Operation Hardtack (commando raid)

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title: "Operation Hardtack (commando raid)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["conflicts-in-1943", "british-commando-operations-during-the-second-world-war", "1943-in-france", "military-history-of-the-channel-islands-during-world-war-ii", "december-1943-in-europe"] topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hardtack_(commando_raid)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="infobox military conflict"]

Field	Value
conflict	Operation Hardtack
partof	North West Europe Campaign
(Part of World War II)
date	24–28 December 1943
place	Channel Islands and Northern France
combatant1	United Kingdom
Free France
combatant2	Nazi Germany
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| conflict = Operation Hardtack | partof = North West Europe Campaign (Part of World War II) | image = | caption = | date = 24–28 December 1943 | place = Channel Islands and Northern France | coordinates = | map_type = | latitude = | longitude = | map_size = | map_marksize = | map_caption = | map_label = | territory = | result = | status = | combatant1 = United Kingdom Free France | combatant2 = Nazi Germany | commander1 = | commander2 = | units1 = | units2 = | strength1 = | strength2 = | casualties1 = | casualties2 = | notes = | campaignbox = Operation Hardtack was the name of a series of British Commando raids during the Second World War. The operation was conducted by No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, No. 12 Commando and the Special Boat Service, and took place on the Channel Islands and the northern coast of France in December 1943. Most of the raids consisted of ten men of various ranks, carried by Motor Torpedo Boats and dories, except for one operation, which was an airborne landing. The raids were ended by order of Major General Robert Laycock because they caused the enemy to bring reinforcements, which could have been detrimental to the Allies' strategy.

Raids

::data[format=table]

Codename	Date	Force	Target	Objective	Outcome
van der Bijl	2006	pp=22–24}}.	26/27 December 1943	No. 12 Commando
No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando	Biville-sur-Mer actually Criel-sur-Mer	Reconnaissance and
capture prisoners	The Commandos were forced to withdraw by German patrol activity having actually landed near Creil-Sur-Mer. Two soldiers climbed the cliffs and encountered a patrol of approx 15 Germans. The leader, Cpl (later Sgt) Douglas Nash was awarded the Military Medal for covering the withdrawal.
Hardtack 5	26/27 December 1943	No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando	Onival	Reconnaissance and
capture prisoners	One Commando was injured by an anti-personnel mine on landing; the rest spent four and a half hours ashore but did not see any Germans, just unoccupied strong points.
Hardtack 7	Cruickshank	1975	pp=243–244}}.	No. 12 Commando
No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando	Sark	Reconnaissance and
capture prisoners	122}}
Hardtack 11	24/25 & 26/27 December 1943	No. 1 & No. 8 French troops, No. 10 Commando	Gravelines	Reconnaissance of beaches and sand dunes	Landed safely, but the small dory was swamped and the commandos were stranded. One probably drowned, the rest made their way inland becoming separated and attempted to avoid capture, at least some of them managed to join the French Resistance.
Hardtack 13	26/27 December 1943	No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando
SBS	Bénouville-Etretat, Seine-Maritime
Hardtack 21	26/27 December 1943	No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando	Quinéville	Reconnaissance and
capture prisoners	The raid gathered information on the defensive obstacles on what would become Utah Beach.
Cruickshank	1975	p=245}}.	January 1944 (Cancelled)	No. 10 Commando, later 2nd US Rangers	Herm
capture prisoners	Raid was cancelled at the planning stage.
Hardtack 23	27/28 December 1943	No. 1 French Troop, No. 10 Commando	Ostend	Reconnaissance and
capture prisoners	The raid was called off after their Motor Torpedo Boat transport ran aground.
Hardtack 28	25/26 December 1943	No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando
No. 12 Commando	Jersey	Take sample of barbed wire and
capture prisoners	last= Fowler	first=Will	title=The Last Raid: The Commandos, Channel Islands and Final Nazi Raid	publisher=The History Press	ISBN=978-0750966375}}.
Hardtack 36	24/25 December 1943	No. 8 French Troop, No. 10 Commando	Wassenaar	Reconnaissance and
capture prisoners	All the Commandos involved were killed after landing.
::

References

Bibliography

References

1. {{harv. Anderson. 2000
2. "Modern Day Commando".
3. {{harv. van der Bijl. 2006
4. "Sgt. Douglas James Nash MM".
5. {{harv. Messenger. 1985
6. {{harv. Cruickshank. 1975
7. {{harv. Cruickshank. 1975
8. Fowler, Will. "The Last Raid: The Commandos, Channel Islands and Final Nazi Raid". The History Press.

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