Attack on the Iron Coast (1968)
Director: Paul Wendkos.
Starring: Lloyd Bridges (Maj. James Wilson), Andrew Keir (Capt. Owen Franklin), Sue Lloyd (Sue Wilson), Mark Eden (Lt. Cmdr. Donald Kimberly), Maurice Denham (Sir Frederick Grafton), Glyn Owen (Lt. Forrester), Howard Pays (Lt. Graham), Walter Gotell (Van Horst), John Welsh (Adm. Lord Cansley), George Mikell (Capt. Strasser), Ernest Clark (A.V.M. Woodbridge), Dick Haydon (Pringle).
Historical Background:
1924-1928 -- a large dock was built at St. Nazaire, France to accommodate the Normandie liner; it was sometimes referred to as the Normandie Dock.
1942 (early) – the German U-Boat raids on transatlantic shipping threatened Britain’s supply of food and arms.
The British planned a Commando and Naval Forces raid on the dry docks at St. Nazaire, France. The forces were under the auspices of Louis Mountbatten's Combined Operations.
"Normandie" Dock was defended by about 1,000 troops, with around 5,000 military personnel in the town. In fact, the German defenses at St. Nazaire were considered the second toughest in western France (after Brest).
The former flush decked WWI Destroyer Campbeltown (originally the Buchanan of the US Navy) was converted to look like a German "E-Boat." Additional support for the raid consisted of sixteen launches, one motor gunboat and one torpedo boat. The number of men involved in the raid was 611. An air attack would provide a diversion for the raid.
1942 (March 26) -- the ships left Falmouth.
1942 (March 28) -- commencement of Operation Chariot. The Campbeltown was loaded with explosives, and rammed into the "Normandie" dry dock.
The dock was severely damaged and could not be used until 1947.
The British lost 169 killed with about 200 captured, while the Germans had 42 killed and 127 wounded.
The daring raid lifted Britain’s morale. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded, the largest number ever awarded for a single action:
1) Commander R.E.D Ryder VC, RN, MGB 314
2) Lieutenant - Commander S.H Beattie VC, RN Cambletown;
3) Lieutenant - Colonel A.C (Charles) Newman VC, 2 Commando;
4) Sergeant T.F (Tommy) Durrant VC, 1 Commando, posthumously awarded for his manning a Lewis machinegun during a fight between the launch he was on and the pursuing German destroyer Jaguar; and
5) Able Seaman W.A (Bill) Savage VC, MGB 314
1942 (March 30) -- as expected, the explosive charges dropped by MTB 74 at the lock gates finally detonated.
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