Operation Abercrombie

Part of North West Europe Campaign

Date	21–22 April 1942
Location	Hardelot, France 50°37′8.4″N 1°38′31.2″E / 50.619000°N 1.642000°E / 50.619000; 1.642000Coordinates: 50°37′8.4″N 1°38′31.2″E / 50.619000°N 1.642000°E / 50.619000; 1.642000
Result	Allied objectives largely unmet

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Canada

Nazi Germany

Commanders and leaders

Lord Lovat

Strength

100 British commandos
50 Canadian Infantry
Royal Engineers

Unknown

Casualties and losses

1 injured

Unknown

During World War II, Operation Abercrombie was an Anglo-Canadian reconnaissance raid on the area around the French coastal village of Hardelot, located south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, in the Pas-de-Calais. It had been scheduled for the night of 19/20 April 1942, but delayed until 21/22 April. The raid was largely unopposed but, on review, the benefits were thought not to have been worth the effort. Due to a navigation error the Canadian detachment lost their way and had to abort.

The operation was a reconnaissance in force, intended to reconnoitre the beaches off the village of Hardelot, to capture prisoners and destroy as much equipment as possible, including a searchlight battery.

The force comprised B and C troops (about 100 men) of No. 4 Commando, 50 men from the Canadian Carleton and York Regiment, (2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade) and some Royal Engineers, under the overall command of Major The Lord Lovat of No.4 Commando.

The Commandos trained in the New Forest and Lepe, near Southampton, based aboard the landing ship, HMS Prince Albert on which they were transported to Dover on 18 April. The force was to be carried to France on motor gun boats (MGBs) and there transferred to assault landing craft (LCAs), which the MGBs had towed.

C Troop was to land first, clear obstacles and establish a beachhead; B Troop would pass through C Troop, head inland and execute their tasks. The return journey would be in the LCAs.

This was the first occasion the new LCS (Landing Craft Support) was employed, equipped with two machine guns and a mortar.

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Wikipedia