CAMPBELTOWN HMS (Raid on Nazaire)
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:26 pm
Built as a destroyer under yard No 78 by Bath Iron Works at Bath for the USA Navy.
29 June 1918 laid down.
02 January 1919 launched as the USS BUCHANAN (DD-131) christened by Mrs. Charles P. Wetherbee. She was one of the Wickes class.
Displacement 1,154 standard, 1,530 full load, dim. 95.81 x 9.30 x 3.66m (draught).
Powered by Brown-Curtis single reduction geared steam turbines, 30,000 shp, two shafts, speed 35 knots.
Armament 4 – 4 inch, 1 – 3 inch guns and 4 x 3 – 21 inch torpedo tubes.
Crew 158.
20 January 1919 commissioned under command of Lieutenant H.H.J. Bensen.
Franklin Buchanan was born in Baltimore, Md., 17 September 1800, Franklin Buchanan entered the Navy as a Midshipman on board Java in 1815. He organized the Naval Academy and served as its first superintendent (1845-47). He commanded the sloop Germantown in the Mexican War; the steam sloop Susquehanna, flagship of Perry's Squadron in the expedition to Japan in 1852, and in 1859, became Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard. In 1861 he joined Confederate forces at Richmond, Va., and for gallant and meritorious conduct he was promoted to Admiral, the ranking officer in the Confederate States Navy. He was twice wounded severely and was taken prisoner of war, 5 August 1864. Admiral Buchanan died at his home "The Rest" in Talbot County, Md., 11 May 1874.
USS BUCHANAN reported to Commander, Destroyer Force, at Guantanamo, Cuba, and was temporarily attached to Destroyer Squadron 2 until ordered to the Pacific Fleet in July 1919 for duty with Destroyer Flotilla 4. From 7 June 1922 until 10 April 1930.BUCHANAN was out of commission at San Diego. She then joined Destroyer Division 10, Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Force, and operated on the west coast in routine division, force, and fleet activities and problems. In the summer of 1934, after making a cruise to Alaska with ROTC units aboard, she was placed in reduced commission attached to Rotating Reserve Destroyer Squadron 20 at San Diego.
Again placed in full commission in December 1934, she resumed operations with Division 5, Destroyers, Battle Force. BUCHANAN was again out of commission at San Diego from 9 April 1937 until 30 September 1939. She was then refitted for action with Division 65, Destroyer Squadron 32, Atlantic Squadron, and from December 1939 until 22 February 1940 operated with the Neutrality Patrol and Antilles Detachment. She was then assigned to patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, operating out of Galveston, Tex., and later off Key West and around the Florida Straits. She arrived at Boston Navy Yard 2 September and then proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where on 9 September 1940 she was decommissioned and transferred in the destroyer-land bases exchange to the United Kingdom.
From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. I, p. 168.
She was commissioned in the British Navy on Sept. 9, 1940 as part of the destroyer land bases exchange with the U.K. She was to have been lent to the Dutch navy in January 1941 as the "MIDDLEBURG", but not taken over. Instead, she was lent to the Polish navy from March to September 1941. In an attempt to disable the dock at St. Nazaire, "CAMPBELTOWN" was disguised as a German MÖWE-class torpedo boat and on March 27, 1942 sailed to St. Nazaire, The plan involved finding a way to place a very large quantity of explosives against the dock gates (caissons). At the time "CAMPBELTOWN" was in dock for repair and was chosen to be the means, being considered expendable, carrying 4.25 ts of explosives. She was to be commanded by Lt-Cdr S H Beattie RN, supported by MGB314 as headquarters ship, and 16 motor launches were to carry the commando force and demolition squads, a force total of 621 men- "MTB74", commanded by Sub-Lt R C Wynn RNVR was included as a contingency to torpedo the gates if "CAMPBELTOWN" failed.
