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.
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 http://www.specialoperations.com/History/WWII/Cockleshell.htm
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 http://www.specialoperations.com/History/WWII/Cockleshell.htm Well, mate, it's a start...
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
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
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.
... 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.
I recommend you to obtain the book I mentioned. It's quite informative. It covers the story of the SBS up until today, right?
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.
Minus 6 - 8 years. It's nothing like comprehensive, but a good read with plenty of facts. Stormy spot on this link has a revised editon covering East Timor-Iraq. http://www.amazon.co.uk/SBS-Inside-Story-Special-Service/dp/0755312252
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.