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January 1943

Page Created
September 29th, 2022
Last Updated
December 24th, 2024
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Special Forces Operations in January 1943
January 16th, 1943
Algiers, Algeria
X Arditi Reggimento
A small patrol from the 101ª Compagnia Paracadutisti, two officers, two Non-Commisioned Officers, and seven soldiers, jumps into the Algiers region to demolish a strategic railway bridge at Eddous.

They successfully reach their objective and sabotage it. However, their escape plan involves travelling roughly 800 kilometres back to Axis-held territory on foot. The following day, low on ammunition, they clash with French colonial troops and have no choice but to surrender. Despite partial success, subsequent sabotage missions mounted by the X Arditi Reggimento elsewhere in Allied-controlled North Africa yield no tangible results.
January 1943- April 1943
Algeria
X Arditi Reggimento
Five airborne insertions take place in Algeria, each undertaken by 5 small Arditi teams of around ten men of 101ª Compagnia Paracadutisti. These units such as those involved in the attempted strike on the bridge at Beni Mansur.

Inexperience, flawed intelligence, and forewarning on the part of the Allies, often thanks to ULTRA intercepts, undermine these missions. Arditi taken prisoner later recall Allied officers telling them, “We were expecting you.”
January 23rd, 1943 – January 24th, 1943
Operation Cartoon
Commando, Norwegian troop 10 (IA) Commando
Fifty-three men of No. 12 Commando, ten men from the Norwegian troop 10 (IA) Commando under Captain Harald Risnes, No. 18 Group RAF, seven Royal Norwegian Navy Motor Torpedo Boats of 30th MTB Flotilla. Their mission is the destruction of the Stordø Kisgruber Pyrite mine on the island of Stord near Leirvik in Vestland, Norway.

On arrival, half the commandos land at Sagvåg quay to engage the German defensive positions. The other half lands on the opposite side of the bay. Carrying 25 kg of explosives it takes the Commandos 25 minutes to cover the distance to the Pyrite mine, 3.2 km away. The explosive charges put the mine out of action for a year. As they depart, the Motor Torpedo Boats attack a German steamer, leaving the ship sinking. The commandos capture three German prisoners, valuable papers, and equipment. One commando is killed, while two commandos and eight sailors are injured.