View source for Operation Anklet

{{Short description|1941 British commando raid in Norway during WWII}}
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{{more footnotes|date=September 2013}}
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{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict    = Operation Anklet
|partof      = the [[North West Europe Campaign]]
|image       = Norway - Lofoten.PNG
|image_size  = 300
|caption     = Lofoten Islands
|date        = 26–27 December 1941
|place       = [[Lofoten|Lofoten Islands]]
|coordinates = {{coord|67|59|N|13|00|E|display=inline|region:NO_type:isle_source:GNS-enwiki}}
|map_type    =
|map_relief  =
|latitude    =
|longitude   =
|map_size    =
|map_marksize=
|map_caption =
|map_label   =
|territory   =
|result      = Allied victory
|status      =
|combatants_header =
|combatant1  ={{flag|United Kingdom|23px}}<br />{{flag|Norway|23px}}<br>{{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Polish government-in-exile|Poland]]
|combatant2  ={{flagcountry|Nazi Germany|23px}}
|commander1  ={{flagicon|UK}} [[Admiral]] [[Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton]]<br>'''Naval:'''<br>[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] Hugh Dalrymple-Smith<br>'''Land:'''<br>[[Lieutenant Colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] S.S. Harrison
|commander2  ={{flagicon|Nazi Germany|23px}} [[Colonel General|Generaloberst]] [[Nikolaus von Falkenhorst]]
|units1      =
|units2      =
|strength1   ='''Naval:'''<br>
'''Royal Navy'''<br>
1 [[Light cruiser]]<br>
6 [[Destroyers]]<br>
3 [[Minesweeper (ship)|Minesweepers]]<br>
2 [[Landing Ship Infantry]]<br>
2 [[Submarine]]s<br>
1 Survey ship<br>
'''Royal Fleet Auxiliary'''<br>
2 Tankers<br>
1 Freighter
1 Tugboat
'''Royal Norwegian Navy'''<br>
2 [[Corvette (ship)|Corvettes]]<br>
'''Polish Navy'''<br>
2 Destroyers<br>
'''Land:'''<br>[[No. 12 Commando]] 223 men<br>[[Norwegian Independent Company 1|Norwegian Company]] 77 men
|strength2   =Eight divisions in Norway<br>three coastal defence<br>four infantry<br>one [[Luftwaffe Field Division|''Luftwaffe'' Field Division]]<ref>Messenger, p.47</ref><br>Unknown number of aircraft and naval forces
|casualties1 = 1 light cruiser heavily damaged
|casualties2 =1 patrol ship sunk<br>2 wireless stations destroyed
|casualties3 =
|notes       =
|campaignbox ={{Campaignbox Norwegian Campaigns (1941 - 1945)}}
{{Campaignbox Raids and Commando Actions in Norway}}
}}
'''Operation Anklet''' was the [[codename]] given to a [[British Commando]] raid during the [[Second World War]]. The raid on the [[Lofoten Islands]] was carried out in December 1941, by 300 men from [[No. 12 Commando]] and the [[Norwegian Independent Company 1]]. The landing party was supported by 22 ships from three navies.

At the same time, another raid was taking place in [[Vågsøy (island)|Vågsøy]]. This raid was [[Operation Archery]], on 27 December 1941, and Operation Anklet was seen as a diversionary raid for this bigger raid, intended to draw away the German naval and air forces.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38342|page=3881|date= 2 July 1948}} "Raid on military and economic objectives in the vicinity of Vaagso island"</ref>

==Background==
After the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] had been evacuated from [[Operation Dynamo|Dunkirk]] in 1940, the then British [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Winston Churchill]] called for a force to be assembled and equipped to inflict casualties on the Germans and bolster British morale. Churchill told the joint Chiefs of Staff to propose measures for an offensive against German-occupied Europe, and stated: "they must be prepared with specially trained troops of the hunter class who can develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast."<ref name=has47/>

One staff officer, [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Dudley Clarke]], had already submitted such a proposal to [[General]] Sir [[John Dill]], the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]]. Dill, aware of Churchill's intentions, approved Clarke's proposal.<ref name=has47>Haskew, p.47</ref>

