Operation Claymore

Overview

Operation Claymore was a British/Norwegian commando raid on the Lofoten Islands of northern Norway during the Second World War. The Lofoten Islands were an important centre for the production of fish oil and glycerine, used in the German war economy. The landings were carried out on 4 March 1941, by 500 men of No. 3 Commando, No. 4 Commando, and a Royal Engineers section, and 52 men from Norwegian Independent Company 1. Supported by the 6th Destroyer Flotilla and two troop transports of the Royal Navy, the force landed almost unopposed. The original plan was to avoid contact with German forces and inflict the maximum of damage to German-controlled industry. They achieved their objective of destroying fish oil factories and some 3,600 t of oil and glycerine. The force returned with some 228 German prisoners, 314 Norwegian recruits, and a number of Quisling regime collaborators.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Operation Claymore targeted the Lofoten Islands of northern Norway because the islands were a significant production center for fish oil and glycerine that fed the German war economy. The March 1941 raid by British and Norwegian commandos achieved its primary industrial objective, destroying fish oil factories and approximately 3,600 tonnes of oil and glycerine. Beyond the material damage, the force returned with 228 German prisoners, 314 Norwegian volunteers who joined Allied ranks, and a number of collaborators with the Quisling regime. Landing almost unopposed against German-controlled territory, the operation demonstrated that British and Norwegian forces could project commando power into occupied Norway and strike economically significant targets, while simultaneously recruiting Norwegian nationals willing to continue resistance from abroad.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)