There was only a limited time for preparation since the attack could only take place when the tides were right. The night of March 28-29, 1942 was chosen for the attack itself. The Force set off on the afternoon of March 26, with HMS "TYNEDALE" and HMS "ATHERSTONE" as escort, with all the appearance of an anti-submarine attacking force. These destroyers would then lay off the estuary to cover the withdrawal. HM Submarine "STURGEON" was to place herself 40 miles off St Nazaire to act as beacon. Two further destroyers HMS "CLEVELAND" and HMS "BROCKLESBY" were to act as reinforcements.
Luck was with the ships as they made their way to the objective in a roundabout way. No enemy aircraft were encountered and although HMS "TYNEDALE" saw and attacked "U-595" unsuccessfully, the U-boat's subsequent radio report did not contain anything significant. Some French fishing boats were also seen but they did not report the presence of the Force and, even as the ships approached the estuary entrance and were seen by a patrol craft, it had no radio and could not report the fact.
It was not all good fortune. The RAF was to carry out a bombing raid just prior to the sea attack, the intention of which, in part, was to divert the defenders' attentions to the sky and away from the surface. However, for political reasons, it was RAF policy only to bomb clearly identifiable targets in built up areas, and because the previously clear skies had given way to cloud, the planes did not attack, even though they had arrived over the target. Consequently the defenders had been alerted and did not relax their guard after the planes had flown off.
Nevertheless with skill, bravery and use of intelligence about German signals, the Force got to within a mile of their target before they were seriously challenged. Once identified, the full force of the defenders' armament was brought to bear. Many men were killed in their boats before they had a chance to get ashore, but the attack was driven home and HMS "CAMPBELTOWN" was rammed into the caissons, at 1.34am, exactly as planned. Commandos managed also to destroy their objectives but inevitably many were killed while doing so. Two MTB's and 14 of the motor launches were lost.
The dock itself was empty when the attack took place, and when the battle was over, the Germans attempted to pull "CAMPBELTOWN" off the gates, without success. The delayed action fuses did not activate as they had been set and it was not until nearly noon on the next day that an enormous explosion occurred which completely destroyed the gates. The water in the estuary washed "CAMPBELTOWN" into the dock along with debris of all kinds. For some reason the Germans, although having had plenty of time to search for and find the explosives, failed to do so. There were many of them either on or near the ship at the time. Estimates of German losses vary between 150 and 300 from the fight and the explosion. Some 48 hours later, two more explosions from delayed action torpedoes fired from "MTB74" at the entrance to the old dock causing considerable confusion, if not panic, among the remaining garrison. The Germans thought that bombs had been planted and the workers, fearing reprisals, attempted get out of the docks area and were fired upon.
Further casualties among Navy personnel occurred on the way home, and the rate of attrition among them was to exceed 50 per cent, being 105 men. Commando losses were 64 A total of 169 lost out of 621 were lost.
The dock and machinery was so badly damaged that it was not repaired until after the end of the war. This prevented the Germans from using the facility for repairs to the "TIRPIT"Z as this was the only facility in Europe outside Germany capable of repairing the German battleship.
The action was the subject of a feature film in 1952 called The Gift Horse starring Trevor Howard. The "CAMPBELTOWN" was called in the film HMS "BALLANTRAE".
Marshall Islands 1992 29c sg416, scott? (the other craft is a mtb in foreground of stamp, there was only one mtb taken part in the raid, the MTB 74 so she must be depict on the stamp.)
Source: Jone's 1941 Colledge; http://www.warships.net/ royalnavy/rnbattles/ww2/stnazair; DANFS.
Ships participating in the attack: ML's 4298, 306, 307, 341, 443, 446, 447 and 457, of the newly formed 28th Flotilla; ML's 4192, 262, 267 and 268, from the 20th Flotilla; ML's 156, 160, 177 and 270, were torpedo carrying variants from the 7 th Flotilla; "MTB74", HMS "CAMPBELTOWN", HMS "TYNEDALE", HMS "ATHERSTONE" and HM Submarine "STURGEON".
