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Commando Raids and Major Landings Index of Pages.
Raids & Landings ranged from Commando
"hit & run" attacks, designed to inflict damage on the German war machine
and to tie down German forces in areas that might otherwise be lightly
defended, to major amphibious landings such as Notth Africa,Italy and Normandy.
04 Jul 40
Mers-el-Kebir
(Catapult)
Operation Catapult aimed to secure the
immobilisation of a squadron of the French Naval Fleet to prevent it falling into German hands. Although not a Combined Operation this
naval action is included in this website because it provides useful background to British concerns about Vichy French military resources and foreign held
territories. These concerns subsequently resulted in
actions involving Combined Operations such as those in North Africa (Torch) and the Litani River.
03-04 Mar
41
Lofoten
Islands (Claymore)
Operation Claymore was the 1st Lofoten
Islands raid off the Norwegian coast just north of the Arctic Circle.
It achieved a good measure of destruction of German ships and fish
factory oil and it gave free passage to the UK to over 300 Norwegian
volunteers and a few Germans and Quislings. It was, however, most notable
for giving a great boost to flagging morale within the ranks of the
Commandos and later the country as news of the raid was made public. Land
forces - 3 & 4 Commandos. Sea Forces - HMS Queen Emma,
Princess Beatrix & 5 Destroyers.
20-21 Apr 41
Bardia,
North Africa
This
land/naval raid took place at a time of rapid changes in the fortunes of war
- usually in favour of the Axis forces. The objective was to disrupt enemy
lines of communication and to inflict as much damage as possible to their
installations and equipment. Land Forces - A
Battalion (ex No 7 Commando). Sea Forces - HMS Glengyle,
a RN submarine and supporting gun ships.
09-10 Jun 41
Litani
River, Vichy French Syria.
The Litani River
raid was, initially, a Commando operation to capture, intact, a key bridge in
Vichy French Syria just prior to the arrival of Australian forces sent in to
occupy the country. However, the Commando's plans was changed and
while the new objectives were largely achieved, the cost in lost lives
was high. [Land] C Battalion (ex 11 Commando).
[Sea] HMS
Glengyle.
14 Nov 41
Rommel's HQ,
N
Africa (Flipper)
A daring but unsuccessful
Commando Raid to capture Rommel in his North Africa HQ. Poor
intelligence thwarted the operation since Rommel was not in Africa
at the time and the targetted building was not his HQ. Geoffrey
Keyes was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. [Land] Middle East Commando. L detachment, No 11 Commando
& G(R) Branch].
26-27 Dec 41
Lofoten Islands
2nd Raid (Anklet)
Operation
Anklet, the second Lofoten Islands raid, was a diversion in support of a
much larger action at Vaagso, over 300 miles to the south, on the Norwegian
coast. There was no opposition to the landing but a near miss from a German
bomber convinced the planners that air support would be provided on future
operations. [Land} 12 Commando. [Sea] HMS Arethusa & 8
destroyers in support.
27 Dec 41
Vaagso, Norway
(Archery)
The
raid on the Norwegian islands of Vaagso and Maaloy, codenamed
Operation Archery, broke new ground for Combined
Operations. It was the first time air support was integrated into
the raiding plans from the outset. It provided a much needed boost
to the morale of the Commandos and the nation. [Land] 2
& 3 Commandos [Sea] HMS Prince Leopold & Prince Charles + HMS Kenya & 4 Destroyers. [Air] Bomber
Command & Coastal Command.
27 Feb 42
Bruneval, France. (Biting)
In
February 1942, men of the newly formed British 1st Airborne Division
went into action for the first time. Their target was the German 'Wurzburg'
radar installation at Bruneval. Their objective was to seize vital radar
components and to bring them back to the UK for inspection by trained scientists. [Air] 1 Whitley Squadron. [Sea] Landing Craft &
Escorts.
