Frankton's Shadows

[Wully]

There is a programme about 'Operation Frankton' on BBC1 at 1135 on Wednesday 24 March 2004.Something to do with the fact whether or not the operation was successful or even necessary.

[harry hackedoff]

Depends what they mean by success, I suppose Wully.
Using canoes to attack shipping with Limpet mines was an untried form of attack. The success of Op Frankton went far beyond the raid itself and the techniques learned were used many times in the Eastern Med and Far East subsequently
Was it necessary? Well again it depends what they mean by necessary.
The damage to the ships probably had no direct affect on the outcome of the war. It carried the fight to the enemy, by any means available and from that night onwards there was a new level of threat in Festung Europa.
That’s my opinion mate, but I look forward to you posting a synopsis

[Wully]

I'll probably be in my pit by the time it comes on but I intend to tape it and watch it later.

[El Prez]

"Wully, BBC News, from the corner of my pit............. and now it's back to the studio"

I'm amazed he got out of his pit early enough to put the first post in, it must have been that period between wakeing and somnolence. What was that? I heard that pardon.

[Wully]

Prez, just because you're built like a Norwegian racing sardine and you only need a couple of hours sleep because nursie has hidden your sleeping tablets doesn't mean that us old 'uns can do without our ten hours. Anyway in this sleepy backwater of darkest Devon there's nothing worth getting out of bed for

[harry hackedoff]

built like a Norwegian racing sardine

Have you visited an optician, lately

Someone watch the prog, and post a heads up

[sneaky beaky]

I'm not sure whether the raid on Bordeaux was rated a success or not. What I do think, is that without it, we would not have an SBS today.
It was one of the great influences on the powers that be, in forming the SBS from all those myriad units that evolved during the war.
Sneaky

[Artist]

Cockleshell Heros was on BBC2 about 4 weeks ago.

Anyone want a tape? £99 a go plus P & P.

Now what are they called? Clippers, Slippers, makes me laugh when you read some of the "Less than Honest" dic*heads talking about Canoes and the people who use them in the armed forces.

Artist (or is that Arsesit?)

[Wully]

The programme about 'Frankton Shadows' was less about the actual operation and more about the lack of co-ordination and communications between Combined Operations and the SOE. The exchange of information was all a bit one sided whereby Combined Ops kept the SOE informed about Operation Frankton but the SOE failed to tell Combined Ops that they had a plan in operation for their guys to attack the same targets the night after the Marines planted the mines. Quite typical of government departments even today.

[sneaky beaky]

Some things never change!!
Sneaky

[barryc]

Much of the impact of Frankton was that the `commando' strike came, not on or close inland of a Pas de Calais, Normandy or Brittany beach but miles inland, true on a river but a long way from the sea. In many ways thia is echoed not only by the SBS but by the very concept of amphibious warfare as practised by the Corps. A force capable of operating up to 600 miles from the coast, and being very much self supporting, from a movable base means that a huge number of possible areas of concern are not safe from a visit by the Booties.


Barry