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Notable events involving MTB 717 include:

28 Apr 1944

Minelaying operation Hostile 26.

The object of this minelaying operation was to lay a minefield to the north-east of Ile de Batz.

Around 1945B/28, eight ML's of the 10th ML flotilla left Plymouth for this operation. They had a close escort of two MTB's.

The group was formed into two divisions. The first division was made up of ML 157 (T/Lt. T.B. Gwenlan, DSC, RNVR), ML 180 (T/Lt. R.J. McCullagh, RNVR), ML 184 (T/Lt. R.W.A. Winter, RNVR) and HMS ML 186 (T/Lt. F.O.S. Man, RNVR). HMS MTB 677 (T/Lt. A.H. Clayton, RNVR) was the close escort. The second division was made up of ML 159 (T/Lt. B.D. Gerrans, RNVR), HMS ML 181 (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.T. Kemsley, RNVR, S.O. 10th ML Flotilla), HMS ML 259 (T/Lt. H.W.E. Johnson, RNVR) and HMS ML 488 (T/Lt. I.H.L. King, RNVR). HMS MTB 717 (T/Lt. B.H.C. Robinson, RNVR) was the close escort.

Cover was provided by the destroyers HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN) and HMCS Athabaskan (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Stubbs, RCN). They departed Plymouth around 2300B/28 and were to patrol 6 nautical miles to the west and east of position (XX) 49°00'N, 04°10'W with the intention to leave around 0345B/29 for the return passage.

The outward passage was uneventful and completed in fine weather.

Between 0314B/29 and 0326B/29, each division laid a line of 14 mines and 2 MK I obstructors within an area enclosed by lines joining the following positions;
A) 48°55'03"N, 03°52'00"W,
B) 48°52'18"N, 03°52'36"W,
C) 48°51'00"N, 03°57'36"W,
D) 48°52'57"N, 04°00'09"W.

The total of 28 mines consisted of 20 MK XVII (49/50) / XVIII set at 20 feet and 8 MK 1/XVII set at 12 feet.

Sinker clocks were set to release on 21 May and flooders were set to operate on 10 June 1944.

Just after the lay had commenced, two signals were received from the C-in-C, Plymouth reporting the presence of an enemy plot to the southward and HMCS Haida and HMCS Athabaskan were ordered to intercept and they then left to proceed to do so at full speed.

On completion of the lay the minelaying force retired to the northward at 14 knots and at 0405B/29 an enemy report was received from HMCS Haida and continuous star shell was seen from that moment to the south-westward.

At 0416B/29 a very heavy explosion was heard and a burst of flame was seen of which it was later found out that this was HMCS Athabaskan being hit. At 0427B/29, another heavy explosion was heard and a large white mushroom shape cloud of smoke was seen which was HMCS Athabaskan blowing up.

At 0505B/29 the MTB's were detached with orders to search for survivors on orders of the C-in-C, Plymouth. This order was cancelled at 0537B/29 and the MTB's rejoined the force at 0838B/29 and they then entered Plymouth at 0955B/29. The destroyers HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), which were covering an exercise in Lyme Bay, were withdrawn and sent to cover the minelaying force on their return passage. (1)

29 Apr 1944
At 0322B/29, the C-in-C, Plymouth's signal timed 0307B/29 was received on board HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN) and HMCS Athabaskan (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Stubbs, RCN). This signal stated that enemy vessels had been detected to the south proceeding westwards.

Speed was increased to full and course was changed to 225°. At 0332B/29, course was altered to 205° and at 0343B/29 to 180°. It was estimated that the enemy could be intercepted to the east of Ile de Vierge.

At 0359B/29, radar contact was obtained by HMCS Athabaskan bearing 133° at a range of 14 nautical miles. This was confirmed by HMCS Haida at 0402B/29 and an enemy report was made.

At 0400B/29, course was altered to 160° and at 0408B/29 to 170°. The bearing of the enemy remained steady at about 125°. At 0402B/29, the plot on board HMCS Haida showed an estimated course of the enemy of 280° at 24 knots and this was confirmed by HMCS Athabaskan which reported 278° at 23 knots.