29 June 1918 laid down.
02 January 1919 launched as the USS BUCHANAN (DD-131) christened by Mrs. Charles P. Wetherbee. She was one of the Wickes class.
Displacement 1,154 standard, 1,530 full load, dim. 95.81 x 9.30 x 3.66m (draught).
Powered by Brown-Curtis single reduction geared steam turbines, 30,000 shp, two shafts, speed 35 knots.
Armament 4 – 4 inch, 1 – 3 inch guns and 4 x 3 – 21 inch torpedo tubes.
Crew 158.
20 January 1919 commissioned under command of Lieutenant H.H.J. Bensen.
Franklin Buchanan was born in Baltimore, Md., 17 September 1800, Franklin Buchanan entered the Navy as a Midshipman on board Java in 1815. He organized the Naval Academy and served as its first superintendent (1845-47). He commanded the sloop Germantown in the Mexican War; the steam sloop Susquehanna, flagship of Perry's Squadron in the expedition to Japan in 1852, and in 1859, became Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard. In 1861 he joined Confederate forces at Richmond, Va., and for gallant and meritorious conduct he was promoted to Admiral, the ranking officer in the Confederate States Navy. He was twice wounded severely and was taken prisoner of war, 5 August 1864. Admiral Buchanan died at his home "The Rest" in Talbot County, Md., 11 May 1874.
USS BUCHANAN reported to Commander, Destroyer Force, at Guantanamo, Cuba, and was temporarily attached to Destroyer Squadron 2 until ordered to the Pacific Fleet in July 1919 for duty with Destroyer Flotilla 4. From 7 June 1922 until 10 April 1930.BUCHANAN was out of commission at San Diego. She then joined Destroyer Division 10, Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Force, and operated on the west coast in routine division, force, and fleet activities and problems. In the summer of 1934, after making a cruise to Alaska with ROTC units aboard, she was placed in reduced commission attached to Rotating Reserve Destroyer Squadron 20 at San Diego.
Again placed in full commission in December 1934, she resumed operations with Division 5, Destroyers, Battle Force. BUCHANAN was again out of commission at San Diego from 9 April 1937 until 30 September 1939. She was then refitted for action with Division 65, Destroyer Squadron 32, Atlantic Squadron, and from December 1939 until 22 February 1940 operated with the Neutrality Patrol and Antilles Detachment. She was then assigned to patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, operating out of Galveston, Tex., and later off Key West and around the Florida Straits. She arrived at Boston Navy Yard 2 September and then proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where on 9 September 1940 she was decommissioned and transferred in the destroyer-land bases exchange to the United Kingdom.
From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. I, p. 168.
She was commissioned in the British Navy on Sept. 9, 1940 as part of the destroyer land bases exchange with the U.K. She was to have been lent to the Dutch navy in January 1941 as the "MIDDLEBURG", but not taken over. Instead, she was lent to the Polish navy from March to September 1941. In an attempt to disable the dock at St. Nazaire, "CAMPBELTOWN" was disguised as a German MÖWE-class torpedo boat and on March 27, 1942 sailed to St. Nazaire, The plan involved finding a way to place a very large quantity of explosives against the dock gates (caissons). At the time "CAMPBELTOWN" was in dock for repair and was chosen to be the means, being considered expendable, carrying 4.25 ts of explosives. She was to be commanded by Lt-Cdr S H Beattie RN, supported by MGB314 as headquarters ship, and 16 motor launches were to carry the commando force and demolition squads, a force total of 621 men- "MTB74", commanded by Sub-Lt R C Wynn RNVR was included as a contingency to torpedo the gates if "CAMPBELTOWN" failed.
