The Raid on St Nazaire - How to make an explosive entrance

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Today we take a look at the famous raid to destroy the Normandie Drydock. With apologies for starting off with the right pronunciation of St Nazaire and slipping back into my old incorrect way later on!
Sources:
www.amazon.co.uk/Storming-St-Nazaire-James-G-Dorrian/dp/0850528070
www.amazon.co.uk/St-Nazaire-1942-Commando-Campaign/dp/1841762318
www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Chariot-Nazaire-Forces-Operations/dp/1844151166
www.amazon.co.uk/Into-Jaws-Death-Legendary-Saint-Nazaire/dp/1782064478
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[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@nunyabusiness1846]

When are you finishing the bewildering array of partially complete multi part series? Too many to list but I'm sure you have an idea of what's still outstanding

[@stephenrickstrew7237]

One of the few raids that come close to this one …is the unbelievably Daring Solo Attack by the Beaufort torpedo bomber on Gneiseneau … By F/O Cambell and crew …. Cambell seems to be a name that menaced the Kriegsmarine repeatedly

[@gurk_the_magnificent9008]

Can you please go into more details about the cheese lost in the attack on _Nelson_

[@nunyabusiness1846]

@@gurk_the_magnificent9008 yes! Type, vintage, displacement the lot

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

Do you have any idea what a modernized tegethoff would look like? Like if say the Yugoslavians had been allowed to keep the remaining ships of the class as originally intended

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

TONIGHT Hammond flashes an older code in front of the Germans, James rigs up the explosives on HMS Campbeltown and I ram the ship on the dry docks. Truly the greatest raid of all

[@blindleader42]

Ah... Takes me back. Good times, those.

[@ph89787]

It was the greatest raid……………. In the World.

[@SC457A]

I love the fact I understand this comment.

[@piritskenyer]

Some say, it is a suicide mission. Some say only madmen would come up with it, and even madder men would undertake it. All we know is... It's called the greatest raid of all!

[@thebritishengineer8027]

Some of Clarksons best work, you can hear his emotion in this brilliant doc by North One. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmi9lWOFrp19r7M

[@xxAnaconta]

The part about the German officer telling a British prisoner the damage wouldn't take long to repair only for the destroyer's payload to go off was movie like comedic timing.

[@connormclernon26]

Sometimes, history is stranger than fiction, because fiction has to be believable.

[@Isolder74]

Better yet, the explosion was late. So there was no way that was planned that way.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

A missed opportunity for Fry and Laurie.

[@kmech3rd]

"Well... Scheiß."

[@connormclernon26]

@@kmech3rd now I’m just imagining the British prisoner smirking at the German officer

[@markwatson3135]

“The Royal Navy never liked getting into a fair fight if they could possibly avoid it” Classic!

[@tanall5959]

To quote another brit known for (albeit virtual) naval content: "Fair fights are for suckers!"

[@briancox2721]

A fair fight is a sure sign of shit tactics.

[@julianarnott5184]

Fair fight are when my people come home alive i dont care about the other guys

[@RedXlV]

A fair fight is for the boxing ring, not warfare.

[@christopherreed4723]

@@julianarnott5184 Pretty much what our PT instructor told us: If you walk away from it afterwards, it was a fair fight.

[@Hendricus56]

The great thing is also, the guy on the barge that was boarded firing the machine gun until he died got the VC after the war... by recommendation of Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Karl Paul, the guy commanding Jaguar at that time

[@trealosgaming3345]

Glad you said it cause i couldnt recall the german commander's name. He literally sought out the highest ranking British officer to give the recommendation

[@TheColonelsThree]

Not unlike Hipper’s captain recommending HMS Gloworm’s skipper for a medal for valor DURING the War. As in, everyone is still shooting at each other. ( I have corrected an earlier error where I wrote Scharnhorst instead of Hipper)

[@jedimasterdraco6950]

@MusicMaster1987 Tends to be relatively common in naval warfare too because both sides share a mutual enemy in the sea.

[@mattnw42]

@@TheColonelsThree The comments of the British captin that sunvk the Sharnhorst are in tye same vain.

[@vietta6424]

@@TheColonelsThree You mean Hipper's? The Sharnhost never met Gloworm.

[@nonna_sof5889]

German Officer: "This won't take long at all to repair. Why don't you just tell me the full plan already?" *Boom* Commando: "That was the plan. Little later than expected."

[@johnladuke6475]

Commando: Didn't you say your bosses were all down having a look at the ship? Seems like the plan worked even better than we wanted.

[@atomicwedgie8176]

Commando: Now, go make me a sammich!

[@admiralsirrusty3465]

My great uncle (commando) narrowly avoided death on this raid by dint of being absent on his honeymoon. His whole squad was wiped out at St. Nazaire. He had previously been on the Vaagso raid and would later fight in Italy before being parachuted into Yugoslavia to assist Tito.

[@HimmelGanger]

Vågsøy 😉

[@bigblob1623]

He sounds like a bad ass.

[@admiralsirrusty3465]

@@bigblob1623 Indeed he was. Rarely talked about it, however, he lost the knuckle on his left pinkey from a bullet. When asked about it he told of when he landed in Italy pre invasion to shake up the Axis defences. Ended up hijacking a truck and running a road block with guns blazing. When parachuted into Tito's mountain HQ in Yugoslavia he did so during a German ground attack. The US officer parachuted with him required new underwear after they landed...

[@gowdsake7103]

He sounds like someone you would want on your side

[@keithlloyd4254]

Your uncle must have been in no.2 Commando? My father was on Vaagso & St. Nazaire raids in 6 troop 2 Commando. He told me that on the morning of their return to Plymouth, he went to the mess hall for breakfast, there he found 25 places set aside for men of 6 troop. There were 6 of the 25 men present, 14 had been killed, 5 captured. That was when the cost of the raid became apparent to him.

[@robertslugg8361]

Much like Doolittle's raid, the attack caused a change in the enemy's strategies which acted to deflect men and materials away from other areas where they might have prolonged the war effort. Never hurts to get the enemy thinking irrationally.

[@greycatturtle7132]

Ye

[@MrToadColorado]

Except the Doolittle raid rexulted in 100k+ Chinese deaths. Overlooked in validating the Doolittle raid.