28 Mar 42
St
Nazaire, France (Chariot)
Operation Chariot was an audacious Combined
Operation raid on the port of St Nazaire in German occupied France. Packed with
tons of high explosives, the destroyer, HMS Campbeltown, was rammed into the gates of the only dry
dock capable of servicing the German battleship Tirpitz. Such was the damage,
the dry dock was rendered unusable for the remainder of the war. [Land] Nos.1,2,3,4,5,9 & 10 Commandos. [Sea]
HMS Campbelltown.
05-07 May 42
Madagascar (Ironclad)
This brief account of Operation Ironclad, the invasion of
Madagascar is taken from the viewpoint of a member of No 5 Commando.
The Combined Operations Command was not the principal player in this operation
against the Vichy French regime - more of an assistant. The total campaign
lasted 6 months but the bulk of the special work of Combined Operations and
the Commandos was concentrated into a few days in early May 1942. [Land] No
5 Commando.
19 Aug 42
Dieppe,
France (Jubilee)
Few raids have been subjected to so much scrutiny, analysis and comment as
Operation Jubilee, better known as the Dieppe Raid. It aimed to seize a major
port and to hold it for a short period, while seeking opportunities to gather
intelligence and to demolish
important infrastructure and buildings. The raid would show the UK's
determination to fight on and, if successful, it would boost the morale of the
armed forces and the country.
At the same
time, Mountbatten wanted to test Combined Operations amphibious
landing training, equipment and techniques in a sizeable raid against entrenched German shore
defences. The raid
failed in almost every regard and at a high cost in lives lost, numbers injured
and captured, particularly for the Canadian Forces involved.
[Land]
Nos 3 & 4 Commando with 50 US Rangers, the Canadian 2nd Division. [Sea] 230 ships with 3000 men. [Air] 65 RAF Squadrons
(fighters, fighter/bombers and bombers).
12-13 Sep 42
'Omaha' Beach
(Aquatint)
Operation
Aquatint
was a Small Scale Raiding Force's (SSRF) operation
which took place on part of 'Omaha' beach, which, unbeknown to anyone at
the time, would witness the largest amphibious invasion force in history
just 21 months later on June 6 1944. [Land] 12 Commandos of the Small Scale Raiding
Force (SSRF). [Sea] MTB 344 the Little Pisser under the command of Freddie
Bourne.
15-22 Sep 42
Glomfjord,
Norway (Musketoon)
German control of Norway's wealth of natural resources posed a
considerable threat to the Allied cause, in this case, aluminium, which
was vital to the enemy's aircraft production.
Operation Musketoon was a
daring, small scale Commando raid on an
electricity generating station at Glomfjord in German occupied Norway, just
north of the Arctic Circle. The station provided electricity for a
nearby aluminium plant, without which the manufacture of the metal would come to a halt.
[Land] 2 Captains, 8 other ranks from No 2 Commando & 2 Corporals from
Norwegian Forces attached to SOE. [Sea] Free French Submarine Juno.
08 -12 Nov 42
North
Africa (Torch)
Operation Torch
was the invasion of west North Africa to prevent the Germans taking control
of the territories occupied by the French, then under the control of the
Vichy French Government. Torch was an American led operation under
Eisenhower with substantial UK support.
07 Dec 42
River
Gironde, France (Frankton)
Operation Frankton,
7/12 December 1942, popularly known as "The Cockleshell Heroes". Royal Marines paddled 70
miles up the River Gironde during the hours of darkness. They took 5 days to
reach Bordeaux where they laid explosive charges on enemy shipping. The losses
were high but two returned safely home. [Land] 10 Royal Marines - "The Cockleshell
Heroes." [Sea] Sub. HMS Tuna.
11 Jun 43
Pantelleria
(Corkscrew)
Operation Corkscrew, the assault on the small
Italian island of Pantelleria in June 1943, was partly operational and partly
experimental. It would be a useful toe-hold for the planned invasion of Sicily
and Italy and it would serve to test the effectiveness of large scale
bombing on strong, entrenched enemy defensive positions, prior to the landing of troops.
