Action of 21 March, 1918

A night surface action occurred near Dunkirk in the early morning hours of 21 March, 1918.

Background

This account is based on Naval Operations, Volume V.

On the night of 18-19 March, a British motor launch observed four German destroyers near a light buoy at the northern end of Zuidcoote Pass.

The next night, German torpedo boats Template:DE-A4 and Template:DE-A9 were sent out to mark a bombardment position at the northeast end of the Nieuport Bank while Template:DE-A19 and Template:DE-A7 did the same for one near the northeast end of the Smal Bank.

On the night of the 20th-21st, the Royal Navy's Commodore at Dunkirk sent Swift, Matchless, North Star and Myngs to the East Barrage Patrol in the Dover Straits while Botha and Morris stood ready in Dunkirk Roads with French destroyers Template:FR-CapitaineMehl, Template:FR-Magon and Template:FR-Bouclier, with monitor Template:UK-GeneralCrauford at a reduced state of readiness. At the same time, the monitors M.25 and Terror and French destroyer Template:FR-Oriflamme were stationed opposite beaches near la Panne where German landings were feared possible.