NAVAL STAFF HISTORY SECOND WORLD WAR BATTLE SUMMARIES No. 12 The Attack on St. Nazaire 28th March, 1942 [British Navy]

This volume is part of the Naval Staff History of the Second World War, a series of post-war battle summaries compiled by the British Admiralty to document Royal Navy operations. They provide comprehensive analyses of significant naval actions, including tactical decisions, operational challenges, and lessons learned.Originally classified, these studies have since been largely declassified and are now available through The Naval & Military Press as a series of Facsimile reprintsBattle Summary 12 (July 1942) was originally completed when the main facts of the operation were largely known, but many details remained uncertain. Heavy casualties among the motor launches and the capture of nearly all the commandos who reached shore left gaps in the record, particularly regarding the execution of the raid and the enemy’s response.After the surrender of Germany in 1945, a significant amount of new information became available. Returned prisoners of war provided firsthand accounts, and captured German documents offered insight into enemy plans, movements, and losses. This revised edition incorporates that material, clarifying previously uncertain points and providing a more complete and accurate account of the raid.The operation remains notable for its combination of daring, innovation, and extreme risk. Despite the setbacks suffered by the raiding force, the mission demonstrated the courage and determination of the commandos, as well as the challenges of amphibious raids against a well-prepared enemy. The detailed information now included also highlights the effectiveness and limitations of both sides’ planning and execution, offering lessons in small-unit operations, co-ordination, and naval support.