemy ships split up and were seen to fire on one another. One crew member of PT521, Eick (sp?), William Joseph, F1/c, suffered a shrapnel wound.

11 August, 1944

PTs 515, 513 and 518 , with Lt. L.F. Jones, USNR (of Ron 30) as O.T.C on PT515 in charge of LT(jg) McCormick USNR, contacted a force of 6 enemy R-Boats, one E-Boat and armed trawler. With viability of 150 to 200 yards, the boats were vectored in on their targets by H.M.S. THORNBOROUGH. Four torpedoes were launched from 400 yards and then PTs closed to 200 yards and opened fire. Action lasted for two minutes before all boats retired at high speed. Approximately 1400 rounds of varied ammunition was expended. Convoy was forced to retire to the enemy-held port of La Harve. PTs 515 and 513 both suffered hits during the action and three men were wounded.

24/25 August 1944

PTs 511, 514 and 520, with Lt. S. L. Saltsman, USNR as O.T.C., engaged an enemy force of four E-boats. One E-boat was heavily damaged, one moderately damaged and while hits were scored on the other two, results were not determined. PT520 had its radar shot out and suffered a 40mm hit midships. PT511 suffered a fire from small caliber hits but Lt.(jg) R.S. Taft, USNR and two of his motor machinists were able to put out this fire. Three firing runs were made, one at 200 yards and the following two at 400 yards. No personnel casualties were suffered.

27 August 1944

At 0213, the British destroyer, HMS MIDDLETON, closed targets for a gunnery run, disengaging at 0229. During this interval, PTs 511, 514 and 520 idle, unobserved, toward the targets until, at 0246, while enemy was stilled confused form the destroyer's attack, they were just 1800 yards from the target. At this time, the PTs simultaneously launched a total of six torpedoes. One minute and 55 seconds later, a tremendous explosion was observed followed by smaller explosions. While retiring at slow speed, the PTs were taken under fire by shore batteries but no damage was done to the PTs.

28 August 1944

At 0415, in response to instructions from HMS RETALICK, PTs 513, 516 and 519 idled toward Fecamp (France) breakwater. At 1800 yards, three enemy targets, thought to be R-boats, were sighted and four torpedoes launched. At this time, the boats were challenged by enemy blinker lights from the harbor. The PTs did not answer the challenge but retired at slow speed without damage.

22 October 1944

While on patrol SSE of the Channel Island 'Aldernay', PT511 came under fire from German shore batteries. The range was about 6-1/2 miles. The three rounds of heavy caliber shells fell 75 yards astern the PT. No damage resulted. [Ed. note: While only this instance was noted in the War Diary, other boats of the Squadron had experienced similar incidents. PT518 and other boats were fired upon with several three gun salvos and the shells bracketed the patrol. No damage was done and the boats took high speed evasive actions.]

Last Revision
October 21, 2002
July 29,2003