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The raid was conducted by No.3 Commando, two Troops of No.2 Commando, a medical detachment of No.4 Commando, a demotion party from 101 Troop (canoe) of No.6 Commando and a dozen Norwegian combat volunteers. The action was supported by Royal Navy gunfire, led by the cruiser Kenya, and Royal Air Force bombers and fighter-bombers.

The Commando force of 570 was divided into five with these objectives. (1) Secure the area north of the town of South Vågsøy and engage any enemy reinforcements; (2) subdue and secure South Vågsøy town; (3) eliminate the enemy on Måløy Island which dominated the town; (4) eliminate the enemy strongpoint at Hollevik south of South Vågsøy town; (5) provide a floating reserve offshore. Central to the operation was the destruction of fish-oil production and stores which the Germans used in the manufacture of high-explosives. Another intention was to cause the German’s to maintain and increase forces in Norway which otherwise might be employed on the Eastern FrontThe Eastern Front was the theater of combat between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. It was somewhat separate from the other theatres of the war, not only geographically, but also for its scale and ferocity. In Russia, the war is ref.

The dawn landing was preceded by a very effective Naval bombardment and objectives went to plan except the town of South Vågsøy itself. Opposition there was much stiffer than expected as unknown to the British a JägersJagers are light infantry, trained for action in small groups or independently. Jagers are usually considered elite troops. Modern Jagers can for instance be paratroopers. Jager is German for hunter, and the Jager troops were originally recruited from amo unit of experienced troops from the Eastern Front were there on leave.

Their experience in snipingThis article is about the military occupation. For other uses, see Sniper (disambiguation). The traditional definition of a sniper is an infantry soldier especially skilled in field craft and marksmanship who stalks and kills selected enemy with a single and street fighting caused Vaagso to develop into a bitter house-by-house battle causing the commander, John Durnford-Slater , to call in the floating reserve and troops from Måløy Island. A number of local citizens assisted the Commandos by acting as porters for ammunition and explosives grenades and in carrying away the wounded.

Around 14:00 the Commandos started their withdrawal having destroyed four factories, the fish-oil stores, ammunition and fuel stores, the telephone exchange and various military installations. Much of the town in general was in flames. The Naval assault force of one cruiser and four destroyerThis article treats on the type of ship. For other things called destroyer , see Destroyer (disambiguation). USS Lassen (DDG-82), an Arleigh Burke class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intes had meanwhile sunk 10 vessels, some found in the act of being scuttled to prevent capture.

Naval losses were no ships but four men killed and four wounded. The Commandos sustained 17 killed and 53 wounded, the Norwegian commander (Capt. Linge) was killed, and the RAF had 8 planes downed. The Commandos accounted for at least 120 enemy killed and returned with 98 prisoners and a complete copy of the German Naval Code. Several Quislings and a number of loyal Norwegians were also brought back.

In conjunction with this raid, Operation AnkletDuring World War II, Operation Ambassador was a British Commando raid on 26th December, 1941 on the Lofoten Islands. The raid was conducted by 300 men of No. 12 Commando to provide a diversion for the larger raid at Vaagso Island, Operation Archer''. was mounted by No.12 Commando on the Lofoten IslandsThe Lofoten Islands (or simply Lofoten are an archipelago of islands at the 67th and 68th degree parrallels in the Arctic circle, off the Northwest coast of Norway. The principal islands, running from north to south, are Austvagoy (526. 7 km²), Gimsoya (4 as a diversion.

The raid was enough to persuade Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler ( April 20, 1889 April 30, 1945) was the Fuhrer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers' Party and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. In that capacity he was Chancellor of Germany, head of government, and head of state, ruling as a to divert 30,000 troops to Norway, upgrade coastal and inland defences, and send the battleships Gneisenau, Tirpitz, and Scharnhorst, and the cruisers Admiral Hipper , Lützow and Prinz Eugen to Norway - a major diversion of effort and forces that could have had significant impact elsewhere. Hitler mistakenly thought that the British might invade northern Norway to put pressure on Sweden and Finland.