15: Operation Chariot - The Daring Raid on St. Nazaire

Imagine, if you will, March 28th, 1942. A moonless night on the French coast. A small flotilla of ships approaches the heavily defended port of St Nazaire, sailing straight into the mouth of the Loire River. At their head is an old American destroyer, packed with delayed-action explosives and disguised to look like a German vessel. The mission? To destroy the largest dry dock in Nazi-occupied Europe – the only dock capable of servicing the dreaded German battleship Tirpitz.

The odds facing these men were staggering. Five hundred British commandos and Royal Navy personnel were about to take on a port defended by over 5,000 German troops. They would have to navigate a heavily mined estuary, dodge sophisticated coastal defenses, and fight their way into one of the most fortified harbors in occupied France.

In today's episode, we'll explore:

• The strategic importance of the St Nazaire dry dock
• The ingenious plan to convert HMS Campbeltown into a massive time bomb
• The intense close-quarter combat in the streets of St Nazaire
• The incredible acts of individual heroism that earned five Victoria Crosses in a single night
• The raid's impact on the course of the naval war in the Atlantic

So join us as we uncover the extraordinary tale of Operation Chariot – a mission that would become a testament to the courage, ingenuity, and sheer determination of the men who dared to attack what seemed impregnable.

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Thanks for listening!

Series Music:

Written By Benjamin Sturley

Performed By Salon Dijon

Produced By Salon Dijon

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