HDML 1392

Berthon Boat, Lymington 20/12/43

ML 1392 at Breskens 1945 (John Smith Collection)

London Gazette 19/12/44 – For good service distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy

Known Crew

TLt D F Merritt RNVR TSLt 12/6/42 149th ML Flotilla Commanding Officer HDML 1392 13/12/43 Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy TLt 24/10/44TSLt J M B Lloyd RNVR TASLt 20/8/43 TSLt 20/2/44 149th ML Flotilla First Lieutenant HDML 1392 17/3/44 Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy
LSea Maurice Quinton LT/JX272775 149th ML Flotilla HDML 1392 For good service distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy MID
Engm Thomas Boyle LT/KX135807 149th ML Flotilla HDML 1392 For good service distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy MID

Wartime Activities

6/44 Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
149th ML Flotilla
ML1295, ML1309, ML1383, ML1387, ML1389, ML1391, ML1392, ML1393, ML1407, ML1409, ML1421. ML1422
6/6/44 Channel Marker at Gold Beach on D Day
6/3/45 Captured a German Biber Type midget submarine off Breskens in the Scheldt Estuary. Eleven Bibers had sortied that day. Four were found abandoned along the coast at North Beveland, Knocke, Domberg and Zeebrugge.
One was sunk by gunfire off Westkapelle on 8 March and five vanished.

Distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy (Gazette Date – 19/12/44)

Post War History

1946 Fast Despatch Boat = FDB73
10/47 HM Customs & Excise = Valiant
1967 Sold = Frol – Pejo
1974 =Sarinda (Charter work on Crinan Canal)
1980-91 Extensive conversion to luxury motor yacht
11/95 Base ported at Liverpool.
Reduced to a hull, rebuilt with new engines and superstructure, used as a houseboat. Fitted with fin stabilisers to reduce rolling.
2018 In Heswall

Midget submarine captured by HDML 1392

Photograph courtesy of Brian Haseler

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