[@kenle2]

@@MrToadColorado Except the Japanese had already killed hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians for other "reprisals" before that. And they would go on to kill hundreds of thousands more afterwards. The Japanese Empire didn't exactly need excuses to commit war crimes on a national level.

[@MrToadColorado]

@@kenle2 Yes, very true, but assistance in the raid provoked added Chinese deaths. And the US risked two carriers for a morale building exercise. The Japanese strategic allocations changed due to a shocking homeland raid, but little damage was done.. I make no excuses for the Japanese who conducted an Asian holocaust. In isolated outposts all over the Pacific they behaved the same way. Rabaul: almost all prisoners were killed. Palawan: burn submariners to death. Prisoners on Truk, Wake, and other islands massacred and tortured and even used for medical experiments.. I have a list I keep when I read about it - it is enormous. And the use of the bomb and fire-bombing? Well, the Chinese were still being abused and starved to death by the Japanese so should the US have been concerned about burning down Japanese cities and killing civilians? I don't think so. We even dropped leaflets telling them we were going to do it. After Tokyo March 1945 there were no reason for Japanese NOT to know they could be killed in their cities. Besides, the 29's couldn't hit much from altitude, so to save Japanese civilians we should have skipped area bombing and had no effective bombing of Japan? No way. Sow the whirlwind reap the whirlwind. Of course today, the Japanese are taught today that yes they committed war crimes, just as the US did in bombing Japanese cities so in classic FOX NEWS-ERA "false equivalency" it was al the same. No I don't think so.

[@Robb1977]

@@MrToadColorado Just my two cents, it goes without saying that war crimes were horrible, but the prospects of surrender, especially unconditional, were not in it for the Japanese until the very end... and even a conditional surrender came about at an astounding cost, and the prospects of fighting the Soviets as well. The "saving up for defense of the home island" strategy that the Japanese took can be seen as a consequence of the doolittle raid, and if the entire Japanese navy/army, which already lacked unity of cause, was further weakened elsewhere by the doolittle raid, then its far more than a morale victory... not to mention just how effective a morale victory can actually be. we tend to lessen the true impact of something if its statistical results don't seem beneficial, especially when something like the doolittle raid seems to have worsened something that was already bad. but blaming the US for the Japanese-backed holocaust in asia isn't entirely accurate, and is similar to the claims made by certain groups on European theater: claiming the American-British bombing was the real reason the death toll was so high in concentration camps. The japanese were looking for any excuse to kill Chinese civilians, and what better way to do it than claim it was a reprisal for being caught by surprise. In blaming their ongoing genocide on the Americans, they attempt to rob America of its "morale victory" while justifying the murder to their own army and civilian population. It was Japan putting a positive spin on a humiliation... and in the end so many ships, raw supplies, and manpower would be devoted to the "homeland defense program" which itself was constantly hampered by the fire-bombing. (its hard to rebuild ships when you're constantly rebuilding homes and factories)

[@Meczyk]

One thing - the Brits also considered using a Polish destroyer, ORP "Burza" as the ramming ship; the Royal Navy did't liked it because it was made in a french shipyard, and there were some problems with the spare parts for her. But the Polish Navy said "no", because it was one of the few ships really owned by the Polish Government.

[@otten5666]

Is it really worth mentioning when someone considers something which not for them to consider? Would anyone care I am considering receiving $30000 from my bank every month? I doubt my bank will agree to my plan.

[@Kisielator]

​@@otten5666 It was up to the British to consider though. If what he says is true, they wanted to use the ship because it was a pain to maintain due to lack of spare parts. But the Poles disagreed.

[@otten5666]

@@Kisielator If it was up to the British then why mention the Polish said No? Either the Poles were in control of the ship and in that case the Brits considering anything is not interesting, or the Brits were in control but then the reason the ship wasn't used wasn't that the Poles said no but that the ship wasn't the best choice in the end. I bet it is not as interesting as the OP makes it out to be. It sounds like the Brits made a list of ships in their ports suitable for the job and simply worked down the list eliminating ships until the most suitable ship remained. In that case there were probably 20 ships 'considered'. Maybe I am being too anal about it but it just sounds like a weird anecdote and I wonder what the sources say about this.

[@Kisielator]

@@otten5666 The ship did belong to Polish Government, but was subordinated to control of the British Admiralty. Don't want to argue, just stating how I understood it worked. It's just a fun little tidbit, but it would be nice to have a source for it. For all we know it might have been suggested by some admiral and shut down immediately.

[@Meczyk]

@@otten5666 It was, for a short time, one of the propositions taken into consideration. And if the Author is talking about the french alternative, in my opinion he should also mention the ORP "Burza". And that's it :)

[@visualdon]

Hope Drach doesn't mind me saying this but If you enjoyed this, after watching this video I would also recommend Jeremy Clarkson's "The Greatest Raid Of All" documentary about the same raid, it is incredible.

[@robertmatch6550]

Have seen it. And agree.

[@ajsteffen41]

Can second it! As well as the one he did on the Victoria Cross

[@davidbrennan660]

An important operation which is done on a shoe string.... the withdraw being of a secondary consideration.

[@visualdon]

​@@ajsteffen41 Yes that too, and the one about the PQ 17 Convoy, I wish Clarkson would do more documentaries like that, he is very good at it.

[@JamesTobiasStewart]

@@visualdon True, its one of the rare subjects where he largely puts the blokish persona aside and shows he is actually quite intelligent and definitely knows his history.

[@josephficklen7393]

"I'm afraid this battleship will be fully operational when your friends arrive..."

[@williamlydon2554]

"Its an older code sir, but it checks out."

[@benmodel5745]

"Your overconfidence is your weakness" "Your faith in your fuse is yours"

[@anchorface9671]

Served on the Type 22 Frigate HMS Campbeltown, in 1992 we took the remaining survivors to St. Nazaire to commentate the 50th anniversary of Operation Chariot. I was part of the guard that was inspected by Prince Phillip and some French dignitaries, RN marched through the streets of St. Nazaire whilst the bloody French matelots arrived in bleedin’ coaches 😒

[@hammer1349]

True French fashion then

[@sirmalus5153]

Don't worry, the french new they weren't 'worthy' of a march through the town, as they didn't do anything did they, they were too busy sitting in port at the time of the raid, staying safe and not comming out to play.

