In the same year (1942) the original brigade signals Troop was expanded to a force of 100 + providing signallers to accompany probes by single dory raids or for brigade-sized battles. Each Commando had its own signals Section from early in 1941, and in 1943 the Army Commando’s 100 + brigade signals force combined with the RM Division’s signallers to form four SS Brigade Signal Sections. The Group Signals unit attached to the Commando Group HQ in 1944 was purely administrative. After the Normandy landings, by 29 August 1944 there were two army signal detachments with two RM Signals Troops at the Tactical HQ of the SS Group. Five army commando signal detachments were on standby for raids and small operations, and two cable detachments were available for HQ communications when Commandos were deployed in infantry roles.
Radios’ characteristics:
Range in miles
Type
Voice
*CW
Weight
No. 18 Set
Mobile
2
6
up to 35lb
Stationary for infantry patrols
5
8
No. 38 Set
4 (max)
12lb
developed from No. 18
ex. batteries
No. 68 Set
further development in this series
No. 11 Set
Mobile
4
10
47lb
Stationary
6
15
for information to guns
No. 21 Set
as for No. 11 Set
development of No. 11
with additional frequency band
No. 22 Set
20/40
50
3 packs each
for division to
of 30lb
brigade
and fitted in some support craft
No. 46 Set
3/4
Crystal control
510-Set Naval†
40+
TBX (American)†
15
30
29lb
SCR-284 (American)†
40+
109-Set (used by Australians)
performance appears to have
been more powerful than No. 22 Set
Dry battery portable (New Zealand)
performance appears to have
been similar to No. 38 Set
*CW (continuous wave) corresponds to US A-1 transmission.
†performance estimated from action reports.
Wireless networks’ links to 48(RM) Commando during Walcheren landings, 1 November 1944.
The Commando network (net) linked all Troops with the CO’s signaller moving (roving) with him. On this net 68-sets were backed by 38-sets as alternatives (circled figures show set types). The FOO was linked to the Commander Royal Artillery’s net through a separate channel to the Cdo’s rear HQ. Other links through the rear HQ and direct to Bde mortars, support craft, etc are shown in the diagram.
6 Training Programme of Commando Depot 1942
Basic training in 3 months course (later cut to 5 weeks) with advanced courses of 2 weeks to a month for officers and NCOs training as instructors.
Basic course
a. Offensive demolitions.
b. Close combat-unarmed; using fighting knife, pistol, Thompson, grenades; firing rifles and bren guns from hip; bayonet fighting; stalking; fighting in closely wooded country and streets.
c. Assault-opposed landings; field firing (using live ammunition on special firing ranges); surmounting obstacles; destroying anti-tank mines; elementary bridging; use of assault boats and scaling ladders.
d. Tactical schemes involving: endurance, living on concentrated rations, subordinate leadership, automatic battle drill, ambushes, night operations, road blocks, fieldcraft, quick reactions and necessity for rapid decisions.
Close combat was taught to enable commandos to use every trick when opportunity offered, but if the advancing enemy was not intending to take a live prisoner, the man with a knife has no defence against a bullet. However a rifle is cumbersome at close quarters and if the enemy can be enticed close enough, a knife thrust or kick in the crotch proves effective.
Instructors’ courses
Close combat
Lectures and demonstrations over 9 perids of 55 minutes; practical-10 periods of PT, 14 of unarmed combat, 8 of sabre fencing to teach footwork, 12 of weapon training (grenade-throwing, etc.), 3 on assault course, 1 of boxing, 8 of stalking, 2 of field firing, 7 on scheme (tactical exercise), 8 on firing weapons etc., issuing equipment and free periods etc, took 13 periods of the 95 in a course of approximately 2 weeks.
Field craft
The 91 periods of this course included 15 of practical map reading, 28 on tactical schemes, 2 on mess-tin cooking, 2 on food values and 3 on constructing bivouacs. Map reading covered not only finding routes etc., but also panoramic drawing and field sketching.
