St Nazaire Raid, 1942

The raid on St Nazaire was a daring commando raid by the Royal Navy and British Commando units in 1942. The objective was to disable the German naval port's dry dock, which was capable of accommodating some of Germany's largest naval vessels. The raid was successful, but came at a high cost, with 169 officers and men killed and 215 captured. 89 of the raiders were awarded decorations for bravery, including 5 Victoria Crosses.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 14 March 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The raid on St. Nazaire, code-named Operation Chariot, stands as one of the most audacious commando operations in history. Conducted in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 1942, it was a joint venture by the Royal Navy and British Commando units. Situated on the Loire estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, St. Nazaire boasts a dry dock capable of accommodating some of Germany's most formidable naval vessels, including the Bismarck and Tirpitz. By rendering the port inoperable, any necessary repairs or maintenance work would have to be conducted back in Germany at the port of Bremerhaven. To achieve this, the German vessels would either have to navigate the treacherous waters of the English Channel or the North Sea, putting them at risk of detection by the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. A formidable raiding force of 612 officers and men was assembled and dispatched from Falmouth, aboard the obsolete British destroyer HMS Campbeltown, accompanied by 18 Motor Launches. The plan was to ram the destroyer into the outer gates of the dry dock and disable it for as long as possible. The raid proved successful, although it came at a heavy cost: 169 brave men lost their lives, while another 215 were taken captive. Only 3 Motor Launches and 228 men managed to escape and make their way back to the United Kingdom. The bravery displayed by the participants in the St. Nazaire raid was truly remarkable, with 89 individuals receiving decorations for bravery, including five who were awarded the Victoria Cross. The operation not only significantly weakened Germany's naval capabilities but also had a profound impact on the course of World War II.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 240 x 190 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526736307