[@brucegibbins3792]

So what? Zee English zay alvays need sumting to complain about. Musn't grumble.

[@Tegsy2]

I believe I visited the Frigate HMS Campbeltown in 2011 when she visited Saint-Nazaire before it was decommissioned.

[@Tegsy2]

@@sirmalus5153 The German Kriegsmarine was occupying the port of Saint-Nazaire. The Free French Navy wasn't there! The British were going to ask the Free French Navy (i.e. not the remainder of the French Navy that was stationned in Toulon and later to scuttle its own ships in November 1942) to lend the "Ouragan" but putting the Free French forces under General De Gaulle in the known-how was too much of a risk. Indeed, the only French person aware that the Raid was going to happen was sub-lieutenant Jack Lee on board ML447 who was part of S.O.E. to act as an interpreter (yet he was half-French as his mother was American). The civilians in Saint-Nazaire suffered not at the hands of the commandos, but at the hand of the Germans who went crazy shouting everywhere at anything that moved as the two time-delayed torpedoes exploded on the 30th of March causing panic amongst the German soldiers who thought there were still commandos in town. 18 civilians aged between 5 and 63 were killed (about 50 either killed or wounded) then 750 inhabitants were sent to a camp in Savenay waiting three days for their fate. Luckily, they were not executed but released under the active diplomacy of their town mayor, Pierre Toscer. It is best to read a bit of history to understand actually what happens and it is better to do so before making unsubstantiated statements.

[@bonetiredtoo]

The award of the VC to Thomas Durrant of ML 306 has an interesting history. It was one of the very few that was made upon the recommendation of an enemy officer, Kapitänleutnant F. K. Paul, captain of the German destroyer Jaguar. Paul, a humane man, called for Durrant to stop shooting but was answered by a burst of fire. After the action, Paul met the leader of the raid, Lt Col Newman, and recounted the action recommending that Durrant, who had died in hospital, receive the highest award possible. One other quirk. It is probably the only time when a soldier was awarded the VC for a purely naval action.

[@gokbay3057]

"It is probably the only time when a soldier was awarded the VC for a purely naval action." I think a Royal Marine officer in, I want to say Lion but maybe Tiger's turret was avared VC for flooding the magazine and making sure the ship did not explode. And Jutland is certainly a purely naval action.

[@chrisoddy8744]

@@gokbay3057 I think the idea is that a soldier (ie an army guy - I believe the commandos were still an army unit at this point as opposed to part of the Marines) gets the medal for a naval action, rather than the more common sailor...

[@gokbay3057]

@@chrisoddy8744 Ah, that meaning of Soldier... That's fair I was also counting Marines and Sailors under "soldier".

[@bonetiredtoo]

@@gokbay3057 I should have said "pongo" :)

[@Tegsy2]

@@chrisoddy8744 No Royal Marines on Operation Chariot, Royal Navy personnel and Army commandos, plus of course the RAF which played a much more important role than stated (reconnaissance flights, bomber raid, protection during withdrawal of the MLs) which is why it is a Combined Operation.

[@janebrown7886]

My father, Richard Collinson is quoted in the video. Following the sinking of the ML, the crew swam through the burning oily water and came ashore at the Old Mole. They sheltered in the lighthouse until the morning and then surrendered. They were then taken to Rennes for questioning before being transported to Germany in cattle trucks. He spent the rest of the war as a POW in Marlag Milag Nord at Westertimke, famous for Albert RN. That's another story.

[@janiceduke1205]

Lt Nigel Thomas Bethune Tibbits DSC 1913-1942., an RN explosives expert, was responsible for designing the bomb, calculating the amount of explosives required and where the explosives should be placed. On the run up to the drydock gates the vessel was under heavy fire, the helmsman was killed, the man who took over from him was killed almost immediately. A Royal Engineer took the helm briefly, Lt Tibbits then took the helm as the Campbeltown made its final run to the target while still under heavy fire. He made a vital course correction as the ship was heading for the wrong target, it smashed into the drydock gate and the explosives in the hull were directly over the gate, just as Lt Tibbits had planned. The commandos then proceeded to assault various installations in the dockyard while fighting the German troops. When the Campbeltown eventually exploded the drydock was destroyed & out of commission for the remainder of the war. Lt Tibbits was killed while trying to get back to England on one of the escorting motor launches, his body was never recovered. He is commemorated on the Royal Navy memorial in Portsmouth.

[@janiceduke1205]

HMS Campbeltown gave new meaning to the words "going over the top" as it went over the top of the drydock gate. 🤭

[@Moonhermit-]

Imagine Tibbits just chilling in the afterlife for a few hours, then suddenly a long scrolling killfeed just pops up around noon.

[@Tegsy2]

Sadly, some thought he had survived which is why he was awarded the DSC even though he didn't make it. However, later witness accounts show that he was killed when ML177 taking him back to Britain was hit by a German coastal battery. For his clever design of the Campbeltown hidden bomb and his taking over of the helm at a crucial time, he should have been awarded a posthumous VC as well.

[@michalsoukup1021]

"Hmm, Germans shot up last three men to man the wheel, mustz be therefore completely safe for me"

[@ThePhoenix198]

@@Tegsy2 The Victoria Cross is awarded for "... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty _in the presence of the enemy_" so his courage in taking over at the helm would have 'counted' toward that award. The clever design of the Campbeltown bomb is more DSC territory

[@chrismaynardTVCC]

I knew one of the commandos who participated in this raid - he lived in my village when I was growing up and I did occasional odd jobs for him (usually fixing his computer!) He was a genuinely nice guy, not at all what you would expect of someone who had been part of such a ridiculously dangerous raid.

[@barrydysert2974]

@UNSCForwardontodawn Thank you for passing this man's story along !:-)

[@toddkes5890]

Considering what he took part of, he didn't need to brag about anything

[@sirmalus5153]

@@toddkes5890 Those who took part in any real actions, never do. They don't want to remember or talk about, the things they have seen.