10 Jul 43
Sicily (Husky)
Operation Husky,
the Invasion of Sicily, was the first major Allied assault on German occupied
Europe. Churchill described Sicily and Italy as the soft underbelly of Europe
but the Italy campaign was hard fought and only came to an end in May 1945.
[Land]
US 7th Army British 8th Army [Sea] 2760 ships of the RN and US Navy [Air] ?
09 Sep 43
Salerno,
Italy (Avalanche)
A brief account of the
advance from Sicily to Rome. More detailed accounts of the individual landings listed below will be added in due course.
06 Jun 44
Normandy,
France (Neptune & Overlord)
Operation Neptune, the largest amphibious invasion
force in history, was the seaborne phase of Operation Overlord. On June 6th
1944, 4,000 landing craft, supported by 2,000 naval combat
ships, ancillary craft and merchant vessels, transported 132,600
assault troops from the south coast of England to the
Normandy beaches, together with thousands of tons of
vehicles, tanks, supplies and ammunition. In addition,
24,000 paratroops were deployed.
156,000 assault
troops, including 24,000 paras, 6000 ships and 820 aircraft mainly from Canada, UK and the USA.
17 Jun 44
Elba, Italy
(Brassard)
In this account of this French led invasion of Elba the emphasis is on the
role of the RN Commandos (Beach Commandos).
1-8 Nov 44
Walcheren
(Infatuate)
Operation Infatuate, the codename for the
invasion of the Dutch Island of Walcheren, was a major Combined Operation's amphibious landing against
entrenched German defensive positions. The fortified island stood at the mouth of the
River Scheldt blocking Allied access to the captured port of Antwerp some 60 kilometres inland.
It was urgently needed to supply the advancing Allied armies as they moved
towards Berlin.
Infatuate 1[Land] 155th Infantry Brigade - 4th & 5th
Bn. KOSB, 7th/9th Bn The Royal Scots. Infatuate 2 4 Special Services Brigade - 41, 47 & 48 RM Commando with attached No 10
(Inter Allied)
Jan 1945
Burma (Romulous)
This account covers the landings on the north east coast of
Burma -
Akyab, Myebon and Kangaw. There were set-piece battles and cat and mouse
manoeuvrings on both sides with danger and death constant companions while on operations. The
author's father,
Sgt Alexander Pirie, MM, served
in 3 Troop, Royal Marine Engineering
Commandos, whose heroic efforts in clearing
beach obstacles and preparing roadways are, deservedly, well documented.
To be written
1941 Spitzbergen (Gauntlet)
03/09/43 Reggio,
Italy
11/09/43
Taranto, Italy
22/01/44
Anzio, Italy (Shingle)
15/08/44 Anvil, France
19/08/44 Southern France
(Dragoon)
21/01/45 Ramree, Arakan
Peninsula
26/01/45 Cheduba, Arakan
Peninsula
16/02/45 Ruywa, Arakan
Peninsula
Apr 45 Comacchio,
Italy
02/05/45 Rangoon. Burma
Sep 1945 Malay Coast (Op Zipper)
Thought to be a comprehensive List of WW2
Combined Operations by theatre - British, USA and Joint.