The Commandos came under the operational control of the [[Combined Operations Headquarters]]. The man initially selected as the commander was [[Admiral]] [[Roger Keyes|Sir Roger Keyes]], a veteran of the [[Gallipoli Campaign]] and the [[Zeebrugge Raid]] in the [[First World War]].<ref>Chappell, p.6</ref> In 1940, the call went out for volunteers from among the serving Army soldiers within certain formations still in Britain, and men of the disbanding Divisional [[Independent Companies]] originally raised from [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] Divisions who had seen service in Norway.{{#tag:ref|The 10 independent companies were raised from volunteers in second line Territorial Army divisions in April 1940. They were intended for [[guerrilla]] style operations in Norway following the German invasion. Each of the 10 companies initially consisted of 21 officers and 268 [[Other ranks (UK)|other ranks]].<ref>Moreman, p.13</ref> |group=nb}}

The Lofoten Islands form part of the north western Norwegian coastline about {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=on}} inside the [[Arctic Circle]]. Operation Anklet would be the second raid on the islands. The first, [[Operation Claymore]], had taken place in March 1941, and the third raid, [[Operation Archery]], would take place at the same time as Operation Anklet.<ref name=mess15/>

The raid was organised by the [[Combined Operations Headquarters]], and would only use naval and land assets, the [[Royal Air Force]] was not involved. But it would be the last raid undertaken without air support.<ref name=coop>{{cite web|access-date=18 July 2010|publisher=Combined Operations|title=Lofoten Islands 2nd Raid 26/27 December 1941|url=http://www.combinedops.com/lofoten_2.htm}}</ref>

The naval force formed for Operation Anklet consisted of 22 ships from three navies. The [[Royal Navy]] provided the most ships which included the [[light cruiser]] {{HMS|Arethusa|26|6}}; six [[destroyer]]s ({{HMS|Somali|F33|6}}, {{HMS|Ashanti|F51|2}}, {{HMS|Bedouin|F67|2}}, {{HMS|Eskimo|F75|2}}, {{HMS|Lamerton|L88|2}} and {{HMS|Wheatland|L122|2}}); three [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]] ({{HMS|Speedwell|J87|6}}, {{HMS|Harrier|1934|2}} and {{HMS|Halcyon|J42|2}}); two [[Landing Ship Infantry]] (HMS&nbsp;''Prins Albert'' and ''Prinses Josephine Charlotte''); the [[submarines]] {{HMS|Tigris|N63|6}}, {{HMS|Sealion|72S|6}}; and the survey ship {{HMS|Scott|J79|6}}. The [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] provided two fleet tankers ([[RFA Gray Ranger|RFA ''Gray Ranger'']] and [[RFA Black Ranger|''Black Ranger'']]); the [[cargo ship|freighter]] ''[[Gudrun Maersk]]''; and the [[Tugboat]] ''Jaunty''.<ref name=ships>{{cite web|access-date=18 July 2010|publisher=Naval History|title=Background Events, December 1941 to February 1942|url=http://www.patriotfiles.com/archive/navalhistory/xDKWW2-4112-39DEC02.htm|archive-date=2 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002170138/http://www.patriotfiles.com/archive/navalhistory/xDKWW2-4112-39DEC02.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Norwegian Armed Forces in exile|exiled]] [[Royal Norwegian Navy]] provided the [[corvette]]s [[HNoMS Andenes (K01)|HNoMS ''Andenes'']] and [[HNoMS Eglantine (K197)|''Eglantine'']], while the [[Polish Navy]] provided the destroyers [[ORP Krakowiak (L115)|ORP ''Krakowiak'']] and [[ORP Kujawiak (L72)|''Kujawiak'']].<ref name=ships/>

The landing force was supplied by 223 men of [[No. 12 Commando]], supported by 77 men of the [[Norwegian Independent Company 1]].<ref name=coop/>

==Mission==
The naval task force was assembled at three locations: [[Scapa Flow]], [[Greenock]] and [[Lerwick]]. The task force, now known as Force J, left Scapa and Greenock for the Lofoten Islands on Monday 22 December, and those at Lerwick the following day. ''En route'' to join up with the main force, the infantry landing ship ''Prinses Josephine Charlotte'' developed engine trouble, and together with her destroyer escort ''Wheatland'' was sent back to Scapa, arriving on 24 December. ''Wheatland'' left Scapa alone on 25 December to catch up with the rest of Force J.<ref name= ships/> As the task force approached the islands, the submarine ''Sealion'' was already in position to act as a navigational beacon for the attack, which was planned for 26 December.

