Matzos
25-05-05, 13:21
Op Archery - 27 Dec 1941 - Vågsøy Norway
This operation is one of the most well known and certainly the best photographed as the raid was accompanied by official photographers and cameramen. The raid was to destroy German installations at Vågsøy and the force was to be supported by the RAF who provided air cover and attacked the airfield of Herdla near Bergen. The naval part of the force consisted of one cruiser, four destroyers and two landingships, the warships opened the proceedings with a bombardment of the island of Måløy.
The commandos were split into five groups, one landed to the West of South Vågsøy to secure the area then move up to the town. The second group landed to the North of the town to prevent German reinforcements getting in. The third group landed on Måløy to deal with the guns and garrison there however the navy had done their job well and the guns were silent, it didn’t take long for the garrison to be subdued. The fourth group landed at the town itself and this proved to be the main center of resistance. The last group was kept onboard ship to act as a floating reserve.
The Germans in the town were in greater numbers than expected and the group there called for reinforcements from the group to the West, from the floating reserve and from elements of the group on Måløy.
The cost to the Germans had been around 150 killed, the British lost 19 men and 57 wounded and the Norwegian force lost 1 man and 2 wounded. The Norwegian killed was an especially painful loss as it was their commander Kaptein Martin Linge who fell during the assault on Måløy.
The after effects of the raid had far reaching consequences, the Germans took reprisals against the Norwegian population which prompted protests from the Norwegian king Haakon VII and the government-in-exile. The Germans also began to reinforce and strengthen their defences which was to the allies advantage as this tied down many troops which could otherwise be used elsewhere.
This operation is one of the most well known and certainly the best photographed as the raid was accompanied by official photographers and cameramen. The raid was to destroy German installations at Vågsøy and the force was to be supported by the RAF who provided air cover and attacked the airfield of Herdla near Bergen. The naval part of the force consisted of one cruiser, four destroyers and two landingships, the warships opened the proceedings with a bombardment of the island of Måløy.
The commandos were split into five groups, one landed to the West of South Vågsøy to secure the area then move up to the town. The second group landed to the North of the town to prevent German reinforcements getting in. The third group landed on Måløy to deal with the guns and garrison there however the navy had done their job well and the guns were silent, it didn’t take long for the garrison to be subdued. The fourth group landed at the town itself and this proved to be the main center of resistance. The last group was kept onboard ship to act as a floating reserve.
The Germans in the town were in greater numbers than expected and the group there called for reinforcements from the group to the West, from the floating reserve and from elements of the group on Måløy.
The cost to the Germans had been around 150 killed, the British lost 19 men and 57 wounded and the Norwegian force lost 1 man and 2 wounded. The Norwegian killed was an especially painful loss as it was their commander Kaptein Martin Linge who fell during the assault on Måløy.
The after effects of the raid had far reaching consequences, the Germans took reprisals against the Norwegian population which prompted protests from the Norwegian king Haakon VII and the government-in-exile. The Germans also began to reinforce and strengthen their defences which was to the allies advantage as this tied down many troops which could otherwise be used elsewhere.