At 0407B/29, the enemy bore 127°, range 13000 yards, enemy course 260° at 24 knots.

At 0412B/29, HMCS Haida gave the order to engage the enemy and opened fire with star shell. The range at moment being 7300 yards. At 0414B/29, two destroyers were in sight bearing 115° and they were identified as Elbing-class (torpedo boats).

The enemy laid smoke and retired to the southward. At 0417B/29, course was altered 30° to port, still keeping ' A ' arcs open and at that moment HMCS Athabaskan was hit aft and a large fire was started. She was observed to slow down and turning to port. HMCS Haida obtained her first hit on the enemy at 0418B/29.

At 0419B/29, HMCS Haida altered course 090° to port to lay a smoke screen for HMCS Athabaskan who appeared to be stopped and badly on fire. ' A ' arcs were opened to starboard. At 0420B/29, HMCS Haida obtained another hit on the enemy.

At 0422B/29, the plot reported the enemy proceeding on course 160° in line abreast. At that moment target was shifted as the first enemy destroyer was disappearing in smoke to the eastward.

At 0427B/29, ' X ' gun reported that all star shell had been expended and at the same time HMCS Athabaskan appeared to blow up. Fortunately at this black moment the engaged enemy was on fire and though hidden by smoke, the glow of the fire was bright enough to provide a point of aim.

During the next five minutes frequent hits were observed but when the smoke cleared at about 0435B/29 the enemy was seen to be aground and half hidden by a ledge of rock and it was obvious that many of the observed ' hits ' must have been on this rock. The enemy was clearly visible in the light of her own fire.

Course was altered to the north and west to clear the ledges and the line of fire, but on reviewing the situation at about 0442B/29 Cdr. de Wolf decided to retire. Contact with the second enemy destroyer had been lost around 0433B/29 at a range of 14000 yards. Course was set to pass through the position where HMCS Athabaskan blew up and preparations were made to pick up survivors.

At 0457B/29, HMCS Haida was stopped amidst a large group of survivors, possibly around 100 in number. All boats and floats were then lowered and were ordered to be left without crews at 0515B/29 which was the latest time HMCS Haida wanted to leave the area. When HMCS Haida left three of her ratings were left in the motor boat and two of her ratings were in the water assisting at the scramble nets. It was communicated to the remaining survivors that motor torpedo boats had been ordered to proceed to the area to continue the rescue operations. This were HMS MTB 677 (T/Lt. A.H. Clayton, RNVR) and HMS MTB 717 (T/Lt. B.H.C. Robinson, RNVR) but these were recalled when it became clear they could not reach the area before daybreak. 38 survivors had been picked up by HMCS Haida. 85 were picked up by the Germans an made POW', 127 men had lost their lives.

At 0517B/29, course was set for Plymouth at 31 knots to clear the area before daylight.

The fire in the grounded enemy destroyer was visible until 0530B/29 and occasional small explosions were observed.

Around 0635B/29, the destroyer HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN) joined followed at 0650B/29 by HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN). They remained in company until the vicinity of Eddystone.

HMCS Haida arrived at Plymouth around 0840B/29.

At 1905B/29, the RAF rescue launch HSL 2554 was sent to position 49°35'N, 05°00'W where a small boat with several men had been reported by aircraft. This proved to be the motor boat of HMCS Haida containing the five ratings that had been left behind with the survivors of HMCS Athabaskan. With them were also six survivors from this destroyer. HSL 2554 took the boat in tow and landed the men in Newlyn.

The enemy ships encountered were the German torpedo boats T 27 and T 24 which were on passage from Saint Malo, which they had departed around 2130B/29, to Brest. T 27 was driven ashore and her wreck was finally destroyed on 7 May.

Following the action T 24 proceeded to Morlaix and later returned to the place where T 27 was grounded with boats of the 24th Minesweeper Flotilla. Attempts by a ship from this flotilla to tow off the badly damaged torpedo boat failed. T 24 then proceeded to Brest where she arrived around 1530B/29.

It was a torpedo fired by T 24 which had hit HMCS Athabaskan. (2)