St Nazaire Raid, 1942

Operation Chariot has gone down in history as ‘The Greatest Raid’ and quite rightly so. It reads like a ‘Boys Own’ story, but for those who took part in the daring raid it was deadly and dangerous. It was the early hours of Saturday, 28 March 1942 and a sense of anticipation hung in the air. This clandestine mission, known only as Operation Chariot, was about to unleash one of the most audacious commando raids in history. The Royal Navy and British commando units stood united, prepared to strike a devastating blow against the German war machine. St Nazaire, with its strategically vital port, housed a colossal dry dock capable of accommodating Germany’s fearsome naval juggernauts – including the formidable battleship Tirpitz. The Allies knew that by incapacitating this critical facility they could force the Germans to sail their damaged vessels back to the port of Bremerhaven, exposing them to the watchful eyes of the British Home Fleet. The daring mission required a force of unparalleled courage and determination. From the naval stronghold of Falmouth, a select group of 612 officers and men was meticulously assembled. Their vessel was the obsolete destroyer HMS Campbeltown. Alongside it 18 Motor launches stood ready to join the raid. The objective: to unleash chaos upon the port of St Nazaire, rendering its dry dock useless for as long as possible. The use of a ship loaded with a huge bomb onboard to ram the dock gates was the only option open to the British as an aerial raid by bombers could easily have seen bombs raining down on local French civilians and never hit the dock gates at all. As the raiding force set sail, the tension aboard Campbeltown was palpable. Each man understood the risks that lay ahead. The ship itself had been disguised to look something like a German coastal craft to try to sneak passed the heavily defended coastline and up the river estuary to the port. With precision and stealth, the convoy slipped through the darkness. The coastal defences loomed ominously on the horizon, their searchlights piercing the night sky. As the first light of dawn began to break, the silhouette of St Nazaire emerged. The commandos steeled themselves for the battle that awaited. HMS Campbeltown, their trojan horse, prepared to unleash its destructive might upon the enemy. With engines roaring and guns blazing, the Campbeltown raced toward the outer gates of the dry dock. It was a desperate gamble, a collision course that would either seal their victory or spell their demise. In a thunderous crescendo, Campbeltown, slammed into the gates. Instantly the port became a battle zone as British commandos poured from the ship to seize vitally important installations around the port against stiff opposition. Eventually, the German defenders overwhelmed the small British force, but the British had the final say that day when the bomb embedded deep within the old destroyer exploded, wrecking the dock gates. The raid came at a terrible cost. One hundred and sixty nine lost their lives, a further 215 were captured. Only three Motor launches and 228 survivors managed to escape. Many brave men gave it their all during the action at St Nazaire, to such an extent that 89 of those who took part in the raid were awarded decorations for bravery, including 5 who were awarded the Victoria Cross. A good read, recommended.