St Nazaire Raid
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The St Nazaire Raid or Operation Chariot was a British amphibious attack on the heavily defended Normandie dry dock at St Nazaire in German-occupied France during the Second World War. The operation was undertaken by the Royal Navy (RN) and British Commandos under the auspices of Combined Operations Headquarters on 28 March 1942. St Nazaire was targeted because the loss of its dry dock would force any large German warship in need of repairs, such as Tirpitz, sister ship of Bismarck, to return to home waters by running the gauntlet of the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy and other British forces, via the English Channel or the North Sea.
HMS Campbeltown being converted for the raid. There are twin lines of armour plate down each side of the ship and the Oerlikon mountings. Two of her funnels have been removed, with the remaining two cut at an angle to simulate a German ship.
British Commandos, 1942
German 20 mm anti-aircraft gun
HMS Campbeltown wedged in the dock gates. Note the exposed forward gun position on Campbeltown and the German anti-aircraft gun position on the roof of the building at the rear.
Saint-Nazaire
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Saint-Nazaire is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, in traditional Brittany.
Avenue de la République
View of the "New Entrance" locks gates to Port Saint-Nazaire towards the Loire River
Modern day view of the Kriegsmarine Saint-Nazaire submarine base 47°16′32″N 2°12′08″W / 47.27556°N 2.20222°W / 47.27556; -2.20222
The Pont de Saint-Nazaire, which crosses the Loire