|
MTB 461
"G" Type Motor Torpedo Boat
MTB 461 was a "G" Type MTB, Displacement: 44 tons, Length: 71.75 ft, Beam: 20.6 ft, Draught: 5.6 ft, Speed: 39 kts, Complement: 3 officer, 14 men, Armament: 1-6pdr, 2-20mm (1xII) 4-18in TT. While she flew the White Ensign, she was not commissioned into the RCN but instead was listed as a tender to HMCS Stadacona (tenders were not commissioned vessels). MTB 461 took part in the D-Day landings on 06 Jun 1944. She was destroyed by fire at Ostend, Belgium, 14 Feb 1945 with the loss of 9 of her crew.
"On the afternoon of February 14, 1945, disaster struck the Canadian 29th Motor Torpedo Boat flotilla during the Second World War. In advance of a patrol that night, many of the sailors were asleep on their boats docked in Ostend, Belgium (spelled ‘Oostende' in the local Flemish language). Spilled fuel that had ended up floating on the surface of the harbour suddenly ignited and, before an alarm could even be raised, a raging fire quickly spread amongst the closely-moored vessels. Fuel and ammunition supplies exploded as boat after boat caught fire. Many of the men were trapped on board and had no escape as even the water was aflame. By the time it was over, the 29th flotilla had lost 26 Canadian sailors and five of eight of its vessels were destroyed. An estimated 35 British sailors and seven Royal Navy vessels had also been lost." (Source: Veterans Affairs Canada)
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Robertson, Ian William, A/Lt, RCNVR - 28 Jul 1944
|
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget 
