Imagine, if you will, March 28th, 1942. A moonless night on the French coast. A small flotilla of ships approaches the heavily defended port of St Nazaire, sailing straight into the mouth of the Loire River. At their head is an old American destroyer, packed with delayed-action explosives and disguised to look like a German vessel. The mission? To destroy the largest dry dock in Nazi-occupied Europe – the only dock capable of servicing the dreaded German battleship Tirpitz.The odds facing these men were staggering. Five hundred British commandos and Royal Navy personnel were about to take on a port defended by over 5,000 German troops. They would have to navigate a heavily mined estuary, dodge sophisticated coastal defenses, and fight their way into one of the most fortified harbors in occupied France.In today's episode, we'll explore:The strategic importance of the St Nazaire dry dockThe ingenious plan to convert HMS Campbeltown into a massive time bombThe intense close-quarter combat in the streets of St NazaireThe incredible acts of individual heroism that earned five Victoria Crosses in a single nightThe raid's impact on the course of the naval war in the AtlanticSo join us as we uncover the extraordinary tale of Operation Chariot – a mission that would become a testament to the courage, ingenuity, and sheer determination of the men who dared to attack what seemed impregnable.We would welcome your support of the channel. If you are keen to make a small contribution, you can do so at the Buy Me A Coffee link below.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MilitiahistoriaAll contributions go towards accessing resources needed to bring these stories to you.Thanks for listening!Series Music:Written By Benjamin SturleyPerformed By Salon DijonProduced By Salon Dijon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.