Operation Chariot

[Night Runner]

Have just been reading up on this, a raid on a dry dock during WW2.

Bloody fascinating!

A ship, rigged to look like a Nazi cruiser, sailed up the river towards the dry dock. It bluffed it's way for a while until the Nazis twigged, once the game was up and the ship was taking heavy fire the crew found time to take the fake German ensigns down and sail under proper British colours.

During the chaos which followed a record number of VCs were awarded.

If you have time I'd look at http://www.stnazairesociety.org or http://www.jamesdorrian.com/VCs.HTML (Sgt T F Durrant especially).


Nb. I'm not linked at all with either if these sites.


Makes me pretty angry when I see the amount of pond life around these days.

[anonymous-user]

They made a cracking film about it too !

[grumbledoak]

Clarkson did an excellent documentary on it, too. Fascinating.

[SeeFive]

grumbledoak said:

Clarkson did an excellent documentary on it, too. Fascinating.

Yup, saw that and loved it. Those guys (or their commanders) could not have expected to get back home.

It's on youtube in 6 parts, starting here.

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

[JohnnyRims]

SeeFive said:

Yup, saw that and loved it. Those guys (or their commanders) could not have expected to get back home.

It's on youtube in 6 parts, starting here.

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

Seen it before but watching it again. The balls on these guys...

[mrmaggit]

Durrants' VC was one of very few to be awarded on the recommendation of the enemy.

[clonmult]

SeeFive said:

grumbledoak said:

Clarkson did an excellent documentary on it, too. Fascinating.

Yup, saw that and loved it. Those guys (or their commanders) could not have expected to get back home.

It's on youtube in 6 parts, starting here.

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

That was probably one of the best documentaries Clarkson has ever done. Factual, entertaining, totally brought you into the thick of it.

Can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for those guys.

Absolute genuine heroes, every one.

[jmorgan]

Read about it in a comic donkeys years ago. Been amazed with the deeds ever since.

[Asterix]

SeeFive said:

Yup, saw that and loved it. Those guys (or their commanders) could not have expected to get back home.

It's on youtube in 6 parts, starting here.

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

Fabulous - thanks so much for posting the link.

Proper blokes.

[audidoody]

One the Royal Navy's most famous raids of WWII - surprised it is not more widely known.

[audidoody]

One the Royal Navy's most famous raids of WWII - surprised it is not more widely known.

[audidoody]

One the Royal Navy's most famous raids of WWII - surprised it is not more widely known.

[audidoody]

One the Royal Navy's most famous raids of WWII - surprised it is not more widely known.

[RemainAllHoof]

audidoody said:

One the Royal Navy's most famous raids of WWII - surprised it is not more widely known.

Worst "I've got an iPhone" post eva.

[grumbledoak]

clonmult said:

That was probably one of the best documentaries Clarkson has ever done. Factual, entertaining, totally brought you into the thick of it.

Worth seeking out his OU "Clarkson meets the neighbours series, too". That old German pilot was hilarious!

[Athlon]

There is a great memorial on the Prince of Wales pier in Falmouth where they set off from.

Google maps does not have street view for that which is a shame.

[Asterix]

After watching that lot I also watched the VC one he did.

I don't think 'humbling' covers it and I'm ex Army and have been in the odd sticky moment. These guys are men amongst men.