Left: Bangor Class Fleet Minesweeper HMS BUDE (J116) of the 13th Minesweeping Flotilla. Background: An unidentified LST (Landing Ship, Tank). Foreground: HMML 565 of the 31st M/S ML Flotilla. Right: Algerine Class Fleet Minesweeper HMS RINALDO (J225) of the 19th Minesweeping Flotilla. [With thanks to Mike Alston - HMS Middleton & LST Club]
The following extract comes from the LST CLUB Newsletter.
"On January 22nd, 1944 we approached Cape Anzio as part of the American "X-Ray" (or Southern) Task Force which comprised 4 liberty ships, 84 LSTs, 96 LCIs, 50 LCTs, in addition to "our convoy" that was LSTs 1, 303, 304, 320, 324, 326, 327, 351, 361, 381, 402 and 430."
"The Britsh "Peter (or Northern) Task Force was also with us."
"Throughout D-Day at Anzio, we were under constant heavy fire from enemy artillery batteries, with shells falling as close as 15 feet, sending up a cascade of seawater 25 to 30 feet in the air..."
"...Ten minutes later, 12 Dornier 217 bombers came in from the north, a red glow was observed under one bomber, then another and more and more were visible. They were glider bombs being directed from their mother ship, the Dornier 217. Alongside us was the black British cruiser HMS SPARTAN. She was firing like crazy, with all her guns, in fact so were we..."1
"...Then there was a terrific explosion. The Spartan took a direct hit on her forward gun and magazine. She went over in a matter of minutes." 2
"Another red light was approaching 326. We were firing at the bombers. The bomb struck forward of our bow and struck an ammunition laden liberty ship.3 She was blowing up all afternoon and night."
"We rescued many British sailors from the Spartan. LSTs 326, 327, 4, 6. British LSTs 383, 384 and 385 all had pontoons on the side or an LCT on our decks or in tow."
1. In fact the Spartan was a two tone light/dark grey
2. These statements are clearly not corroborated by the evidence presented at the enquiry nor by any of the Spartan crew.
3. This was the liberty ship "Samuel Huntingdon" which was also hit by a Henschel Hs 293. The ship was towed from the anchorage and sank later that evening.
