The History of 30 Assault Unit: Ian Fleming's Red Indians by Craig Cabell

Author:Craig Cabell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: HISTORY / Military / World War II
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2010-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Continuing the Good Work

‘The radio sets hauled into France by the agents for the British

Special Operations Executive during the Second World War

were a nightmare by modern standards. Occupying a suitcase,

they needed an aerial strung for yards up a drainpipe, had

cumbersome valves the size of light bulbs and could only

transmit messages on a Morse sender. This kept the operator

tapping for ages, while German detector units could

triangulate on the source and close in.’

The Fist of God, Frederick Forsyth

It is an obvious fact, but one worth mentioning, that the intelligence, blueprints and equipment that 30 CU acquired throughout was highly prized and important in its day – even ahead of its time – in certain instances, but by today’s standards – sixty years later – almost prehistoric. This does not cheapen their contribution to the war effort, but it is a sad fact that most technological advances are made during times of war – as we will see in a later chapter – and 30 CU felt, because they were at the cutting edge of the front line, that they were in a race against time to capture enemy intelligence, to stop the building of more sophisticated machines and headquarters, and counter what was already substantive.

Although scientists were brought into the work at the Bay of Naples, they were mostly completing investigation in Sicily and the south of Italy, where there was less fighting.

When the naval installations and stores at Trapani, and on the Messina peninsula, had been cleared up, Lieutenant Commander Lincoln and Lieutenant Ogle travelled by sea to Salerno, but arrived at a time when the military situation there was critical, and when there was no likelihood of Naples falling in the immediate future. They therefore re-embarked and made their way to Taranto.

This port had fallen on 9 September, following a combined assault by seaborne and airborne forces. Unfortunately, the Officer Commanding 30 CU had had no notice of this operation and consequently the unit was not represented in the early stages. It is probable that valuable documentation was lost as a consequence. The specialist officers, on the other hand, discovered a quantity of material of extreme value in Taranto harbour, including the only specimen so far recovered of the German KKG Acoustic (Explosive) Sweep. This discovery led to modifications in the Royal Navy mining practice – a real tangible victory for the unit.

After Taranto had been cleared up, Messrs Austin and Taylor went to Naples. They continued up to Termoli, searching all ports and installations on the way. These operations yielded a modest return in documents and material relating to underwater weapons. Unfortunately, the manpower of the unit at this period did not allow for all the targets in the south of Italy being searched, let alone captured. It is possible that some of these objectives, particularly the radar and communications centres, might have yielded valuable intelligence material.

While all this was going on Lieutenant Commander Riley had been planning future operations in the Mediterranean and the shipment of documents and equipment captured.

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