Operation Cartoon


Operation Cartoon was a British Commando raid on the island of Stord near Leirvik in Hordaland, Norway on the night of 1943. The operation was carried out by 53 men of No. 12 Commando supported by ten men from the Norwegian 10 Commando. RAF Coastal Command co-operated with the Commandos, with aircraft from 18 Group.

Operation

The raiders were transported to Stord by seven Royal Norwegian Navy motor torpedo boats of the 30th MTB Flotilla. Their objective was the destruction of the Pyrite mine on the island. On arrival, half the commandos were landed at Sagvåg quay and engaged German defensive positions, while the remainder were landed on the other side of the bay. The commandos carrying of explosives reached the Pyrite mine which was away after twenty-five minutes. The explosive charges put the Stordø Kisgruber mine out of action for a year. As they departed, the torpedo boats attacked a German steamer which they left sinking. The commandos took three German prisoners, papers and equipment, for the loss of one commando killed, two commandos and eight sailors injured.

Aftermath

Admiral John Tovey said afterwards that
and later that month the Norwegians sailed in a whaler to ambush a convoy at Lister light and bring it to Britain. The plan failed and the Norwegians stayed in Norway and at the end of February, hijacked some small vessels and fishing boats to Scotland. The Norwegian MTBs sank two ships in the Norwegian Leads in the middle of March

Footnotes