[@able34bravo37]

Something I noticed during my own service: the people who stacked bodies tended to be pretty chill. The people who did nothing of note tended to be the biggest, loudest douchebags.

[@MikeJones-qn1gz]

Well once he got that raid and war done I don’t think he needed much adventure after that.

[@williamlydon2554]

The irony of the most famous of the "four-stack" American destroyer being a repurposed explosive *ram* in Royal Navy service, is quite thick.

[@williamnixon3994]

How so?

[@johnladuke6475]

@@williamnixon3994 Because even though it was badly-needed aid from an ally at a crucial time, that's what the RN really wanted to do with it all along. "Ugh, this awful scow just reeks of the Yankees who made her. Let's fill it with explosives and slam it into something French that's full of Germans."

[@ThePhoenix198]

@@johnladuke6475 Really? They were hardly going to use one of the newer 'Tribal' (or later) class destroyers, were they? Not everything is driven by petty rivalries, or by a desire to be ironically 'clever'. Especially during what had by then been regarded as a war of national survival for some years.

[@johnladuke6475]

@@ThePhoenix198 While that is the truth of the situation, it's still funny (and probably accurate) to imagine some RN officers being not very sad at all to condemn a ship built in a USN shipyard.

[@williamlydon2554]

@@williamnixon3994 You expect a famous vessel in a class to be in service with it's parent nation, and for it's intended use, rather then a trojan horse

[@matydrum]

I'm a musician who lives in France, and a WW2 nerd, especially airplanes wise. There is a pub in saint Nazaire where I play every two years or so, and when I take a break there I always take a walk to the u boat-bunkers that are still there and open, you can go inside, they shot "das bot" port scenes there, and I take a moment day dreaming about all the things that went down around here 75 years ago...

[@philodonoghue3062]

Das Boot Excellent series

[@bnipmnaa]

Yep, I feel the same whenever I'm in Normandy, the Ruhr cities, etc. They're full of ghosts.

[@cf453]

I don't know why this put me in mind of my grandmother who was a couple hundred kilometers away in Aveyron during the war. She had no war stories, as she was in such a deep rural area, she never saw a German. She passed away last year here in California at the age of 96 after leading quite a life. I miss her.

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

A raid so great an enemy officer recommends the VC for one of your commandos. Bravo gentlemen, bravo.

[@alganhar1]

Only a little comment really. The Distinguished Conduct Medal should have been noted immediately after the Victoria Cross! The DCM was the second highest award for Courage in the British Army, which at the time had a tiered Award system for every award EXCEPT the Victoria and George Cross. Its why you see Military Medal and Military Cross, they are the same award essentially, its just the Cross was for Officers, the Medal for Other Ranks. Even the ribbon was the same. The DCM was an other ranks award, and could NOT be awarded to officers. The Officers equivalent was the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), but that could be awarded for services other than courage in the face of the enemy. The DCM could not. A soldier who was awarded a DCM was almost certainly put forward for a VC.... Just to highlight the kind of action required for someone to be given that medal....

[@Tegsy2]

That is a fair point, well said! Even a posthumous VC could occasionally be considered as a unit citation like Able Seaman Bill Savage for the Royal Navy sailors and Sergeant Tom Durrant onboard ML306.

[@spikespa5208]

According to Drach's count, 470 or so participants received no medal, commendation or mention in dipatches. IMO they *ALL* deserved one.

[@tarab9081]

The St. Nazaire raid is one of those things that are so amazing that if you didn't know better you'd swear they were the plot of a movie instead of real life.

[@Tegsy2]

It is larger than life. I still know living witnesses who were children when the Raid happened. The explosion of HMS Campbeltown could be heard at least 20 miles away. It was a terrific explosion. The damage in the port of Saint-Nazaire was considerable given the relative small force of some 600+ Royal Navy and Army Commandos engaged in the Raid (I have on my count 609, 341 Royal Navy personnel and 265 commandos). The quality of the Intelligence provided on the port installations by the underground information network made a huge difference in the operation order and the preparation of the demolition parties. There is no doubt in my mind, and it may be down to Lady Luck too, that it is the "Greatest Raid of All".

[@robertrawlyss7373]

My grandfather was Bob Hoyle No 12 commando unit. His small team were on Cambletown and charged with blowing the winding house. He was taken prisoner after the action.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Great work as per Drach :)

[@Sky_Guy]

Kings supporting kings.

[@KorbinX]

o7

[@mattblom3990]

"Hello port, I will show you what the word 'destroyer' means' "

[@thomascolbert2687]

I saw another video where Beatty, who took the wheel for the final stage of the ship's attack, said upon successfully driving the destroyer into the dock doors: " Well, there we are! Four minutes late!".

[@MoA-Reload...]

Awesome job as always Drach 😊 There's a nice side story about the ships bell. It was removed before they left. After the war it was presented to the town of Campbelltown in the US as a symbol of the alliance and friendship between USA and UK. It was on display in a fire House for years until the HMS Campbeltown F86 was brought into service. The bell was presented back to the Royal Navy and was on that ships bridge her entire service. When F86 was decommissioned the bell was returned to Campbelltown USA by officers of the Royal Navy where it is now on display in a museum. The local community of Campbelltown have already stated that if/when a new HMS Campbeltown is brought into service, the bell will once again be given to the Royal Navy to go on that ship too 😉 Also fun fact, I've actually rang that bell. As a kid HMS Campbeltown F86 first call into Campbeltown, Argyll I got to go aboard. I was like 8 so I can't remember exactly if it was the Cpt or one of the other officers that lifted me up to ring the bell. I do remember my Grandfather telling me off as he didn't want me braking it 😂

[@GM-fh5jp]

The story of the courageous Cmdr. Wynn on the hot rod MTB74 and its exploits on the raid is an exciting but ultimately tragic one. The Greatest Generation guys in action. RIP the Heroes of St.Nazaire.

[@Tegsy2]

Sub-Lieutenant Michael Wynn, later to become Lord Newborough

[@GM-fh5jp]

@@Tegsy2 Thanks mate, I recalled the story of his daring do from my reading when I was about 12-14 yrs old. I appreciate the update and hope the Lord Newborough led a long and worthy life.

