Operation Hardtack (commando raid) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Operation Hardtack |
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| Part of North West Europe Campaign (Part of World War II) |
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| Belligerents | |||||
 United Kingdom France |
 Nazi Germany |
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Operation Hardtack was a series of secret missions carried out by British Commando soldiers during World War II. These missions took place in December 1943. They happened on the Channel Islands and along the northern coast of France.
The soldiers involved were from special units like No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, No. 12 Commando, and the Special Boat Service. Most of these raids involved about ten soldiers. They usually traveled by fast boats called Motor Torpedo Boats and small boats called dories. One mission was even an airborne landing, meaning soldiers parachuted in.
The raids were eventually stopped by Major General Robert Laycock. This was because the missions were making the German army send more soldiers to these areas. This could have made things harder for the Allied forces in their bigger war plans.
The Raids
Operation Hardtack included several different missions. Each one had a specific goal, like gathering information or trying to capture enemy soldiers. Here are some of the raids that took place:
| Codename | Date | Force | Target | Objective | Outcome |
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| Hardtack 4 | 26/27 December 1943 | No. 12 Commando No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando |
Biville (near Criel-sur-Mer) | Gather information and capture prisoners |
The Commandos landed near Criel-sur-Mer. They had to pull back because a German patrol was nearby. One soldier, Corporal Douglas Nash, was given a medal for helping his team escape safely. |
| Hardtack 5 | 26/27 December 1943 | No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando | Onival | Gather information and capture prisoners |
One Commando soldier was hurt by a hidden mine when they landed. The rest of the team stayed on shore for over four hours but did not see any German soldiers. |
| Hardtack 7 | 25/26 & 27/28 December 1943 | No. 12 Commando No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando |
Sark | Gather information and capture prisoners |
The first attempt failed because the soldiers could not climb the cliffs. On the second try, they entered a minefield. Several mines exploded, injuring one soldier and killing two others. |
| Hardtack 11 | 24/25 & 26/27 December 1943 | No. 1 & No. 8 French troops, No. 10 Commando | Gravelines | Check beaches and sand dunes | The soldiers landed safely, but their small boat was swamped by water. This left them stranded. One soldier likely drowned, and the others went inland. Some of them managed to join the French Resistance, a group fighting against the Germans. |
| Hardtack 13 | 26/27 December 1943 | No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando SBS |
Bénouville-Etretat, Seine-Maritime | ||
| Hardtack 21 | 26/27 December 1943 | No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando | Quineville | Gather information and capture prisoners |
This mission collected important details about the German defenses. These defenses were on what would later become Utah Beach, a famous landing spot on D-Day. |
| Hardtack 22 | January 1944 (Cancelled) | No. 10 Commando, later 2nd US Rangers | Herm | Gather information and capture prisoners |
This raid was planned but never actually happened. It was cancelled before it could begin. |
| Hardtack 23 | 27/28 December 1943 | No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando | Ostend | Gather information and capture prisoners |
This mission was called off. Their Motor Torpedo Boat, which was carrying them, got stuck on the ground. |
| Hardtack 28 | 25/26 December 1943 | No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando No. 12 Commando |
Jersey | Collect barbed wire samples and capture prisoners |
A team of eight soldiers landed safely. While climbing a cliff, they did not find any German soldiers. On their way back to the beach, a mine exploded. Captain Ayton was badly hurt and later died from his injuries in England. |
| Hardtack 36 | 24/25 December 1943 | No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando | Wassenaar | Gather information and capture prisoners |
All the soldiers involved in this raid were killed after they landed. |
