No. 30 Commando: Difference between revisions

{{forFor|the current unit raised in 2010|30 Commando Information Exploitation Group}}

|branch=Royal Marines, Royal Navy, British Army, RAF,<ref name="nutting"/> and attached civilian specialists.<ref name=kingscollege/>

|nickname=''"Red Indians''"

|motto= "Attain Byby Surprise"

In a 2012 documentary, '''Dieppe Uncovered''', Canadian Professor [[David O'Keefe (historian)|David O'Keefe]] shows a March 1942 document where James Bond creator, [[Ian Fleming]], proposes the creation of a commando unit to his then boss, Admiral [[John Henry Godfrey|John Godfrey]], the Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI).<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 5, 2013 |title=Ian Fleming's secret memo |work=BBC Magazine |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21655967 |access-date=September 9, 2022}}</ref> Fleming notes the objective of such a unit would be, "to accompany forward troops when a port or naval installation is being attacked and, if the attack is successful, their duty is to capture documents, cyphers". He based this unit on a similar unit already in existence since 1941 in Nazi Germany and operated by the German Military Intelligence unit, [[Abwehr]] named ''Marine-Einsatz-Kommando Schwarzes Meer'',.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kobelt |first1=Hartwig |title=Marine-Einsatz-Kommandos |date=June 2012 |publisher=Helios Verlagsge |location=Germany |isbn=9783869330754 |edition=2012}}</ref>

In September 1942, itsIts formation was officially authorised in September 1942, under the auspices of the [[Naval Intelligence Division (United Kingdom)|Director of Naval Intelligence]]. Known initially as the '''Special Intelligence Unit''', it comprised 33 ([[Royal Marines]]) Troop, 34 ([[British Army|Army]]) Troop, 35 ([[Royal Air Force]]) Troop and 36 ([[Royal Navy]]) Troop. One of the key figures involved in its organisation was Commander [[Ian Fleming]] (later author of the [[James Bond novels]]). It was tasked to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert infiltrations into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture much needed intelligence, in the form of codes, documents, equipment or personnel.<ref name=kingscollege/> They often worked closely with the [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]]' Field Security sections. Individual troops were present in all operational theatres and usually operated independently, gathering information from captured facilities.<ref name=kingscollege/>

During July 30AU made their headquarters at [[Barneville-Carteret|Carteret]] where captured material was studied and the force increased in men and vehicles. In August it advanced with the [[US 3rd Army]] in the [[Operation Cobra|breakout of Normandy]]. 30 AU took part in the capture of [[Rennes]], [[Brest, France|Brest]] and [[Nantes]] however captured documents were not of great value there. Their biggest operation however was in the [[Liberation of Paris]] – codenamed ''Woolforce II''.<ref name=kingscollege/> Moving with speed in various scout and armoured cars and having avoided road blocks or major resistance ''Woolforce II'' entered via the [[Porte d'Orléans]] having followed the [[2nd Armored Division (France)|2nd Free French armoured division]]. Avoiding joyous crowds 30AU crossed [[Pont Mirabeau]] and quickly cleared intelligence targets and blew open every safe box they could find. After a brief gunfight, they captured the former headquarters of Admiral [[Karl Dönitz]], the [[Château de la Muette]] 'liberating' 30 tonnes of documents.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ash |first1=John Garton |title=Bill Day |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/9733321/Bill-Day.html |access-date=20 May 2019 |agencywork=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 December 2012}}</ref> In addition they seized the factory and underground torpedo warehouses at [[Houilles]] and [[Saint-Cloud]]. They managed to secure the acoustic torpedoes – the [[G7es torpedo|T5]] and the experimental T10 as well as extensive technical documentation. When the Germans under [[Dietrich von Choltitz]] announced the capitulation nearly 700 Germans surrendered to 30AU.<ref name="Rankin266">Rankin p 266</ref>

Some 30AU missions in Germany during early 1945 reportedly remain subject to official secrecy.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} The unit is known to have targeted military scientists,<ref name="Nutting">{{Cite book|last=Nutting|first=David|title=Attain by Surprise|year=2003|publisher=Colver|isbn=0-9526257-2-5}}</ref><ref name="National Archives">{{Cite bookweb |title=Appendix 1 (Part 5): History of 30 Commando (later called 30 Assault Unit and 30 Advanced Unit also known as Special Engineering Unit)|year=19461997 |orig-year=1946 (released 1997) |publisher=Admiralty SW|id=ADM&nbsp;223/214|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4123104}}</ref> sometimes far behind enemy lines. But this is described in detail in Nichola'sNicholas Rankin's book "Ian Fleming's Commandos", published 2011 (See Further reading below).

30 Assault Unit was officially disbanded in 1946,<ref name=kingscollege/> however in 2010 the Royal Marines formed [[30 Commando Information Exploitation Group]] (30 Cdo IXG RM) which carries on the history of 30 Assault Unit.<ref>{{Cite newsmagazine | title = UK Royal Marines Rename Information Unit |newspaper magazine= International Defence Review | publisher = JanesJane's | location =London London| date = June 2010 | page =8 8| quote = We are immensely proud to be able to carry on the history of 30 Commando}}</ref>

* 30 Assault Unit's commander Ian Fleming based his fictional secret agent character [[James Bond]] on the commando types and their wartime achievements. See also [[Inspirations for James Bond]].

== References ==

{{reflistReflist|2}}

{{refbeginRefbegin}}

* {{Cite book |last=Chappell |first=Mike |year=1996 |title=Army Commandos 1940–45|year=1996 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=London |isbn=1-85532-579-9}}

* {{Cite book |last=Haining |first=Peter |year=2007 |title=The Mystery of Rommel's Gold: The Search for the Legendary Nazi Treasure |yearlocation=2007London |publisher=AvanaConway Books|isbn=978-1-84486-053-1 |oclc=317259576}}

* {{Cite book |last=Ladd |first=James |year=1980 |title=The Royal Marines 1919–1980|year=1980 |publisher=Jane's |location=London |isbn=978-0-7106-0011-0}}

* {{Cite book |last=Moreman |first=Timothy |year=2006 |title=British Commandos 1940–46 |publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2006 |isbn=1-84176-986-X}}

=== Further reading= ==

{{refbeginRefbegin}}

* {{citeCite journalbook |last=HugillDalzel-Job |first=J. A. C.Patrick |year=19461991 |title=Arctic Snow to Dust of Normandy: The HazardExtraordinary MeshWartime Exploits of a Naval Special Agent |locationplace=LondonBarnsley, UK |publisher=HurstPen and Sword &Military BlackettBooks |oclcisbn=146360901-84415-238-3}}

* {{citeCite book |last=RileyHampshire |first=J. PA. Cecil |year=19891978 |title=The FromSecret Pole to PoleNavies |location=London |publisher=BluntishamW. BooksKimber |isbn=10-87199971830-02195-21}}

* {{citeCite book |last=Dalzel-JobHugill |first=PatrickJ. A. C. |year=19911946 |title=ArcticThe Snow to Dust of NormandyHazard Mesh|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.209759 |placelocation=BarnsleyLondon |publisher=Pen and SwordHurst Military& BooksBlackett |isbnoclc=1-84415-238-314636090}}

* {{citeCite book |last=RankinRiley |first=NicholasJ. P. |year=20111989 |title=IanFrom Fleming'sPole Commandos:to ThePole Story of the Legendary 30 Assault Unit|url=https://archive.org/details/frompoletopoleli0000rile |placelocation=LondonBluntisham, UK |publisher=OxfordBluntisham UniversityBooks Pressfor J. P. Riley |isbn=978-01-19871999-97828202-62}}

=== External links= ==