The Måløy Raid

DATE: 11/05/2023

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Svartmarka

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 77 / 84

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RATING: (22)

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The Måløy Raid was a demolitions raid performed by elements of the British Commandos on the 27th of December 1941 against German fish oil and shipping facilities on the island of Vågsøy in Norway. Following the fall of France in 1940, the German Army gradually pushing back the Commonwealth forces in Africa and the beginning of the German invasion of the Soviet Union; the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, instructed his military high command to seek means of showing Hitler that Britain was not done and was still a threat to the ambitions of Germany. After weeks of planning, the Combined Operations Headquarters presented the idea of Operation Archery to Churchill; a Commando raid designed to inflict maximum damage in the shortest period of them. The town of believed was selected as the target for numerous reasons, mainly the large amount of facilities for fish oil production present within the town and the substantial German garrison; fish oil was being used by Nazi Germany to produce explosives and also as a dietary supplement for its Naval and U Boat crews. Norway had been selected due to the previous success of Operation Claymore, the amount of civilians loyal to the exiled Government and Royal Family, as well as the opportunity to tie down even more German soldiers into defending Norway against a British invasion which Hitler and the German high command incorrectly believed could happen at any moment; of which would have the added benefit of drawing experienced German Regiments away from the Eastern Front.

The naval landings at Måløy would be preceded by a naval bombardment from the Royal Navy 17th Destroyer Flotilla, led by the Cruiser HMS Kenya, before the Commandos boarded their landing craft and headed to their objectives. As the main contingent of Commandos, Group Two, led by Lieutenant Colonel Durnford-Slater, neared the beach a wave of RAF Fighter Bombers flew overhead, dropping smoke canisters and bombs on the German positions, giving the Commandos the cover they needed to overwhelm the defences on the beach quickly. While this was taking place, Group Three, led by Lieutenant Colonel 'Mad Jack' Churchill, had stormed Moldøen island, destroyed the coastal artillery battery, fish oil factory and taken much of the garrison prisoner. Once Group Two had began its advance into Måløy they had been halted by the German defences within the town, who had been reinforced by a Company of Gebirgsjäger on leave from the Eastern Front, and with both the Commanding Officers dead in No. 3 and No. 4 troop the force had lost the initiative. Seeing the situation, the Commanding Officer of the Norwegian Independent Company 1, Kaptein Linge moved out of cover to press the attack, however, Linge was immediately killed by sniper fire, which angered the Norwegian Commandos under his command severely, as they began firing everything they had at the German headquarters based at the Ulvesund Hotel. The reinforcements requested by Lieutenant Colonel Durnford-Slater had began to arrive minutes later and the German defence, now being outflanked, was loosing the initiative, as the Commandos began to systematically clear the town, simply blowing up or burning buildings where the Germans refused to surrender. By 14:00 the Commandos had began to withdraw, having destroyed four factories, fish oil stores, ammunition and the telephone exchange.

Operation Archery had been a complete success for the Commandos, with all operational objectives being completed in good time. As a result of the raid, the fish oil facilities at Måløy had been destroyed, along with all military buildings present within the town. The 17th Destroyer Flotilla had destroyed 10 ships of different tonnage, mainly trade ships and armed trawlers who had attempted to fight the destroyers. The Commando force had inflicted an estimated 120 casualties, dead and wounded, on the German force and had taken 98 prisoners. The Norwegian civilians of Vågsøy continually braved enemy fire and helped the Commandos transport ammunition, explosives and even wounded soldiers around the battlefield, with over 70 loyal civilians and Quislings being evacuated as well. The raiding force had sustained 22 killed and 57 wounded during the operation, including No. 3 Troops Captain, No. 4 Troops Captain and Norwegian Independent Company 1 Commander, Kaptein Linge, the only Free Norwegian casualty suffered during the raid.