[@ryangale3757]

An interesting postscript regarding U-593: it actually was able to later get the last laugh on HMS Tynedale, sinking it near Gibraltar on 12 December, 1943, before being sunk itself the next day. Bit of a shame Tynedale wasn't able to finish U-593 off the first time then I suppose.

[@DeliveryMcGee]

"The Royal Navy never likes getting in a fair fight if they can avoid it." Yeah, since Nelson the RN was all about bringing a shotgun to a knife fight, to put it in figurative terms.

[@nunyabusiness1846]

Hmmm not so sure this is applicable to age of sail at all actually, most naval battles in that era saw Britain vastly out numbered and out gunned, punching well above it's weigh is kind of what the RN does

[@ThePhoenix198]

Why would you do anything else other than at least try to apply overwhelming force? Perversely it usually minimizes casualties on both sides, unless you encounter fanatics.

[@DeliveryMcGee]

@@ThePhoenix198not everybody can afford enough capital ships to overwhelm the enemy. That's why Nelson cheated and went through the enemy lines with raking fire rather than trading broadsides..

[@DeliveryMcGee]

And after Hood went down, the RN went hard on the overwhelming force thing vs. Bismarck. KGV and Rodney once the German ship was crippled by shipborne aircraft ... well, let's just say it went badly for the Jerries.

[@ThePhoenix198]

@@DeliveryMcGeeAny commander worth his salt, be they land, sea or air, will try to establish at least local superiority, be that in numbers, firepower or whatever is assessed as the determining factor. That's what Nelson did by 'crossing the T'

[@Echowhiskeyone]

Jeremy Clarkson did an awesome video on this a while back, riding a boat along the route and following the commandos movements.

[@Boxmediaphile]

Yeah his ex father in law won a VC during this raid

[@mattsmith5421]

@@Boxmediaphile no he didn't he won it at Arnhem

[@marcinfrostymroz]

@@Boxmediaphile as far as is remember his ex father in law won it in Arnhem, but while doing resarch for his Victoria Cross film JC came across the info about "The Greatest raid of all" thus his second film. And BtW: more recent one about PQ-17 was rather good too - sadly its farily hard to find online

[@chriswillis515]

Ah the greatest raid of all.

[@mattsmith5421]

It's really good so is the the bridge to far I've seen them both over 20 times lol

[@mrsteamie4196]

I was practically screaming no as I realized that the bombs hadn't gone off, and damn near cheered out loud when they detonated during the tour

[@andrewclayton4181]

Apparently the commandos on the Cambletown were paying for ciggies and other goodies in the ships naffi on the way over, until someone twigged the whole thing was going to be blown sky high that night. After that they just took what they wanted. The rumours of free ciggies and chocolate also lured some unsuspecting visitors onto the ship the following morning, when it did blow up.

[@terencetan236]

I would imagine the story of the 5 commandos who walked to Spain would make a good read/ movie.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

Considering that Spain was strongly Germany leaning just short of being an ally with them that was indeed a risky choice.

[@crazyafrican9955]

@@michaelpettersson4919 ye but Spain would likely not hand Allied forces over to Nazis, because they needed American to survive

[@rockyblacksmith]

@@michaelpettersson4919 A risky choice, but the only realistic one. Only two of France's neighbours weren't Germany, German-occupied or German-allied; Spain and Switzerland. There would have been no way to get from Switzerland back to England, while through Spain, they had a direct land route to Gibraltar.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

@@crazyafrican9955 Franco played his cards right so his fascist regime survived until his death in the seventies.

[@crazyafrican9955]

@@michaelpettersson4919 ye he just spent 3 year fighting half the country, if he has to start moving out his Loyal troops shit will have started happening

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

6:59 "Nelson was under repairs after an Italian torpedo bomber had blown a hole in her side, taking an especially valued cheese with it." WHAT?

[@mpetersen6]

HMS Fromage

[@alanlawson4180]

See Drach's Video! Very upsetting, losing a cheese like that.

[@durinsson6583]

British squadie: "We're entering a serious combat situation & I'm bored." *Makes a soap sandwhich* Squadie: "Here, John. Eat this."

[@jesseestrada8914]

As a US marine I can confirm bored dudes on a transport would in fact do dumb things like that when bored

[@bnipmnaa]

You may just be confirming that yanks do dumb things though.

[@tomsmithie3917]

"Since the Ministry of Information balked at the idea of using journalists as human shields..." Oh come on, that's the best idea I've heard in a long time.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

Times have changed, Journalists weren't the completely irredeemable "profession" they've become on recent years... Or at least not to such an obvious degree...

[@peterkoch3777]

They should have invited some lawyers too...😂

[@Ashfielder]

“You can’t park there mate!”

[@kmc7355]

😄

[@Dan_the_afol]

We’ve been trying to reach you about your battleships extended warranty

[@kingradley3413]

I first learned of the St Nazaire raid when I played Medal of Honor: European Assault when I was a kid. It wasn’t until many years later when I became more interested in history, and naval history in particular, that I learned that the opening of the game I played so long ago was connected to Tirpitz. It was pretty cool to learn about.

[@RhodokTribesman]

Damn, I completely forgot about that! First mission right?

[@kingradley3413]

Yep!

[@kemarisite]

"The British always try to avoid a fair fight" As Murphy said, there's no such thing as a fair fight in war - only ones where you win or lose.

[@seafodder6129]

"I'll kill a man in a fair fight. Or if I think he's about to start one." - Jayne

[@kemarisite]

@@seafodder6129 or if there's a woman. Or if I'm getting paid. Mostly if I'm getting paid.

[@Rdeboer]

I forget who said, _"If you find yourself in a fair fight then your tactics suck."_

[@skussy69]

The Klingons would disagree

[@michaeltempsch5282]

@@Rdeboer Supposedly, John Steinbeck

[@709mash]

They took "dramatic pause" to its ultimate level.

[@bigblue6917]

The fact that the explosives failed to go off when they should have done had a much greater impact than Britain could have hoped for. Then there is the drain on German resources which were much needed elsewhere.

[@MoA-Reload...]

There's a story of one of the British officers that was captured being brought back to the lock gate right next to C'town. He had to hide his fear of why hadn't she blown yet, if or when will they find the explosives and the fact she could blow any second while he was right there watching German soldiers clamber all over her.

