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Gunnery Dept.
H. M. S. Mantis
Xmas, 1943

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From the Lowestoft Museum website:

HMS Mantis was the name given to the Royal Navy's Coastal Forces Base in Lowestoft. There were five Naval bases in Lowestoft referred to as “Stone Frigates” HMS Europa (Royal Naval Patrol Service) HMS Martello (Mine-sweeping) HMS Minos (Harbour Defence) HMS Myloden (Landing Craft Training for Royal Marines and Combined Operations) and HMS Mantis.

The Headquarters buildings for Mantis were on the Hamilton Dock, the vessels attached to Mantis the MGB's (Motor Gun Boats) MTB's (Motor Torpedo Boats) and ML's (Motor Launches) used Hamilton Dock itself from where they set out for “E-Boat Alley” off the East Coast to engage the German E-Boats.

Officers were billeted at the Royal Hotel (now demolished) and the crews were mainly billeted in requisitioned houses in the Grove Road area.