When the task force arrived, the infantry landing ship ''Prins Albert'', escorted by destroyer ''Lamerton'' and corvettes ''Eglantine'' and ''Acanthus'', headed towards [[Moskenesøya]] to land the commandos.<ref name=ships/> Some of  the other ships conducted operations around the islands. The destroyer ''Bedouin'' destroyed a radio station at [[Flakstadøya]], while the cruiser ''Arethusa'' and destroyers ''Somali'', ''Ashanti'', and ''Eskimo'' entered the [[Vestfjorden (Norway)|Vestfjorden]]. Here they captured the Norwegian coastal steamers ''Kong Harald'' and ''Nordland''  and ''Ashanti'' sank a German patrol boat.<ref name=ships/>

The 300-man landing force landed at 06:00 on [[Boxing Day]]. The date had been selected by British planners, who expected the German garrison to be concentrating on the [[Christmas]] festivities and would therefore be caught unprepared.<ref name=coop/> The landings were unopposed as the commandos, dressed in white camouflaged overalls, were landed on the western side of the island of [[Moskenesøya]]. They soon occupied the villages of [[Reine]] and [[Moskenes (village)|Moskenes]], capturing the small German garrison and a number of Norwegian [[Quisling]]s at the radio station at [[Glåpen]].<ref name=coop/>
[[File:Reine at Reinefjorden, 2010 September.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|alt=panoramic view of the town and mountains|[[Reine]] one of the villages occupied in the raid]]

The raiding force was attacked on 27 December 1941 by a German seaplane that bombed the cruiser ''Arethusa''. Although it was not hit, it did suffer some damage that would require 14 weeks in dock to repair.<ref name=ships/> With no air support of their own, the commander of the raid, [[Admiral]] [[Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton|Hamilton]], having occupied the Norwegian villages for two days, decided to pull out and head back to Scapa, where they arrived on 1 January 1942.<ref name= coop/>

==Aftermath==
During Operation Anklet, two radio transmitters were destroyed, several small German boats were captured or sunk, and a small number of Germans and Quislings were made [[prisoners of war]].<ref name=coop/> The navy also captured an [[Enigma machine|Enigma coding machine]], with its associated wheels and settings, from the patrol ship they had sunk.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 July 2010|publisher=Naval History|title=HMS Wheatland|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DE-Wheatland.htm}}</ref> They also returned with over 200 Norwegians who volunteered to serve in the [[Free Norwegian Forces]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 July 2010|title=Operation Anklet| publisher=Commando operations in Norway|url=http://www.nuav.net/commando.html#Anklet}}</ref> The raid was successful, with no casualties to the Allied force. At least one lesson seemed to have been learnt, as it was the last raid undertaken without air support.<ref name=coop/> During the war, there were 12 commando raids directed against Norway.<ref name="mess15">Messenger, p.15</ref> The German response was to increase the number of troops they stationed there. By 1944, the German garrison in Norway had increased to 370,000 men.<ref>Chappell, p.14</ref> A British infantry division in 1944 had 18,347 men.<ref>Brayley & Chappell, p.17</ref>

==Notes==
===Footnotes===
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==Citations==
{{reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|last=Brayley|first=Martin|last2=Chappell|first2=Mike|title=British Army 1939–45 (1): North-West Europe|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2001|isbn=1-84176-052-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Chappell|first=Mike|title=Army Commandos 1940–1945|year=1996|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=1-85532-579-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Haskew|first=Michael E|title=Encyclopaedia of Elite Forces in the Second World War|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2007|isbn=978-1-84415-577-4}}
* {{cite book|first=H. F.|last=Joslen|title=Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945| publisher=Naval & Military Press|isbn=1-84342-474-6|year=1990}}
* {{cite book|last=Messenger|first=Charles|year=2004|title=The D Day Atlas|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|isbn=978-0-500-25123-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Moreman|first=Timothy Robert|title=British Commandos 1940–46|publisher= Osprey Publishing|year=2006|isbn=1-84176-986-X}}

===Further reading===
* {{cite book |first=Hugh |last=Sebag-Montefiore |author-link=Hugh Sebag-Montefiore |title=Enigma: The Battle for the Code |year=2001 |orig-year=2000 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |location=London |edition=4th, pbk. Phoenix |isbn=0-75381-130-8}}

==External links==
* [http://www.combinedops.com/COM_PHOTOS/Naval%20Signal%20Anklet.jpg Naval message to Force J after the raid].

{{British Commando raids of the Second World War}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anklet, Operation of 1941}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1941]]
[[Category:1941 in Norway]]
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Norway]]
[[Category:Military history of Norway during World War II]]
[[Category:Norwegian resistance movement]]
[[Category:World War II British Commando raids]]
[[Category:History of Nordland]]
[[Category:Amphibious operations of World War II]]
[[Category:December 1941 in Europe]]
[[Category:Amphibious operations involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II German operations in Norway]]