[@bigblue6917]

@@MoA-Reload... Thanks. I'd not come across that before. Definitely a buttock clenching moment.

[@Moonhermit-]

Some real "task failed succesfully" shit going on with those detonators.

[@MoA-Reload...]

@@bigblue6917 I highly recommend watching Jeremy Clarkson's documentary "The greatest raid of all time" too. It's more from the perspective of the Commando's and has far more insight into the men. It's even on YT on Timeline Channel if you're interested

[@Paludion]

@@MoA-Reload... Was he taken away from the scene before the explosion, or was he still there when the Campbeltown exploded ?

[@jazeroth322]

What a story. Only the british could come up with something as epic as this.

[@billbolton]

Thanks Drach; the line between bravery and insanity is blurred by several tons of high explosives.

[@rear9259]

"That zestroyer shall make a fine addition to our collezction" - German Integrator seconds away from deafness

[@ThePhoenix198]

Is an Integrator anything like an interrogator? 🤔😉

[@rockyblacksmith]

How does one mess up those "z"s THAT bad? Aren't they supposed to replace the "th"s, and not just be inserted at random points?

[@untruelie2640]

In the WW2 novel "Die Festung" ('"The Fortress", written by german war correspondant Lothar-Günther Buchheim, better known for his other novel "Das Boot"), the main character tells the reader how he visited the Campbeltown together with a group of the best submarine commanders in the Kriegsmarine. They would've stayed on board, but about half an hour before the explosion, one of the commanders reminded them that it was time for lunch, so they got back to their mess hall and instead of all the U-Boat aces, another group of visitors was killed. I don't know if this really happened, but Buchheim was really stationed in Saint-Nazaire and it is very likely that he visited the ship after the raid.

[@jona.scholt4362]

What's the best thing about Wednesday? The fact it is "Hump Day"? Not if Drach keeps releasing 45 minute episodes of "Rum Ration" on Wednesday! HUZZAH! On an unrelated note: I know Drach's US trip has a pretty extensive and epic lineup but I can't help but wish he was visiting us along the Great Lakes; I know we don't have any awesome Carriers and Battleships for our Museum Ships but we do have WWII era subs like the Silversides in Muskegon (Michigan) and even a U-Boat indoors in Chicago at the Museum of Science and Industry! They're not quite the New Jersey or the Yorktown but the selfish part of me would've loved to see our Museum Ships get some love on the channel

[@keithmacfarlane5907]

The real wonder is that these men could walk at all with such big steel balls.

[@albertoswald4904]

Tyndale was sunk in the Mediterranean the next year by U-593 which she had fought in the St. Nazaire raid!!

[@ThePhoenix198]

That's a truly remarkable turn of fate!

[@martinfrancis1950]

In December 1993 I had the honour to assist Tynedale Council Musum Services to commemorate the December 1943 sinking of HMS Tynedale by U-593 with surviving members of the crew of Tynedale plus the captain of U593, Kl Gerd Kelbling and his senior surviving Petty Officer Gunther Uberschar. At one point in the wreath laying ceremony, on a bitterly cold December day in Hexham, one of the Tynedale crew nudged his neighbour and, pointing to the Uboat Captain said “See that bugger there; why couldn’t he have sunk us in July ?…..” The following year, at the invitation of the U593 Comrades association, my partner and i, along with several of the Tynedale crew went to the U593 reunion celebration at Cuxhaven and Altenbruch. To be so honoured by the then surviving crew members of both vessels was an honour.

[@anantr99]

The Raid on St Nazaire reminds me of the burning of the (captured) USS Philadelphia in 1804, a feat that was described by Lord Nelson as "the most daring and bold act of the Age". He would have even prouder of the Raid on St Nazaire.

[@CFarnwide]

I’ve never heard of “The Burning of USS Philadelphia”. Can you recommended any reading besides a basic google search?

[@anantr99]

@@CFarnwide I have only seen one book on the subject, and that is a book I read two years back. This book is "Decatur's Bold and Daring Act - The Philadelphia in Tripoli 1804" by Mark Lardas. There are a number of fairly good write-ups of the raid on the Internet on good websites. Also, Drachinifel briefly covered the raid in his video on the Barbary Pirates as well.

[@CFarnwide]

@@anantr99 I will check out Drachinifels rendition. Thanks much!

[@GeordieSwordsman]

Can't comment on Nelson but I remember reading that Chariot was pitched as "The sauciest thing since Drake."

[@ramal5708]

The fact that in present day Royal Navy is going to commission or is building a Type 31 Frigate name HMS Campbelltown. The same name of the Destroyer that was used in the raid l.

[@Trek001]

Rumour is that the RN wants her trials to include a visit there

[@dogsnads5634]

@@Trek001 The previous Cambeltown visited a few time. Wonder if they'll get the bell back from Campbelltown in the US who look after the bell for them...

[@tbjtbj7930]

Because we can't use the traditional names of RN ships any more as nobody these days knows what they mean. So lets just have another load of towns, just after decommission the previous ones.

[@thehandoftheking3314]

HMS Campbeltown, arriving late, blowing up late. Did the CO work for British Rail before the war?

[@rosiehawtrey]

Nah, on the basis of the fact it actually arrived.

[@johntowner1893]

Does anyone else feel as though this raid is less well known of than it deserves? I just rewatched a number of Saint Nazaire raid videos right around the date of you releasing this vid, Drachinifel. Talk about serendipity. Thank you for covering this one, Drach.

[@wojteks8887]

I love Jeremy Clarkson’s movie „Greatest Raids of all” about these events. Of course it has much more drama comparing to Drach’s version, but Clarkson is a true master in his profession. And the movie itself is very well put together.

[@RimeoftheAncientGamer]

There's a great old Avalon Hill solo-play board game (Raid on St. Nazaire) that does a good job of recreating the chaos and unpredictability of this action (on both sides).

[@TheShreddedSnorlax]

I remember watching Jeremy Clarkson's documentary "The Greatest Raid of all." on St Nazaire as a kid, I think that's how a lot of us first heard about the raid. Even after hearing a bit more detail about the raid, its execution and planning (thanks Drachinifel, great video!) the sheers audacity of the raid still boggles the mind.

