Action of 17 March 1917

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Action of 17 March 1917
Part of the First World War
Strait of Dover map.png
Map of the Strait of Dover
Date17 March 1917
Location
Result German victory
Belligerents
Flag of the German Empire.svg  Germany Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg UnknownNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Grenville Bowyer, Lieutenant, HMS Paragon.
Strength
8 torpedo boats 4 destroyers
Casualties and losses
None 1 destroyer sunk, Lieutenant Richard Grenville Bowyer +
1 destroyer damaged

The action of 17 March 1917 was a German raid on British shipping in the Strait of Dover as well as the harbours of Ramsgate and Margate. Two flotillas of German torpedo boats set out from the coast of Flanders and split. One group attacked the British drifters and destroyers patrolling near Goodwin Sands, while the other attacked the towns of Ramsgate and Margate, shelling the towns and shipping in their harbors. While attempting to fight off the German squadron near Goodwin Sands, the destroyers HMS Paragon and HMS Llewellyn were torpedoed. Paragon was sunk and Llewellyn damaged before the Germans withdrew with no casualties.

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References

    51°20′N1°32′E / 51.34°N 1.54°E / 51.34; 1.54