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Thread: The #GreatestRaid came about through absolute necessity. The one thing large warships need for sustained operations over the course of a war is a dock that can house them. You can’t fight a ship for years on end with maintenance. /1/pic.twitter.com/KO91Tr2En2
The German warship Tirpitz was one of the deadliest; a battleship of such capability that her mere presence in a naval theatre had significant consequences. In January 1942, it looked like she might make the run from the Norwegian coast into the Atlantic for convoy raiding. /2/pic.twitter.com/AcxUDJjQk2
In order to sustain this, she needed a dry dock. There was only one on the Weat coast of sufficient size - #StNazaire. Two options presented themselves to Allied planners, sink the ship or destroy the dock. The @RoyalAirForce attempted to sink her from the sky, to no avail. /3/pic.twitter.com/T9gGcgzjj3
Only one option remained to deny her long term access to Allied convoys. The dry dock at #StNazaire had to be destroyed./Last/ #GreatestRaid @RoyalNavy @RoyalMarines @BrigJkFraserRM @MarylaIngham @UKinFrance @JeremyClarksonpic.twitter.com/TIXsEBKo0b
The plan was supposedly simple. The destroyer, HMS CAMPBELTOWN (lent from the @USNavy), was rigged with explosives and would ram the outer dock gate. Commandos would disembark, the ship would explode, destroy the lock gates and then the inner gate would be torpedoed.pic.twitter.com/8LmErXlqVx
Concurrently, the Commandoes would destroy as many dockyard infrastructure targets as possible. When the raid was complete, they would embark on the motor launches and return home - all whilst the @RoyalAirForce conducted an air raid.pic.twitter.com/EoQpVQumwz
All together, 1 Destroyer (plus 2 initial escorts), 14 Motor Launches, 1 Motor Gun Boat and 1 Motor Torpedo Boat comprised the naval element. They sailed from #Falmouth at 1500 on Thursday 26th March 1942. Only 4 craft would return. #GreatestRaid #StNazaire @BrigJkFraserRMpic.twitter.com/WAGOTl9B5v
Overnight on the 27th March 1942, the @RoyalAirForce commenced the diversionary bombing raid. The crews were instructed to strike only military installations, intended to keep the garrison forces inside their defences. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/M8AXwDq7aS
Low cloud scuppered this plan; those that couldn’t see their targets did not drop any bombs. Those that did couldn’t deliver the required effect. As opposed to keeping the German forces under cover, they altered them to Allied forces (although not specifically the naval element)pic.twitter.com/N0yQwL0u9A
The naval forces committed to the raid. Witnessing the sky illuminated from the air search lights and the bombs that were released, they hoisted their German flags and proceeded up river. #GreatestRaid #StNazaire
Accurate charting was not available, requiring the submarine HMS Sturgeon to indicate the start of the safe channel. Whilst proceeding slowly up the river, HMS Campbeltown touched the sea bed twice; she continued cautiously regardless. #GreatestRaid #StNazaire
At 0120, the group was illuminated by shore based search lights. Flying the German flag and responding to their signals seeded doubt in the minds of the Germans, stoping them from firing on the Allied vessels. When 2 miles from the lock gates, the white ensign was hoisted.pic.twitter.com/roB7yz7bR2
15 minutes of hell ensued, with intense shelling and gunfire coming from all sides. Approximately half of the sailors and Commandos were killed or wounded before they reached the target. #GreatestRaid #StNazairepic.twitter.com/zgZTRc8bFQ
HMS Campbeltown made it through the maelstrom, smashing through the protective anti-torpedo barrier and into the dock gate. The impact occurred at 0134, just 4 minutes behind schedule. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/LMHZDvYEqE
The motor launches suffered dearly in the approach; only two landed their full complement of Commandos ashore. The others were either forced to re-embark their forces due to heavy opposition, or had already been lost. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/t10Ff9pOIJ
The remaining Ship’s Company of the Campbeltown were evacuated from their ship, it’s bow wedged into the dock gate and the explosives, housed deep within, ticking towards detonation. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/QSqSyzcMsa
Captain Ryder, in charge of the raiding forces, stepped ashore to satisfy himself the mission would be achieved. At 0230, 56 minutes after the Campbeltown’s impact, he withdrew all forces. #GreatestRaid
The remaining craft fought a ferocious battle towards the sea. They suffered tremendously, returning fire from all angles, rescuing their own men along the way and engaging a group of German motor torpedo boats. Of the 8 craft that departed St Nazaire; only 4 reached safety.pic.twitter.com/FhKyK9TXbm
Around noon on 28th March 1942, the explosives within HMS Campbeltown detonated; the dock gate was ripped apiece and destroyed. Later that evening, the torpedoes also detonated and caused irreparable damage to the dock infrastructure. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/aS7rNIe35z
As a direct result of the raid. The battleship Tirpitz never left Norwegian waters for the remainder of the war. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/675oaywkMk
The raid, overall, was a strategic success. The force completed their mission and denied safe haven to a deadly foe. However, it is the stories of the men on the ground and on the waves that make this truly the #GreatestRaid.pic.twitter.com/T9vXxU7Yu8
Over the next five days, we will continue our countdown by focusing on the Victoria Cross recipients. Their stories represent the bravery of all those involved; five men to represent hundreds of our countries finest. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/MuQkMA9GXB
Captain Robert Edward Dudley Ryder RN. The commander of the raid. He lead HMS Campbeltown, flanked by the fleet of motor launches, through a maelstrom of enemy fire to reach the dock gates of #StNazaire. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/rmMTwfll9e
The losses suffered en route would have been enough to see many missions abandoned; not for Captain Ryder. He and his men pressed on through extraordinary odds, accomplishing their mission in increasingly dire circumstances. #GreatestRaid
Despite achieving the main task of reaching the dock gate, he remained at the forefront of the raid to ensure every element was achieved. Concurrently, he evacuated injured sailors and commandoes, organised ground forces and maintained an aggressive momentum. #GreatestRaid
When he was absolutely certain that he had evacuated as many of his men as possible, he withdrew from shore in the vulnerable motor launches. The his men had the best chance of escaping was clearly of utmost importance to him. #GreatestRaid
Considering the losses suffered making it up river against a less prepared enemy, the likelihood of Captain Ryder and his motor launch reaching the safety of the waiting destroyers was slim. Beating all odds, he and his wounded men made it. #GreatestRaid
Captain Robert Edward Dudley Ryder RN was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the raid. #GreatestRaid #StNazairepic.twitter.com/1DaIbmUXLv
Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Charles Newman. Command of military forces ashore during the raid. An Officer from the Essex Regiment, Lt Col Newman played an integral role in ensuring the commandoes achieved their aims ashore. #GreatestRaidpic.twitter.com/J5DkE2lV09
His men achieved great feats against a numerically superior force. They destroyed critical infrastructure to aid in neutralising the dry dock capability, such as the nearby pump house. The Lt Col could have directed his forces from afloat; he was instead one of the first ashore.
Directing individual elements of the raid, such as mortar teams, to neutralise specific enemy emplacements and bases of fire, he displayed a complete disregard for his own safety. His efforts were entirely focussed on the safety of his men. #GreatestRaid
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