[@Paludion]

I had absolutely know idea the British were so short on capital ships by the time Tirpitz became operational. Now it's even more understandable why they green lighted such a risky (and probably costly) plan.

[@cakecakeham5823]

Not to be mean or callous, but in strategic terms, this was not all that costly. An old destroyer and some MTBs, a company of troops...in return for completely denying the use of a strategic dock to the enemy. Naturally airpower would have been even more economical (albeit less certain in those days than it would be now), but this was an enormous result on a shoestring budget. A testament to the founding principles of Commando tactics - making do, improvising, and using whatever is at hand to best effect. (see also: Brass Balls)

[@Paludion]

@@cakecakeham5823 I meant "costly" in a relative term. Of course, preventing your big capital ships and many convoys carrying precious cargo from sinking by limiting the Tirpitz area of action with an old destroyer detonating in the right place is good business, but if anything went wrong during the operation (even more wrong than it did, I would say, with a lot of men stranded in port), it would have costed the british a few hundred commandos, which are not easily replaced.

[@klhaldane]

German lookout: "Do you see torpedo boats?" German officer: Belts him across the head for having an overactive imagination.

[@dorn0531]

Shades of the 2nd Pacific Squadron. Seeing torpedo boats everywhere

[@donaldreynolds6857]

We loan you guys a nice destroyer and look what you did with it! That's why I never loan anyone my truck.

[@gl3618]

Never had a problem with your sound quality, maybe I’m just not picky/petty enough to notice and complain, or I’m just ignorant…but my problem is my phone is either too loud for my wife trying to sleep or too low for me to hear. You’re not boring, but I like to listen to your videos while I fall asleep and when I shower. Very informative and professional.

[@fossilmatic]

I’ve only been a subscriber for about 18 months, but I have to say that the content quality and regularity from Drachinifel is both impressive and appreciated.

[@matthewlok3020]

This and Jeremy Clarkson’s video on the St Nazaire raid are not apple to apple comparison IMO, both are very good in presentation, Drach had a complete tactical picture while Clarkson’s had interviewed a few who were there and focused on individual acts of them and others.

[@gizmophoto3577]

I greatly appreciated the summary of the strategic context for the raid.

[@kc9602]

Precisely why Operation Chariot was The Greatest Seaborne Commando Raid of All Time. Thank you, Drach. "Don't worry, Old Man, I've got it!"

[@danielhammersley2869]

Amazing work Drach! And, despite the human losses of the Operation Chariot-force, the British proved frugality and daring in getting more bang for the pound sterling in an old WW1-class destroyer than even the Germans could have imagined. Outstanding video presentation once more! *Who Dares Wins*

[@bobhealy3519]

So many VCs. So well earned. The most daring raid.

[@MoA-Reload...]

As someone from her namesake Town of Campbeltown, I've been so waiting for this one 🤗 Fresh cuppa tea at the ready and I'm "busy" for next 45mins 😁

[@BakaGaijin66]

Op. Chariot is one of my favourite tales of "daring-do." A remarkable feat of arms, deception and luck. Good show, sir

[@smokerjim]

The explosive guffaw (and later sniggers through the day) that the sub-title elicited got me a couple funny looks at work - keep that calibre of dry wit and I'll keep on looking forward to the Wednesday rum rations

[@recentrogue]

I really like your videos. They keep me calm and let me learn history. You've helped in my recovery and I wholeheartedly say thank you for helping me through this rough spot. Thank you again. Love your stuff Drach

[@simonchandler9601]

To my knowledge, the earliest historical contested amphibious landing was during the reign of Ramesses III on the Nile Delta against the Sea Peoples; this was the beginning of the Bronze Age collapse.

[@molybdaen11]

At that time most ships were light enough to be pulled on the beach when nessesary.

[@Neneset]

Per the Egyptian descriptions it was likely near the end of the sea Peoples part of the Bronze Age Collapse as multiple cities that failed to withstand the Sea Peoples are mentioned. The difference is that the Egyptian’s won and survived to write about it. No other nation attacked by the Sea Peoples survived. The Sea Peoples themselves, whoever they were, left no written records that have been found, and very little other evidence either.

[@warrenchambers4819]

I gotta say I'm not really a Navy guy and found your channel through happen stance but boy am I ever glad I did. You sir are a great story teller and accurate to boot. Been hooked ever since. Keep up the outstanding work Drachinifel

[@vB34styy]

These are the types of videos I love from this channel, having really no depth of knowledge of naval history/ships, the stories and battle breakdowns are a lot easier to digest

[@johnathansaegal3156]

A video on CV-14 USS Ticonderoga would make for an interesting WWII through Skylab (in memory of my father who passed away December 21st, 2021, who was an XO of the Tico during the Apollo and Skylab missions)

[@andreisrr]

Last year I saw a "Discovery Channel" type documentary on this raid, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson. It was good, but I love your pragmatic and detailed historical style against that any time. Thank you, Drach!

[@normanstewart7130]

The U-Boot that the flotilla encountered (21:03) was U-593, captained by Kapitänleutnant Gerd Kelbling. In the 1980s-1990s, Kelbling was a neighbour of mine in the village of Diessen near Munich. We used to do German-English translations for him when he was preparing some text in English or when he had English-speaking visitors. On one occasion he had a visitor who was a British veteran of the Second World War, who happened to be from the crew of HMS Tynedale. They organised reunions, I think annually, of the crews of Tynedale and U-593. There seemed to be an extraordinary bond between the two groups of men. It's remarkable that, nine months after the Tynedale was shooting at U-593, U-593 sank the Tynedale in the Mediterranean, with heavy loss of life. Kelbling was a charming, very cultured man and I found him excellent company. He and his wife ran the music school in the village, which was a great asset for the community. We never talked about politics, but my impression was that he was a Prussian traditionalist who was not interested in Nazism (he joined the Navy in 1934 at the age of 19, so he was a career serviceman).

[@tombuchanan379]

I built the the Campbeltown model when I was 9 or 10. It made an interesting addition to the fleet actions across my floor as its scale made it bigger even then my CVN-65 or CV-6 Enterprises My models were ships of action and rarely sat on a shelf. Only later reading books on the raid did I discover that she was originally The USS Buchanan. That was cool.

