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Operation Frankton was a commando raid on shipping in the German occupied French port of Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay during the Second World War. The raid was carried out by a small unit of Royal Marines known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD), part of Combined Operations. The plan was for six canoes to be taken to the area of the Gironde estuary by submarine. They would then paddle by night to Bordeaux. On arrival they would attack the docked cargo ships with limpet mines and then escape overland to Spain. Twelve men from no.1 section were selected for the raid; including the commanding officer, Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler, and the reserve Marine Colley the total of the team numbered thirteen. Two men survived the raid: Hasler, and his no.2 in the canoe, Bill Sparks. Of the other eight, six were executed by the Germans while two died from hypothermia. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill believed the mission shortened the war by six months. The words of Lord Mountbatten, the commander of Combined Operations, are carved into a Purbeck stone at Royal Marines Poole (current headquarters of the SBS): ''Of the many brave and dashing raids carried out by the men of Combined Operations Command none was more courageous or imaginative than Operation Frankton''.〔Southby-Tailyour,p.123〕 ==Background== The Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD) was formed on 6 July 1942, and based at Southsea, Portsmouth.〔Rees,p.25〕 The RMBPD was under the command of Royal Marines Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler with Captain J. D. Stewart as second in command.〔 The detachment consisted of 34 men and was based at Lumps Fort, and often exercised in the Portsmouth Harbour and patrolled the harbour boom at nights.〔 The Bay of Biscay port of Bordeaux was a major destination for goods to support the German war effort. In the 12 months from June 1941 – 1942 vegetable and animal oils, other raw materials, and 25,000 tons of crude rubber had arrived at the port.〔Rees, p.74〕 Hasler submitted a plan of attack on 21 September 1942. The initial plan called for a force of three canoes to be transported to the Gironde estuary by submarine then paddle by night and hide by day until they reached Bordeaux from the sea,〔 thus hoping to avoid the 32 mixed Kriegsmarine ships that patrolled or used the port. On arrival they hoped to sink between six and 12 cargo ships then escape overland to Spain.〔Rees, p.75〕 Permission for the raid was granted on 13 October 1942, but Admiral Louis Mountbatten Chief of Combined operations increased the number of canoes to be taken to six. Mountbatten had originally ordered that Hasler could not take part in the raid, because of his experience as the chief canoeing specialist, but changed his mind after Hasler (the only man with experience in small boats) formally submitted his reasons for inclusion.〔 The RMBPD started training for the raid on 20 October 1942, which included canoe handling, submarine rehearsals, limpet mine handling and escape and evasion exercises.〔 The RMBPD practised for the raid with a simulated attack against Deptford, starting from Margate and canoeing up the Swale.〔Rees, p.76〕 Mark II canoes, which were given the codename of ''Cockle'', were selected for the raid.〔Rees, p.81〕 The Mark II was a semi rigid two-man canoe, with the sides made of canvas, a flat bottom, and in length. When collapsed it had to be capable of negotiating the narrow confines of the submarine to the storage area then before it was ready to be taken on deck erected and stored ready to be hauled out via the submarine torpedo hatch.〔Rees, CHFW〕 During the raid each canoe's load would be two men, eight limpet mines, three sets of paddles, a compass, a depth sounding reel, repair bag, torch, camouflage net, waterproof watch, fishing line, two hand grenades, rations and water for six days, a spanner to activate the mines and a magnet to hold the canoe against the side of cargo ships. The total safe load for the 'Cockle' Mark 2 was 480lbs.〔 The men also carried a .45 ACP pistol and a Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife.〔 The men selected to go on the raid were divided into two divisions, each having their own targets. * A Division :: Hasler and Marine Bill Sparks in canoe ''Catfish''. :: Corporal Albert Laver and Marine William Mills in canoe ''Crayfish''. :: Corporal George Sheard and Marine David Moffatt in canoe ''Conger''.〔 * B Division :: Lieutenant John Mackinnon and Marine James Conway in canoe ''Cuttlefish''. :: Sergeant Samual Wallace and Marine Robert Ewart in canoe ''Coalfish''. :: Marine W. A. Ellery and Marine E. Fisher in canoe ''Cachalot''.〔 A thirteenth man was taken as a reserve, Marine Norman Colley.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Operation Frankton」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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