Demolitions
Theory; technical appreciation; electrical circuits; destruction of railways, machinery, boilers, lock gates, petrol, etc.; practical in driving trains and placing charges, bore-holes, etc.
-extracts from British Commandos, Military Intelligence Dept. US War Department 9 August 1942
Note:
In January 1944 commando recruits to the Holding Operational Commando spent two weeks in preliminary weapon training, medicals, night-vision tests, etc. before a five-week course at the Commando Basic Training Centre (Achnacarry) followed by a week’s leave. (For some months in 1943/4, the Basic Course was apparently cut to 4 weeks.) In preparation for war in the Far East, street-fighting and other practical skills only associated with European battles were substantially cut from the courses.
7 Unit histories
Note: Decorations and awards include those awarded after the operations named.
British special forces
Special Service Brigade—1940
The first parent organisation for the commandos was disguised as a Charity Committee and met in the private house of Sir Horace Rumbold but before the end of 1940 the Brigade was formed under Brigadier J.C. Haydon DSO, OBE and by March 1941 it had eleven Commandos. The Brigadier reorganised the commando’s formations, co-ordinated their training and established their roles in conjunction with Combined Operations Headquarters et al. In October 1943 the Brigade was replaced by the Special Service Group that would co-ordinate the activitiesk of numbered brigades.
Special Service Group
Formed in October 1943 under Major-General Sir R.G. Sturges KBE, CB, DSO the Group co-ordinated the work of the commandos and the transfer of men on the disbanding of the Royal Marine Division. In January 1944 the Group’s deputy commander, Brigader J.F. Durnford-Slater DSO, set up a planning headquarters alongside the British Second Army’s HQ as part of the preparations for the Normandy landings.
The group and its successors administered Commando Brigades until these became totally an RM commitment in 1946.
1 Special Service Brigade
(renamed from SS to Commando)
Formed for the Normandy operations, this Brigade was raised by Brigadier the Lord Lovat DSO, MC with 3, 4, 6 and 45(RM) Commandos (Officially it was the only SS Bde with an ordinal number as 1st SS Bde.) Landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944, the Brigade took their initial beach objectives and moved to their main task of holding the east flank with airborne troops along the Orne line. Holding these positionsk with only minor changes along the front, the Brigade withstood many German attacks, Lord Lovat was wounded on D+6 and Brigadier D, Mills-Roberts DSO, MC took command. During August the Brigade moved forward—19 August they attacked high ground east of Dives and held it. They were withdrawn from France on 7 September 1944 after 83 days, and returned to the UK to prepare for campaigns in the Far East.
But after the German Ardennes offensive opened they returned to mainland Europe with 3, 6, 45(RM) and 46(RM) Commandos in January
1945, first at Asten on the Maas, where the Commandos were deployed in various operations including the penetration of the Siegfried Line at several points. In the February thaw they patrolled where tanks bogged in mud. Early in March the Brigade was brought by train to the Rhine where its primary task was the capture of Wesel taken after crossing the river on 23/4 March. Duringk April under the command of 6 Airborne Division the Brigade took Osnabruck on 3/4 April. Three days later reinforcing a weak British company’s bridgehead across the Weser, the Brigade had a fierce fight with German defenders of Leese, the commando advance guard being checked until the whole Brigade could cross the river on 7/8 April.
Transferred to the 11 Armoured Division’s command for the Aller river crossing, the Brigade secured the rail bridge crossing on 12 April forcing a passage for the armour to cross by the Essel road bridge secured after two days fighting. A week later, under command of 15 Scottish Division on their right flank, the Brigade prepared to cross the Elbe—300 yards (270m) wide with a 150 foot (135m) eastern cliff bank near Lauenburg—low cloud preventing parachute drops and bombing. In a night crossing by Buffaloes under fire the Brigade stormed the cliffs and seized high ground north of the town. This was cleared and a patrol seized intact the main bridge of the Elbe-Trave Canal in the Brigade’s last action. Early in May they werre on the Baltic, having crossed five large rivers. After service with the Allied Army of occupation the Brigade was disbanded in 1946.