[@OsborneCox.69.420]

it’s good to see so many people referencing Clarkson’s video.

[@mbryson2899]

Excellent video! I helped build a friend's Revell model of the H.M.S. Campebltow and remember the thumbnail history quite fondly. Those sailors and soldiers were CRAZY!

[@billharm6006]

I've heard the story several times, but your presentation is "above and beyond." Thank you for a great effort.

[@raf155]

“And gentlemen in England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.” Not just England, the world.

[@Charliecomet82]

I learned about this raid from a trip to the hobby shop when I was a kid, when I saw the Revell "HMS Campbeltown" kit.

[@phillipphil1615]

Extraordinary presentation! One comment it's St Nazaire, pronounced "Naz-air" not "Nazi-air" . A minor detail but it does distract a bit from the great content. 😊👍

[@Colonel_Overkill]

Campbeltown most certainly lived up the the name of destroyers for bases, more literally than anyone would have suspected.

[@benwilson6145]

HMS Campbeltown

[@Colonel_Overkill]

@@benwilson6145 ugh. The infuriating part is I had it spelled correctly and autocorrect still said no comrade, you spell it my way.

[@gunnargundersen3787]

There was a WW1 raid by the Royal Navy in Zebrugge that I believe was the precursor. Also there was a great movie "Attack on the Iron Coast" that basically covers off this raid. "We're not quite as foolish as you think!".

13:10

[@andrewclayton4181]

The plan for Zebrugge was to sink a couple of blockships at the entrance to the harbour to prevent submarines exiting on convoy attacks. It didn't go so well. There was heavy fighting, and the block wasn't as effective as hoped.

[@tango6nf477]

That movie was poor in comparison to the "Gift Horse" a 1952 black and white film.

[@misterflibble6601]

Absolutely thrilling, tempered by the tragic loss of the many brave men who died in pursuit of their objective

[@silverpairaducks]

I literally fall asleep to you and wake up to you. You are boring and interesting. You are chamomile and coffee.

[@thisherehandleIdospout]

NGL, I clicked on this video just to give it a thumbs-up for the wickedly-clever title. Drach rocks!

[@Indoor_Carrot]

One of the most important raids in history. Not only did it prevent the Kriegsmarine from using the French coast for their Battleships, but it also secured the future of the British Commandos. This raid pissed off Hitler so much, he issued an order to have any commando (any spy or soldier with a daggar) to be shot on sight.

[@reginabillotti]

" This raid pissed off Hitler so much, he issued an order to have any commando (any spy or soldier with a daggar) to be shot on sight." Um, no. As the video itself points out, that order happened months later. (It was in response to a different commando mission, can't remember which one at the moment.)

[@khaelamensha3624]

Yes sadly this order was carried in most cases but in North Africa due to the distance from the raging little man with the funny mustache

[@bkjeong4302]

The Kriegsmarine had no plans to use the St. Nazaire dock or even send their heavies into the Atlantic at this point in the war, not after what happened to Bismarck. The raid wasn’t necessary to have that happen.

[@Indoor_Carrot]

@@bkjeong4302 But they could have. Even if they weren't planning on it at this point, it was a HUGE morale boost to the British.

[@Destroyer_V0]

@@bkjeong4302 Perhaps. But consider the British POV. They could have. And so they wanted to ensure the Germans, could not.

[@AtomicBabel]

Too excited to watch this Rum Ration before coffee

[@khaelamensha3624]

Well I did have my coffee that now sits cold in its cup on my desk. Next time I will pour it after Drach s video 😂 Enjoy your coffee with a drop or two of rum of course 😉😁

[@shadowrunner2323]

A classic. Impressive no matter how many times I hear the story.

[@kefkaZZZ]

I really think that every soldier who took part in that raid deserves special recognition above and beyond any medal or award.

[@jcwoodman5285]

Well done! I own a photo collection of a USN sailor who served on DD 131 Buchanan. Lots of great, clear pics of 131 & her sisters along with various BBs which he was obviously focused on. All from the 20s -30s..

[@robertmatch6550]

My constant yet ever-changing reason for getting up early Wednesday. Done my Wordle, now time to listen to Drach's latest.

[@andrewfanner2245]

Keep an eye out for the film Attack on The Iron Coast, a film very much based around the raid which shpws up on the TV on occasion.

[@rnp497]

The benefit this plan had was nobody sane would think anyone would even possibly consider it.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

*At Destroyer Olympic Games: USS Buchanan enters the track and field course. USS Mahan, elbowing USS Fletcher intently: "You can't come and compete with us, Buch. You're too old." USS Buchanan, startled: "What?" USS Fletcher, giggling: "You're too old, buddy! You can't run. You can't fight. You're no darn good." HMS Buchanan: "I know, man... but... but... (Coughs, steam rising) Right! I'll bloody well show ya, ya cheeky bastards!" USS Mahan: "Wooohoo, Buch! What's going on, buddy?" USS Fletcher, surprised: "I don't understand a single word you're saying." HMS Campbeltown, fully flipping the bird at the others: "Rubbish! I may be a silly old geezah but I can still tussle with them germans!" A resigned USS Gleaves, passing behind Mahan and Fletcher: "He's gone to the british team. Well done, guys." OBS Speaker: "Now, for the Royal Navy team on the obstacle course, HMS Campbeltown." DKM Jaguar, having nothing to do there and laughing: "Ze old zerstörer kan't even go over the obstacle!" HMS Campbeltown, smiling: "I don't even have to. Cheerio, Fritzie." *Sudden and massive explosion. Angry Kriegsmarine shouting. USS Gleaves rolling on the floor, laughing in tears. USS Fletcher: "What an absolute mad lad." USS Mahan: "What a chad." (When the ADD mind focuses and shit like this starts spewing out...) Great video, Drach.

[@huwmather5477]

Awesome work as ever,thanks for your effort

[@patfontaine5917]

What a well-thought out presentation. Truly appreciate the detail you provide.

[@TheWirksworthGunroom]

An excellent presentation on a remarkable raid that, whilst it has been presented before in popular form, has not been described with such technical and historical detail.