A couple of SBS operations

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by Warlord, Nov 12, 2010.

  1. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Has anyone ever heard of a couple of SBS operations:

    1.- A raid on Crete in which over 200 Digger POW's were rescued by submarine.

    2.- A raid (don't know if it was ever carried out) against shipping in the port of Oran, using miniature hand-launched torpedoes.

    Any info will be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Found this ref Q1. Other missions were landing agents for the various intelligence services and bringing out Allied evaders from behind enemy lines. Lance Corporal G. C. Bremner was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for arranging the rescue of 200 Australian soldiers from Crete, who were pulled to three waiting submarines by grasslines . George C. Bremner - SBS - Special Forces - Roll Of Honour And this ref Q2. Less successful was the attempt to sink ships in Oran harbour using miniature torpedoes, hand-launched from canoes. They proved to be quite unreliable. A small sub-unit, known as Z Group, remained in North Africa afterward and raided Sicily and Italy, as well as assisting the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties in the Salerno landings. HOPE THIS HELPS:D http://www.specialoperations.com/History/WWII/Cockleshell.htm
     
  3. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Found this ref Q1. Other missions were landing agents for the various intelligence services and bringing out Allied evaders from behind enemy lines. Lance Corporal G. C. Bremner was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for arranging the rescue of 200 Australian soldiers from Crete, who were pulled to three waiting submarines by grasslines . George C. Bremner - SBS - Special Forces - Roll Of HonourAnd this ref Q2, . Less successful was the attempt to sink ships in Oran harbour using miniature torpedoes, hand-launched from canoes. They proved to be quite unreliable. A small sub-unit, known as Z Group, remained in North Africa afterward and raided Sicily and Italy, as well as assisting the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties in the Salerno landings. HOPE THIS HELPS:D http://www.specialoperations.com/History/WWII/Cockleshell.htm

    Well, mate, it's a start... ;)
     
  4. Ruhmen

    Ruhmen Junior Member

    Re Q1.
    In August 1941 Corporal G C Bremmer rescued a total of 125 Allied soldiers who had been hiding in the hills of Crete since the fall of the island two months prior.
    He extracted them with the help of the submarine HMS Torbay to Alexandria.

    Re Q2.

    The mini-torpedoes were the brain child of Major Malcolm Campbell, the same as per 'Bluebird'.
    Prior to Oran they had been tried before against the Italians in Crotone Harbour. with no reported success.
    The mini-torpedoe were powered by a windscreen-wiper motor and had a range of about 50 yards.
    To launch, place in the water pointing toward the target, press the start button and let go!
    Again the raid on Oran was not a success, all canoe teams being captured then released a few days later.
    It would seem that nothing further was heard about the mini-torpedoes.

    Ruhmen
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Has anyone ever heard of a couple of SBS operations:

    1.- A raid on Crete in which over 200 Digger POW's were rescued by submarine.

    2.- A raid (don't know if it was ever carried out) against shipping in the port of Oran, using miniature hand-launched torpedoes.

    Any info will be greatly appreciated.


    Hope that this link provides some more clues.

    Thrasher HMS submarine. Escape from Preveli

    Regards
    Tom
     
  6. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    Re Q2:This raid is extensively described in the words of its leader, maj H V Holden-White MC, in this book:
    John Parker: SBS - The inside story of the special boat service Headline 1997, 2003, 2004 ISBN: 0 7553 1225 2
    Pages 75 - 87 "Harry's game". Recommended.
     
  7. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    ...
    It would seem that nothing further was heard about the mini-torpedoes.

    Ruhmen

    If I'm not mistaken, mini-torpedoes were used in attempts to sink the Tirpitz as well as in attacks on ships in Oslo harbour, the latter by Max Manus and his group.
     
  8. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Well, lads, thanks a lot!

    By the way, keep the info coming, this thread is getting warmer... :D
     
  9. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    I recommend you to obtain the book I mentioned. It's quite informative.
     
  10. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    I recommend you to obtain the book I mentioned. It's quite informative.

    It covers the story of the SBS up until today, right?
     
  11. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    It covers the story of the SBS up until today, right?

    Minus 6 - 8 years.
    It's nothing like comprehensive, but a good read with plenty of facts.
     
  12. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

  13. Warlord

    Warlord Veteran wannabe

    Minus 6 - 8 years.
    It's nothing like comprehensive, but a good read with plenty of facts.

    As long as it covers WW2 (Korea, Borneo and the Arabic Peninsula would be a plus :)), it does it for me.

    Thanks again, mate.
     

Share This Page