Dangerous Enterprise: Secret War at Sea

The 15th Motor Gunboat Flotilla was a secret, successful clandestine unit of the Royal Navy between Dartmouth in Devon and the Brittany Coast in France. It was crewed by 125 officers and men and became the most highly decorated Royal Naval unit of the Second World War. Their mission was to ferry agents of SIS and SOE to pinpoint landing sites on the Brittany coast in Occupied France, as well as pick up evaders, escaped POWs, and returning SIS and SOE agents. This story is inextricably entwined with that of the many agents they were responsible for, such as Pierre Hentic, Yves Le Tac, Virginia Hall, Albert Hué, Jeannie Rousseau, Suzanne Warengham, François Mitterrand, and Mathilde Carré.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2021
Publisher: Everyman

Between 1942 and 1944, a small, secret, and highly successful clandestine unit of the Royal Navy operated between Dartmouth in Devon and the Brittany Coast in France. Covering a distance of approximately 100 miles, every yard of this perilous crossing posed significant danger. This remarkable unit was known as the 15th Motor Gunboat Flotilla, consisting of 125 officers and men, and it emerged as the most highly decorated Royal Naval unit of the Second World War.

The 15th MGBF was a unique assembly of individuals united for the most covert of missions. The majority of its members were Royal Naval Volunteer Officers and sailors, rather than regular Royal Naval officers. Their base of operations was a converted paddle steamer and luxury yacht, but the gravity of their work far outweighed their comfortable accommodations. Their primary objective was to transport agents of SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) and SOE (Special Operations Executive) to specific landing sites on the Brittany coast in Occupied France. Once these agents and their supplies had landed, the Flotilla would pick up evaders, escaped POWs who had been fortunate enough to be collected by escape lines operated by M19, as well as returning SIS and SOE agents.

This remarkable story is intricately intertwined with the lives of the many agents they were responsible for. Some notable names include Pierre Hentic, Yves Le Tac, Virginia Hall, Albert Hué, Jeannie Rousseau, Suzanne Warengham, François Mitterrand, and Mathilde Carré, among many others. Without the Flotilla's efforts, the development of intelligence-gathering networks such as Jade Fitzroy and Alliance would have been impossible, and the realization of SOE's VAR Line and MI9's Shelburne Escape Line would have remained mere aspirations.

To bring this clandestine operation to life, A Dangerous Enterprise has conducted extensive research on both sides of the Channel, utilizing private archives of many of the families involved. This comprehensive account sheds light on the untold stories of these brave men and women, who risked their lives to support the Allied cause during World War II. Their bravery and dedication have left an indelible mark on history, and their legacy continues to inspire us today.

Weight: 758g
Dimension: 169 x 248 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781999589134