2 Special Service Brigade
(renamed from SS to Commando)
Formed in Italy November (?) 1943 under Brigadier T.B.L. Churchill MC from 2, 9, 40(RM) and 43(RM) Commandos with Belgian and Polish Troops of 10 Commando. Reconnoitred two enemy-free islands in Adriatic while based at Molfetta on Italian east coast under command of Generalk Dempsey’s XIII Corps. Sent 9 Commando to assist X Corps on west coast December 1943, the remainder of the Brigade followed and were concentrated at Naples under Fifth Army, 9 and 40(RM) Commandos went into the line for two months. The Brigade (less 2 Commando sent back to the Adriatic’s Dalmatian coast) landed virtually unopposed at Anzio on 22 January 1944 and were withdrawn three days later.
Early in Febuary 1944 they were in the line attacking three mountains—including Monte Faito of 3000 + ft (1000 + m)—overlooking the British 46 Division’s positions on several lower peaks. On the night of 2/3 February in the bitter cold of the high Appenines, the Brigade captured Monte Ornito and a second peak, Point 711, but concentrated enemy mortar fire causing heavy commando casualties—the brigade lost 183 all ranks—prevented them reaching Monte Faito. On 2 March 9 and 40(RM) Commandos returned to Anzio (see their unit histories) where these elements of the Brigade distinguished themselves in several assaults culminating in their attack on one of the German’s favourite start-lines among hillock and ravines outside the perimeter. Although driven back at first, the Brigade regained the ravines before being withdrawn.
April was spent resting back at Molfetta on the east coast, where 2 Commando had been operating with Yugoslav partisans from the Island of Viz since February, their administration provided by the Brigade. Late in February other Commandos were moved to Viz Brigade Headquarters landed there on 5 March and became part of Force 226 with British infantry, artillery and specialists. RAF Regiment units were also landed to protect the airfield built on the island in May when ‘No.40(RM)’ also landed from Italy. In raiding from Viz the Brigade had much success until early June when they lost 127 all ranks on the island of Brac. After a meeting with Marshal Tito, standing patrols were placed on several islands and their supporting artillery successfully bombarded German positions on two occasions—once using a decoy LC making flashes beyond range of enemy guns to cloak the fact that the 25-pounders were ashore on a nearby island.
Commandos of the Brigade were patrolling Brac’s north ashore when partisans retook the island on 19 September. 2, 9 and 40(RM) had returned to Italy from where they operated in Albania (2 Commando), and in the north Adriatic (9 Commando).
In September the Brigade’s advanced headquarters with 2 and 40(RM) Commandos were landed six miles from the port of Sarande on the Albanain mainland opposite Corfu. Here in monsoon-like rain, often on open mountainside studded with closely packed sharp small rocks, the Brigade spent a couple of weeks before putting in an assault on 8 October. Then in fine weather they attacked at three points assisted by the RAF Parachute Levies, partisans and artillery put ashore seven miles up the coast. 2 Commando had a difficult approach march for their dawn attack which succeeded in taking a German battery of captured 25-pounders. The Levies, put ashore to isolate a German hill position, had taken their objective by noon, partisans took all their objectives but one. This was taken next day, 2 Commando using the recaptured 25-pounders. The Germans had mined the town but this was discovered by an RE officer and the town evacuated before the explosion (two days later). The Brigadier and his staff landed next day on Corfu when white flags were reported. A garrison was left on the island. The Brigadier, unable to get transport to chase the retreating Germans, resigned in protest but was given command of an infantry battalion on his return to the UK. The individual Commandos served as peacemakers and police among Greek and Albanian factions during the rest of the winter but in February 1945 were concentrated in Ravenna.
