Levant Schooner Flotilla facts for kids
The Levant Schooner Flotilla was a special group of boats during World War II. It helped the Allied forces with secret missions. These missions took place in the Aegean Sea from 1942 to 1945. The British Royal Navy mainly set up this group. They used local sailing boats called caïques or schooners. British sailors, special forces, and Greek volunteers worked on these boats.
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Secret Missions in the Aegean Sea
The Levant Schooner Flotilla (LSF) was created by the Royal Navy. They used local boats called caïques that were taken over or found empty. These boats helped the Royal Navy fight German forces. The Germans had taken over parts of the Aegean Sea.
Who Led the Flotilla?
The LSF was led by Lieutenant Commander Adrian C. C. Seligman. Before the war, he had sailed around the world. He did this in a large sailing ship called a windjammer.
The Boats and Their Crews
In September 1943, the Flotilla had about ten ships. Sometimes, only a few boats were ready to go. Each caïque usually had a crew of 5 to 6 people. They were well-armed with powerful weapons. These included 20mm cannons and machine guns.
How the Caïques Operated
The caïques often sailed at night to stay hidden. They would drop off or pick up special forces soldiers. They also rescued local fighters called partisans. Sometimes, they would stop or attack small German groups. Many of these boats used engines from Matilda tanks. They also had long-range radios from Kittyhawk fighter planes.
Key Battles and Operations
The LSF helped the British Long Range Desert Group with attacks. These attacks were against German forces on the islands of Kithnos and Levitha. This happened during the Dodecanese Campaign in 1943. The Flotilla was also very involved in the Battle of Leros. This battle took place soon after the island attacks.
See also
- Military history of Greece during World War II
- Mediterranean Theater of Operations
