Unit/ Formation: Royal Marines Location: Koufonisi Period/ Conflict: World War II Year: 1942 Date/s: 16 April 1942
The 11th Battalion of the British Royal Marines landed on Koufonisi, Greece by destroyers, destroyed a German radio station, captured some documents and equipment, and embarked the ships.
The destroyers, HMS Kelvin and HMS Kipling, returned to Alexandria, Egypt by 1830 hours.
HMS Kipling (F 91) - K-class Destroyer; Log
April Alexandria deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
16th Carried out landing of Royal Marines at Kuphoris, Crete to destroy a wireless station.
May
10th Deployed with HM Destroyers JACKAL, JERVIS and LIVELY to intercept convoy
on passage in eastern Mediterranean to Benghazi (Operation MG2).
11th Came under heavy and sustained attacks by 14 Ju 88 bombers based in Crete.
HMS LIVELY was hit and sank quickly with loss of 76 members of ships company.
Hit during a second attack by aircraft based in Greece and also sank quickly.
25 of the ships company lost their lives.
HMS Kelvin (G.37) - K-class Destroyer; Log
April Deployment in Eastern Mediterranean in continuation.
16th Landed Royal Marines Commando unit at Kuphorisi, Crete.
(Operation LIGHTER)