There was only a limited time for preparation since the attack could only take place when the tides were right. The night of March 28-29, 1942 was chosen for the attack itself. The Force set off on the afternoon of March 26, with HMS "TYNEDALE" and HMS "ATHERSTONE" as escort, with all the appearance of an anti-submarine attacking force. These destroyers would then lay off the estuary to cover the withdrawal. HM Submarine "STURGEON" was to place herself 40 miles off St Nazaire to act as beacon. Two further destroyers HMS "CLEVELAND" and HMS "BROCKLESBY" were to act as reinforcements.
Luck was with the ships as they made their way to the objective in a roundabout way. No enemy aircraft were encountered and although HMS "TYNEDALE" saw and attacked "U-595" unsuccessfully, the U-boat's subsequent radio report did not contain anything significant. Some French fishing boats were also seen but they did not report the presence of the Force and, even as the ships approached the estuary entrance and were seen by a patrol craft, it had no radio and could not report the fact.
It was not all good fortune. The RAF was to carry out a bombing raid just prior to the sea attack, the intention of which, in part, was to divert the defenders' attentions to the sky and away from the surface. However, for political reasons, it was RAF policy only to bomb clearly identifiable targets in built up areas, and because the previously clear skies had given way to cloud, the planes did not attack, even though they had arrived over the target. Consequently the defenders had been alerted and did not relax their guard after the planes had flown off.
Nevertheless with skill, bravery and use of intelligence about German signals, the Force got to within a mile of their target before they were seriously challenged. Once identified, the full force of the defenders' armament was brought to bear. Many men were killed in their boats before they had a chance to get ashore, but the attack was driven home and HMS "CAMPBELTOWN" was rammed into the caissons, at 1.34am, exactly as planned. Commandos managed also to destroy their objectives but inevitably many were killed while doing so. Two MTB's and 14 of the motor launches were lost.
The dock itself was empty when the attack took place, and when the battle was over, the Germans attempted to pull "CAMPBELTOWN" off the gates, without success. The delayed action fuses did not activate as they had been set and it was not until nearly noon on the next day that an enormous explosion occurred which completely destroyed the gates. The water in the estuary washed "CAMPBELTOWN" into the dock along with debris of all kinds. For some reason the Germans, although having had plenty of time to search for and find the explosives, failed to do so. There were many of them either on or near the ship at the time. Estimates of German losses vary between 150 and 300 from the fight and the explosion. Some 48 hours later, two more explosions from delayed action torpedoes fired from "MTB74" at the entrance to the old dock causing considerable confusion, if not panic, among the remaining garrison. The Germans thought that bombs had been planted and the workers, fearing reprisals, attempted get out of the docks area and were fired upon.
Further casualties among Navy personnel occurred on the way home, and the rate of attrition among them was to exceed 50 per cent, being 105 men. Commando losses were 64 A total of 169 lost out of 621 were lost.
The dock and machinery was so badly damaged that it was not repaired until after the end of the war. This prevented the Germans from using the facility for repairs to the "TIRPIT"Z as this was the only facility in Europe outside Germany capable of repairing the German battleship.
The action was the subject of a feature film in 1952 called The Gift Horse starring Trevor Howard. The "CAMPBELTOWN" was called in the film HMS "BALLANTRAE".
Marshall Islands 1992 29c sg416, scott? (the other craft is a mtb in foreground of stamp, there was only one mtb taken part in the raid, the MTB 74 so she must be depict on the stamp.)
Source: Jone's 1941 Colledge; http://www.warships.net/ royalnavy/rnbattles/ww2/stnazair; DANFS.
Ships participating in the attack: ML's 4298, 306, 307, 341, 443, 446, 447 and 457, of the newly formed 28th Flotilla; ML's 4192, 262, 267 and 268, from the 20th Flotilla; ML's 156, 160, 177 and 270, were torpedo carrying variants from the 7 th Flotilla; "MTB74", HMS "CAMPBELTOWN", HMS "TYNEDALE", HMS "ATHERSTONE" and HM Submarine "STURGEON".