Operation Hardtack (commando raid)
Encyclopedia
Operation Hardtack was the name given to a series of British Commando raids during the Second World War. The raids on the Channel islands
and the coast of northern France
carried out by No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
, No. 12 Commando
and the Special Boat Squadron
(SBS) all took place over a short period of time in December 1943. Hardtack raids consisted of a small force of ten all ranks, transported by Motor Torpedo Boat
s, and dory
s, apart from one operation, which was to be an airborne landing. The raids were finally abandoned on the orders of Major General
Robert Laycock
because they encouraged the enemy to reinforce their positions which, in the longer term, could be disadvantageous to the Allies
.
by 9 men of No. 12 and No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando. A German patrol forced them to withdraw.
. During the raid the Commandos five men from No 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando and No. 12 Commando had to return in England because it was too difficult to climb the cliffs.
. The raiders were seven men from No. 1 and No.8 French troops, No. 10 Commando. The MTB's transporting them diverted to attack a convoy and their dory
sank with the death of one man the other six reached the shore and joined the French resistance
.
over the night of 26/27 December 1943 by eight men from No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando and two men from the SBS.
. The raiders were six men from No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando. The raid gathered information on the defensive obstacles on what would become Utah beach
.
by six men from No. 1 French Troop, No 10 Commando the raid was called off after their MTB ran aground.
over the night of 25/26 December. The Commandos six men from No. 8 French TRoop, No.10 Commando and an officer From No. 12 Commando managed to successfully climb the cliffs: unfortunately they then entered a minefield which resulted in the death of two Commandos and the raid commander Lieutenant
McGonigal being was wounded. The exploding mines alerted the German garrison and the Commandos had to return to the dinghy.
bi six men from No. 8 French Troop No.10 Commando. All were killed after landing.
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
and the coast of northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
carried out by No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando
No. 10 Commando was a commando unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The first No. 10 Commando was proposed in August 1940, using volunteers from Northern Command, however there was such a poor response that No...
, No. 12 Commando
No. 12 Commando
No. 12 Commando was a battalion-sized commando unit of the British Army during the Second World War. Formed in 1940 in Northern Ireland, they carried out a number of small-scale raids in Norway and France between 1941 and 1943 before being disbanded and its personnel dispersed to other commando...
and the Special Boat Squadron
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
(SBS) all took place over a short period of time in December 1943. Hardtack raids consisted of a small force of ten all ranks, transported by Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s, and dory
Dory
The dory is a small, shallow-draft boat, about long. It is a lightweight and versatile boat with high sides, a flat bottom and sharp bows. They are easy to build because of their simple lines. For centuries, dories have been used as traditional fishing boats, both in coastal waters and in the...
s, apart from one operation, which was to be an airborne landing. The raids were finally abandoned on the orders of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Robert Laycock
Robert Laycock
Major General Sir Robert Edward Laycock KCMG, CB, DSO, KStJ was a British soldier, most famous for his service with the commandos during the Second World War...
because they encouraged the enemy to reinforce their positions which, in the longer term, could be disadvantageous to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
.
Hardtack 4
Hardtack 4 was a raid over the night of 26/27 December at BivilleBiville
Biville is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France....
by 9 men of No. 12 and No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando. A German patrol forced them to withdraw.
Hardtack 7
Hardtack 7 was a raid over the nights of 26/27 December on the Channel island of SarkSark
Sark is a small island in the Channel Islands in southwestern English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. It is a royal fief, geographically located in the Channel Islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament. It has a population...
. During the raid the Commandos five men from No 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando and No. 12 Commando had to return in England because it was too difficult to climb the cliffs.
Hardtack 11
Hardtack 11 was two raids over the nights of 24/25 and 25/26 December at GravelinesGravelines
Gravelines is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies at the mouth of the river Aa 15 miles southwest of Dunkirk. There is a market in the town square on Saturdays. The "Arsenal" approached from the town square is home to an extensive and carefully displayed art collection....
. The raiders were seven men from No. 1 and No.8 French troops, No. 10 Commando. The MTB's transporting them diverted to attack a convoy and their dory
Dory
The dory is a small, shallow-draft boat, about long. It is a lightweight and versatile boat with high sides, a flat bottom and sharp bows. They are easy to build because of their simple lines. For centuries, dories have been used as traditional fishing boats, both in coastal waters and in the...
sank with the death of one man the other six reached the shore and joined the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
.
Hardtack 13
Hardtack 13 was a raid at BenouvilleBénouville
Bénouville is the name of several communes in France:*Bénouville, in the Calvados département*Bénouville, in the Seine-Maritime département...
over the night of 26/27 December 1943 by eight men from No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando and two men from the SBS.
Hardtack 21
Hardtack 21 was a raid over the night of 26/27 December at QuinevilleQuinéville
Quinéville is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France.The Chateau de Quineville is in the village, along with a church, the eglise Notre-Dame....
. The raiders were six men from No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando. The raid gathered information on the defensive obstacles on what would become Utah beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
.
Hardtack 23
Hardtack 23 was a raid over the night of 27/28 December at OstendOstend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
by six men from No. 1 French Troop, No 10 Commando the raid was called off after their MTB ran aground.
Hardtack 28
Hardtack 28 was a raid on the Channel island of SarkSark
Sark is a small island in the Channel Islands in southwestern English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. It is a royal fief, geographically located in the Channel Islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament. It has a population...
over the night of 25/26 December. The Commandos six men from No. 8 French TRoop, No.10 Commando and an officer From No. 12 Commando managed to successfully climb the cliffs: unfortunately they then entered a minefield which resulted in the death of two Commandos and the raid commander Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
McGonigal being was wounded. The exploding mines alerted the German garrison and the Commandos had to return to the dinghy.
Hardtack 36
Hardtack 36 was a raid over the night of 24/25 December 1943 at WassenaarWassenaar
Wassenaar is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. A fairly affluent suburb of The Hague, Wassenaar lies 10 km north of that city on the N44 highway near the North Sea coast. It is part of the Haaglanden region...
bi six men from No. 8 French Troop No.10 Commando. All were killed after landing.