N W
Europe
Lofoten Islands CLAYMORE 4 Mar 41
Spitzbergen GAUNTLET 18 Aug 41
Vaagso ARCHERY 27 Dec 41
Bruneval BITING 28 Feb 42
St Nazaire CHARIOT 28 Mar 42
Dieppe JUBILEE 19 Aug 42
Normandy OVERLORD/NEPTUNE 6 Jun 44
Breskens-Scheldt
Estuary SWITCHBACK 9 Oct 44
Walcheren INFATUATE 1 Nov 44
Rhine Crossing PLUNDER 23 Mar 45
Elbe Crossing 29 Apr 45
Mediterranean
North Africa TORCH 8 Nov 42
Pantelleria CORKSCREW 11 Jun 43
Sicily HUSKY 10 Jul 43
Invasion of Italy
(Messina) BAYTOWN 3 Sep 43
Salerno AVALANCHE 9 Sep 43
Termoli DEVON 6 Oct 43
Anzio SHINGLE 22 Jan 44
Elba BRASSARD 17 Jun 44
South of France DRAGOON 15 Aug 44
Lake Comacchio ROAST 1 Apr 45
Indian Ocean
Madagascar, IRONCLAD, 5 May 42
Burma
Akyab, LIGHTNING, 3 Jan 45
Myebon, PUNGENT, 12 Jan 45
Ramree Island
(initial assault), MATADOR, 21 Jan 45
Kangaw, 22 Jan 45
Ramree Island -
Cheduba, SANKEY, 26 Jan 45
Ramree island -
Kyauknimaw, MIKE, 4 Feb 45
Ru-Ywa, 16 Feb 45
Letpan, 13 Mar 45
Rangoon, DRACULA, 2 May 45
Pacific
Guadalcanal (Solomons), BREWER, 7 Aug 42
Attu (Aleutians), LANDGRAB, 11 May 43
Woodlark &
Kirwina Islands, CHRONICLE, 30 Jun 43
Kiska (Aleutians), TURNOVER, 15 Aug 43
Baker Island, BILLSTICKING, 1 Sep 43
Lae (New Guinea), POSTERN,4 Sep 43
Finschaven (New
Guinea), DIMINISH, 22 Sep 43
Bougainville (Solomons), RIFLE RANGE, 1 Nov 43
Tarawa (Gilberts), 20 Nov 43
Makin (Gilberts), GALVANIC, 20 Nov 43
Arawe (New
Britain), DIRECTOR, 15 Dec 43
Cape Gloucester
(New Britain), BACKHANDER /
ESCALATOR, 26 Dec 43
Saidor (New
Guinea), MICHAELMAS, 2 Jan 45
Roi, Namur &
Kwajelein (Marshalls), FLINTLOCK, 31 Jan 44
Admiralty Islands, MERCANTILE, 29 Feb 44
Aitape, Humboldt
Bay, Tanamarah (Hollandia) - (New Guinea), RECKLESS, 22 Apr 44
Wake Island, STRAIGHT LINE, 17 May 44
Biak Island, HORLICKS, 27 May 44
Saipan (Marianas), FORAGER /
TEARAWAY, 15 Jun 44
Noemfoor Island
(Dutch New Guinea), 2 Jul 44
Guam (Marianas), FORAGER /
STEVEDOR, 21 Jul 44
Tinian (Marianas), FORAGER, 24 Jul 44
Cape Sansapar
(Dutch New Guinea), GLOBETROTTER, 30 Jul 44
Morotai (Halmaheras), INTERLUDE, 15 Sep44
Angaur Island
(Palau), STALEMATE 2, 17 Sep 44
Pelelieu (W
Carolinas), STALEMATE 2, 17 Sep 44
Leyte
(Philippines), KING 2, 20 Oct 44
Mapia Islands,15-18 Nov 44, Mindoro
(Philippines),15 Dec 44
Lingyan Gulf,
Luzon (Philippines), MIKE 1, 9 Jan 45
Iwo Jima (Volcanos),19 Feb 45
Zamboange,
Mindanao (Phillipines), VICTOR 4, 10 Mar 45
Okinawa (Ryukus), ICEBERG, 1 Apr 45
Tarakan (Borneo), OBOE 1, 1May 45
Wewak (New
Guinea), DELUGE, 11 May 45
Brunei-Labau (NW
Borneo), OBOE 6, 10 Jun 45
Balikpapan
(Borneo), OBOE 2, 1 Jul 45
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