Operation Chariot – The raid on St. Nazaire – 70th Anniversary.
Tour Dates: 6th - 10th July
• Accompanied by Nigel Kimber
• General
interest tour
• No high mileages
• Ideal for those with an interest Second
• World War events
• Easy relaxed riding
Historians of irregular and Commando warfare have come to call the raid on St Nazaire on 27/28th March 1942 "the greatest raid of all". This assessment is probably true, in skill of execution, daring, bravery against all odds and, above all, in results. The raid on St Nazaire stands head and shoulders above all other Commando raids of WW2.
The aim was to destroy The Normandie Dry Dock at St Nazaire: the one safe haven open to the huge German Battleship "The Turpitz", sister ship of "The Bismarck".
The method was quite simple. Take a loaned US destroyer, disguise it, fill it with explosives and ram it into the dock gates. Meanwhile, drop off 257 Commandos to destroy 24 key installations and anything else of value in the area. Simple in design, but as many taking the journey knew, this was a one way ticket. Indeed, of those who landed, five escaped home. The remainder were either killed or captured.
Whilst the raid itself was a stunning success, the price paid by the raiders was very high. This is borne out by the 136 decorations and mentions in despatches of those involved, including five Victoria Crosses won that day.
This tour will take you to where the raid took place. We will walk the ground they walked, see what they saw, and pay tribute to those who lost their lives. We will tell you the stories of those involved and how the raid dramatically changed the war in favour of the Allies. We will also visit some of the other sights around St Nazaire including the huge U-Boat Pens and the coastal gun batteries of Hitler's Atlantic Wall.
What’s included?
- Return cross channel ferry Portsmouth Caen
- Three nights' B&B hotel accommodation
- Full itinerary
- Services of MSL tour guide
Not included
- Entrance fees to museums or any other amenity not included in tour program
Price:
- Two person, one bike, shared room £365each
- One person, one bike, shared room £438
- One person, one bike, single room £565
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Tours Office PO Box 191, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3FA Tel: 01732 367441 Fax: 01732 367441 Email: peter@msltours.co.uk |
Head Office Alexander House, 38 Forehill, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4AF Tel: 01353 616118 Fax: 01353 616120 Email: peter@msltours.co.uk |