Raid on St. Nazaire - 70 years ago today

[Oberon]

http://penguinsix.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101II-MW-3722-22_St._Nazaire_Zerst%C3%B6rer_HMS_Campbeltown.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17534194

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgF0R4dhUqk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5q8eU9ku2Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL1kwL7SK1A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBj9K03ygU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzHB2dyKfSM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBWaxyRdW80

:salute: One of the most daring raids of the war.

[HunterICX]

Aye

:salute: a brave lot they where.

HunterICX

[Sailor Steve]

It was one of those things that, were it made into a movie today, no one would believe it. :sunny:

[Catfish]

Brave they were !
Greetings from Germany ;)
Catfish

[BossMark]

Very brave men :salute:

[mako88sb]

It was one of those things that, were it made into a movie today, no one would believe it. :sunny:

Yes, I got quite a chuckle from one fellas comment on the IMDB's "Attack on the Iron Coast" site:

"Well yes this is a bad movie, there is nothing I can do or say that can change that. Its story is unbelievable and impractical, why would a group of soliders go all the way over to france with no possible way back!!! almost facing death ( pre June 44` that is )."

Must of surprised the hell out of him when somebody pointed out this movie was based on an actual event.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I was a remarkable feat from some very brave people. :yep:

I remember JC paid homage to it a few years ago. As per usual, it's all available on the tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgF0R4dhUqk (part one).

Edit - forget that, I see Oberon's already linked the entire set. :oops:

[krashkart]

A very brave act indeed. :salute:


Yes, I got quite a chuckle from one fellas comment on the IMDB's "Attack on the Iron Coast" site:

"Well yes this is a bad movie, there is nothing I can do or say that can change that. Its story is unbelievable and impractical, why would a group of soliders go all the way over to france with no possible way back!!! almost facing death ( pre June 44` that is )."

Must of surprised the hell out of him when somebody pointed out this movie was based on an actual event.

Oops! :rotfl2:

[RickC Sniper]

What they attempted was crazy. That they actually pulled it off even crazier.

:salute: To the soldiers who volunteered for this.

[CaptainMattJ.]

i first learned about the raid from a video game actually, the first mission in Medal of Honor European Assault puts you on the boat heading for st naziare.

Looked up the info for the battle soon after playing. :salute: to the brave men who carried out the raid

[Torplexed]

I still own the Avalon Hill board game although I haven't played it in years. :)

http://gamers-garage.com/images/Avalon%20Hill%20Raid%20on%20St%20Nazaire.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

Laughing Swordfish wrote a compelling fictional take from the German side in his wonderful U-46 Puts To Sea Again thread.

[Oberon]

Indeed he did, had a good portion of his readership yelling at Rollie and his missus to get the hell out of the docks. I know I was anyway. :03:

[Jimbuna]

To them all

~SALUTE~

http://www.scotsatwar.org.uk/printerv/_derived/stnazaire.htm_txt_no2commando.gif


Of the 611 men who took part in the raid 169 were killed. 5 made it back to Britain with the help of the Resistance and the remainder were captured


http://www.scotsatwar.org.uk/printerv/stnazaire.htm

[TarJak]

Almost a replica of the plan to blockade Zeebrugge in WWI. This was one of the most daring actions of WWII. :salute:

[Jimbuna]

Almost a replica of the plan to blockade Zeebrugge in WWI. This was one of the most daring actions of WWII. :salute:

Aye and despite the high cost in human terms the raid was a success, the Normandie Dry Dock was put out of commission for the rest of the war.

[mako88sb]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wVTUSX2tL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Got this in the mail a couple days ago. Pretty compelling reading so far. I was on one site a few years ago and it was mentioned that David Yates was working on a movie about the raid. Supposed to be released in 2012. Sadly, I can't find anything about it. Must of been completely cancelled.

[Commander Wallace]

Brave men, all of them so, Salute :salute: It says a lot of the men knowing there was a good chance they wouldn't return but did what was asked of them anyhow. I know the Campbeltown was accompanied by a number of ships including destroyers. The book on PT/ MTB boats I can't find lists the names/number of the MGB/MTB that accompanied Campbeltown. The MTB had fired torpedoes with delayed action fuses at the basin entrances.

It was called the greatest raid of all for good reason.

[Jimbuna]

I can't find lists the names/number of the MGB/MTB that accompanied Campbeltown.

You'll find them here:

http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/Little%20Ships.html

[Commander Wallace]

You'll find them here:

http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/Little%20Ships.html


Thanks Jim. The link is Informative with great pictures and illustrations.

[Jimbuna]

Just in case you haven't noticed, the 'BACK' button at the bottom left of the page takes you to the main page of the site:

http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/index.html