St Nazaire 1942: The Great Commando Raid by Ken Ford

St Nazaire 1942: The Great Commando Raid by Ken Ford is an extensively illustrated account of one of the most audacious British combined operations of the Second World War. This 2009 hardback forms No. 12 in Osprey’s Battles of World War II series and is illustrated by renowned military artist Howard Gerrard.

St Nazaire 1942 examines Operation Chariot, the dramatic British raid on the German-occupied French port of Saint-Nazaire in March 1942. Central to the operation was the destroyer HMS Campbeltown, which was packed with explosives and deliberately rammed into the gates of the enormous Normandie dry dock. The objective was to prevent the strategically important facility from being used by major German warships, particularly the battleship Tirpitz, during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Ken Ford follows the operation from its strategic background and planning through the training of the assault force, the voyage to France, the run up the Loire, the attack on the dock installations and the fierce fighting that followed. St Nazaire 1942 also examines the British commandos, naval crews and German defenders involved in the action.

The volume is richly illustrated with historical photographs, detailed colour battle maps, diagrams, timelines and specially commissioned artwork. Its accessible format makes it an excellent introduction to the St Nazaire Raid while retaining considerable detail for established military-history enthusiasts.

An attractive pictorial hardback edition of a popular Osprey title, particularly appealing to collectors of World War II history, British Commandos, Royal Navy operations, special forces history and the wider Osprey Battles of World War II series. St Nazaire 1942 runs to approximately 96 pages and includes a bibliography and index.

Condition – Very Good

Glossy pictorial hardback with light general shelf wear and minor surface marks. The pages shown are clean and the binding appears firm. No dust jacket as issued.