Operation Archery
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During World War II, Operation Archery was a British Combined Operations raid on December 27, 1941 against German positions on Vaagso, Norway.
The raid was conducted by No.3 Commando, two Troops of No.2 Commando, a medical detachment of No.4 Commando, a demotion party from 101 Troop (canoe) of No.6 Commando and a dozen Norwegian combat volunteers. The action was supported by Royal Navy gunfire, led by the cruiser Kenya, and Royal Air Force bombers and fighter-bombers.
The Commando force of 570 was divided into five with these objectives. (1) Secure the area north of the town of South Vaagso and engage any enemy reinforcements; (2) subdue and secure South Vaagso town; (3) eliminate the enemy on Maaloy Island which dominated the town; (4) eliminate the enemy strongpoint at Hollevik south of South Vaagso; (5) provide a floating reserve offshore. Central to the operation was the destruction of fish-oil production and stores which the Germans used in the manufacture of high-explosives. Another intention was to cause the Germans to maintain and increase forces in Norway which otherwise might be employed on the Eastern Front.
The dawn landing was preceded by a very effective naval bombardment and objectives went to plan except the town of South Vaagso itself. Opposition there was much stiffer than expected as unknown to the British a Jäger unit of experienced troops from the Eastern Front were there on leave.
Their experience in sniping and street fighting caused Vaagso to develop into a bitter house-by-house battle causing the commander, John Durnford-Slater, to call in the floating reserve and troops from Maaloy Island. A number of local citizens assisted the Commandos by acting as porters for ammunition and explosives grenades and in carrying away the wounded.
Around 14:00 the Commandos started their withdrawal having destroyed four factories, the fish-oil stores, ammunition and fuel stores, the telephone exchange and various military installations. Much of the town was in flames. The Naval assault force of one cruiser and four destroyers had meanwhile sunk 10 vessels, some found in the act of being scuttled to prevent capture.
No Royal Navy ships were lost, but four men killed and four wounded. The Commandos sustained 17 killed and 53 wounded, the Norwegian commander (Capt. Linge) was killed, and the RAF had 8 planes downed. The Commandos accounted for at least 120 enemy killed and returned with 98 prisoners and a complete copy of the German Naval Code. Several Quislings and a number of loyal Norwegians were also brought back.
In conjunction with this raid, Operation Anklet was mounted by No.12 Commando on the Lofoten Islands as a diversion.
The raid was enough to persuade Adolf Hitler to divert 30,000 troops to Norway, upgrade coastal and inland defences, and send the battleship Tirpitz, battlecruisers (or light battleships) Gneisenau, and Scharnhorst, the pocket battleship Lützow, and the heavy cruisers Admiral Hipper and Prinz Eugen to Norway - a major diversion of effort and forces that could have had significant impact elsewhere. Hitler thought that the British might invade northern Norway to put pressure on Sweden and Finland.