The Brigade then spent 6 weeks in the line to gain experience of German tactics before making an assault cross the Comacchio lagoon. They next seized a large tract of land south of the Valetta canal before being relieved on 4 April. On 16 April 9 Commando was with the Guards Brigade forcing the passage of the Fossa Maxima north east of Agenta; the rest of the Brigade cleared the watery flats south-west of this town and took the brigade north of Menate. A series of actions that took the German commander (General-LieutenantGraf von Schwern) by surprise, and opened the way for the main Allied thrust by V Corps coming through the Agenta gap before the Germans in North Italy surrendered on 2 May. Next day General McCreery told the Brigade commander that their successes on Agenta mud flats had been a decisive phase in the battle.
After service with the occupation forces and some reorganisation in September 1945 the Brigade was disbanded in 1946.
3 Special Service Brigade
(renamed from SS to Commando)
Formed in November 1943 under Brigadier W.I Nonweiler with 1, 5, 42(RM) and 44(RM) Commandos for operations in south-east Asia, the Brigade sailed from the UK on 15 November 1943. A near-miss from enemy bombs in the Mediterranean loosened one transport’s plates but caused only one casualty. However the ship took weeks to repair in Alexandria, causing delays for ‘No.1’ and ‘No.42(RM)’ so the whole Brigade was not together in the Far East until November 1944. Before then ‘Nos.5 and 44(RM)’ were in action in Burma, but the Brigade did not land as a unit until January 1945 when led by Brigadier Campbell Hardy DSO, landing unopposed on Akyab island off the Arakan coast.
Landing on 12 January they cleared a path for 74 Brigade to secure the Myebon peninsula, before the 22 January landings near Kangaw. Despite heavy Japanese pressure to dislodge them from the key ridge position on ‘Hill 170’ the Commando Brigade held fast during the initial development of the battle and again when the Japanese final attacks were made on D + 10. The Brigade was withdrawn to India to prepare for operations in Malaya and were ready to sail on 5 August when the landings were cancelled, the first atom bomb being dropped next day on Hiroshima.
The Brigade moved to Hong Kong later that summer and was reorganised in October 1946 when the Army 1 and 5 Commando were disbanded. A new 40 Commando RM was formed from ‘No.44(RM)’ and 45 Commando RM joined them from the UK. All commandos by this time were Royal Marines and their units designated Cdo RM with 40, 42 and 45 Commandos RM in the Brigade.
4 Special Service Brigade
(renamed from SS to Commando)
Formed in the late summer of 1943 under Brigadier B.W. Leicester DSO for operations in Normandy, the four Royal Marine Commandos of the Brigade (nos. 41, 46, 47 and 48) were landed on D-day and D + 1, June
6/7 1944 with flank force roles. Although 46(RM) Commando’s intended early D-day landing against a battery was cancelled and they landed on D + 1. (See Chapter 11 for Brigade dispositions 6 June 1944). The Brigade joined 1 SS Bde in the defence of the east flank of the Allied beach-head, and were in this Orne line for two months until 919 August when they made a night infiltration moving south of 1 SS Bde to capture Dozule in the heavily wooded country east of the Dives river.
Moving towards the Seine advanced elements of the Brigade reached the river Toucoques on 21 August, and in pouring rain were shelled by self-propelled guns across the river and Le Havre’s big guns. 3 Parachute Brigade were trying to break into the burning Pont l’Evêque and on 23 August, in conjunctionk with 1 SS Bde, the commandos prepared to force a night crossing of the river to aid the paras. The operation was cancelled when the Germans withdrew after destroying their ammunition dumps. The following day (25 August) the Brigade set out to outflank the Germans holding the paras. They succeeded in making a 1,000 yard penetration south of Beuzville, and on 26 August completed the 70 miles (110 + km) of a 6 day advance with a night infiltration to St Maclou. The Brigade then passed from 6 Airborne Division’s command to I Corps—Major-General Gale commanding the Airborne in an order of the day said ‘ … the Green and the Red berets have fought as one’.
Commandos and Rangers of World War II Page 40