Page 288 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

274 THEAN D. POTGIETER

end of four years of servi ce in the Mediterranean <74). The Southern Maid an d Pro-
tea remained in the Mediterranean for an additional year. This was something of
an anti-climax, as they were employed in destroying mines and lying dan-boys. Both
arrived back in Durban on 12 December 1945 (75>.

Minesweepers and minesweeping

In May 1941, at the rime when the extension of the period of service for the
AS vessels was agreed upon, the U nion Government also agreed to send eight L. L.
Minesweepers for service with the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean (76>. As the
fitting out of the minesweepers entailed considerable reconstruction and all the equip-
ment was not avail~ble in South Africa, four of these ships sailed in July for con-
version in the Mediterranean (Haifa and Beirut) while the remainder were fitted
out in Durban and Cape Town. The South African "L.L.'' or "Double L" mine-
sweepers carried two magnetic or CIL" sweeps to deal with magnetic mines; but
were not fitted with the minesweeping gear required when dealing with moored
mines. These ships were inferior to the Southerm and, as their equipment added
a considerable amount of top weight, they carried light-gun armament. They did
however became "maids of ali work" and did many extraneous tasks, which could
77
be attributed to the staunchness of the small complements < >.
The South African minesweepers in the Mediterranean were soon in action
and on 2·0 )une 1942, under heavy fire, the Bever and the Parktown distinguished
themselves in the evacuation of Allied personnel in Tobruk. Shelling of Tobruk
started at 07:00 and during the course of the morning, the South African mine-
sweepers swept the channel entrane e to the harbour. After receiving orders to pick
up evacuation parties, the two vessels went alongside at 16:00, while heavy enemy
shelling occurred. By 20:00 the Axis forces were already in the rown and both ships
carne under heavy fire, with tanks, motorised troops and armoured cars firing from
ali sides. While embarking their evacuation parties and with most of their alloca-
8
teci men already on board, they received a signa! to leave <7 >. The Bever received
two direct hits from a German tank, suffering one dead and having four wounded
onboard, but with the aid of a smoke screen from a motor torpedo boat, she mana-
ged to passed through the harbour entrance under heavy fire.
The Parktown carne under heavy machine-gun fire from motorised troops and
despite her small size, managed to embark 60 troops. As she was casting off, men
kept arriving and severa! attempted to swim to the ship. A member of the ships'
company (Ab le Seaman P J. Smithers) swam to the assista n ce of some men in the
water and ev.entually, in the confusion and rush to get out of the harbour, he had
7
to be left behind < 9>. To her honour, the Parktown was the last Allied ship co leave
Tobruk before its capture and thus attracted tremendous fire. Although she was
hit severa! times, only one man was killed. At sea the Parktown took a disabled
tug, crowded with men, in tow. This reduced her speed to only five knots and she
fell behind the Bever and the other ships which were proceeding independently to
Mersa Matruh an d Alexa_ndria (SO).