JKA
Established Member
I have long had an interest in the military use of kayaks and one of the most famous was Operation Frankton, a British raid during the Second World War in which canoe/kayaks (Cockles) were launched from a submarine and used to attack German ships at anchor in Bordeaux Harbour, in occupied France.
The raiders became known as the Cockleshell Heroes and the operation, while of limited material effect, was a major propaganda success at a very dark time for Britain. Their equipment, tactics and procedures set the foundations for every Special Forces kayak-borne role since.
Only two members of the unit survived the attack. The remainder were drowned, or executed after capture by the German forces who were carrying out Hitler’s ‘Commando Order’ which deemed that any ‘special forces’ were criminals and to be immediately killed.
Yesterday I saw the only Cockle that returned from the operation, as it was damaged on launching and returned to the UK.
The Cockle, named Cachalot, was returned to the factory and then forgotten about until the 1980’s when it was found, restored and placed in a British military museum.
The Combined Military Services Museum, in Maldon, two hours drive from London, is remarkable. Started by a teenager who gathered up his family’s wartime relics, it has grown to hold some remarkable collections. Original equipment used on Operation Nimrod, the 1980 SAS operation in London to free hostages in the Iranian Embassy, a silenced pistol built to assassinate Hitler, and a huge collection of covert radios and weapons from the Cold War.
<cmsm.co.uk>
And, of huge interest to me, Cachalot, the Cockle Mk II that came back from Operation Frankton.
Incredibly basic by modern standards, the main requirement was that it could fit through the torpedo loading hatch on a submarine. This was achieved by making the deck and hull of plywood with the sides of canvas. Folding wooden struts supported the sides and when they were collapsed the vessel was only six inches in depth. It could be bought up onto the submarine’s casing and erected in 30 seconds. It was then loaded, the two paddlers got in and the whole thing was lifted off using a girder bolted to the submarine’s deck gun barrel.
On examining the boat, the most amazing part to me was discovering how the spray deck was ’sealed.’
Large paper clips were used to hold the canvas together! That was the best thing they could come up with in the time available. Never again will I complain about a leaky spray skirt.
As I was leaving the museum I spoke with the curator who pulled out the original documents they hold which has all the wartime correspondence about designing and building the Cockles. She had a great knowledge of and excitement about the exhibit. I felt very privileged to view and photograph these items, given that most have never been published.
I have long had a copy of the plans of the Cockle Mk II, basic as it is, and have planned to build a replica. I’m now very motivated to get it done, partly as a memorial to the young Royal Marines who truly were members of the ‘Greatest Generation’.
First, I need to get some big paper clips!
The raiders became known as the Cockleshell Heroes and the operation, while of limited material effect, was a major propaganda success at a very dark time for Britain. Their equipment, tactics and procedures set the foundations for every Special Forces kayak-borne role since.
Only two members of the unit survived the attack. The remainder were drowned, or executed after capture by the German forces who were carrying out Hitler’s ‘Commando Order’ which deemed that any ‘special forces’ were criminals and to be immediately killed.
Yesterday I saw the only Cockle that returned from the operation, as it was damaged on launching and returned to the UK.
The Cockle, named Cachalot, was returned to the factory and then forgotten about until the 1980’s when it was found, restored and placed in a British military museum.
The Combined Military Services Museum, in Maldon, two hours drive from London, is remarkable. Started by a teenager who gathered up his family’s wartime relics, it has grown to hold some remarkable collections. Original equipment used on Operation Nimrod, the 1980 SAS operation in London to free hostages in the Iranian Embassy, a silenced pistol built to assassinate Hitler, and a huge collection of covert radios and weapons from the Cold War.
<cmsm.co.uk>
And, of huge interest to me, Cachalot, the Cockle Mk II that came back from Operation Frankton.
Incredibly basic by modern standards, the main requirement was that it could fit through the torpedo loading hatch on a submarine. This was achieved by making the deck and hull of plywood with the sides of canvas. Folding wooden struts supported the sides and when they were collapsed the vessel was only six inches in depth. It could be bought up onto the submarine’s casing and erected in 30 seconds. It was then loaded, the two paddlers got in and the whole thing was lifted off using a girder bolted to the submarine’s deck gun barrel.
On examining the boat, the most amazing part to me was discovering how the spray deck was ’sealed.’
Large paper clips were used to hold the canvas together! That was the best thing they could come up with in the time available. Never again will I complain about a leaky spray skirt.
As I was leaving the museum I spoke with the curator who pulled out the original documents they hold which has all the wartime correspondence about designing and building the Cockles. She had a great knowledge of and excitement about the exhibit. I felt very privileged to view and photograph these items, given that most have never been published.
I have long had a copy of the plans of the Cockle Mk II, basic as it is, and have planned to build a replica. I’m now very motivated to get it done, partly as a memorial to the young Royal Marines who truly were members of the ‘Greatest Generation’.
First, I need to get some big paper clips!
