sank the British destroyer , which had stopped to rescue survivors of a drifter that had been hit in an earlier attack, before returning to base. The Third Torpedo Boat Flotilla returned to Germany in November that year. The Third Flotilla returned to Zeebrugge on 24 March 1917, and together with the other torpedo boat Flotillas based in Flanders, took part in unsuccessful sorties into the English Channel on 10, 13 and 18 April. The Germans tried again on the night of 20/21 April 1917, in the Battle of Dover Strait, splitting their force into three groups. One, Gruppe Gautier, consisting of G42, , , , and was to attack the Dover Barrage and attack Dover, while the second, Gruppe Albrecht, also consisting of six torpedo boats, was to attack the Barrage and Calais, while the third force of three torpedo boats, Gruppe Zander was tasked with attacking shipping in The Downs. At about 23:30 hr on 20 April Gruppe Gautier encountered the trawler Sabreur and attacked with gunfire, scoring two hits. While the Germans believed that they had sunk the trawler, Sabreur managed to escape. Gruppe Gautier then shelled Dover and was fired on in response by British coastal artillery. It then moved off down the Channel to attack the Dover Barrage, but encountered the British Flotilla Leaders and . G42, commanded by Bernd von Arnim, was rammed by Broke. Both ships were heavily damaged in the collision, and were entangled together for a short time. While the ships were entangled, close-quarters battle broke out between the two crews until Broke disengaged. G42 sank with 36 sailors killed in action. G85, torpedoed by Swift, was also sunk in this action. References External links Technical specs of the Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class Torpedo boats of the Imperial German Navy 1915 ships Ships built in Kiel World War I torpedo boats of Germany Maritime incidents in 1917 World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea