September 26, 1943. In the balmy tropical night, three small canoes cut through the dark waters of Japanese-occupied Singapore Harbor. Their occupants, an elite British and Australian special operatives team, is about to carry out one of the most daring commando raids in history. Having survived a 2,000-mile voyage through hostile seas disguised as locals in a captured Japanese fishing boat, they now prepare to blow the enemy merchant fleet sky-high with limpet mines.
Blacked-out ships loom like ghosts against the shadowy hills. In the first canoe, Major Ivan Lyon and Able Seaman Andrew Huston battle treacherous currents, their hearts pounding as they stealthily maneuver their fragile craft alongside a hulking tanker.
Carefully affixing limpet mines to the ship’s hull, suddenly, Huston freezes. He nudges Lyon, gesturing upwards. Ten feet above, a face peers down from a porthole. The commandos’ muscles tense, fingers hovering over their weapons. One shout, one alarm, and their fate is sealed. The entire operation – months in the planning – will unravel in seconds.
As the stranger’s stare intensifies, seconds stretch into an eternity. Lyon’s mind races, calculating their odds of escape…
source
Great story. But footage of canoes being carried through a coniferous forest and paddled on a lake, as well as North Sea fishermen wearing rubberized rain gear doesn’t fit the narrative unless the south coast of Australia has similar climatic and geographical features to Minnesota or Scotland.
If you haven’t done a video about the Norwegian Resistance using folding kayaks to attack Nazi naval ships, you need to do so.
If you have done so already, you need to do a video on “The Cockleshell Heroes,” the UK Special Boat Service team that paddled up a French river to attack Nazi ships.
“Folbot” is a trademarked name for a folding kayak. As far as I know, the Special Boat Service uses Klepper folding kayaks.
The boats were made by Grants. My friend had a 4 person with sails and leeboards😊
Still one of the most daring raids in history.
A fabulous story, thanks so much for bringing it to my attention.
Wow!!!!!
Wow! Balls of steel!
This was good Dark , very good indeed
Very interesting story great video keep them coming
Absolute mad lads.
Similar to an attack the British carried out in France, but that one didn't end as well.
Clickbait title!
Bloody Marvelous Raid Chaps !
Those must have been some awesome canoes to be able to float with the weight of those guys massive balls.
That mission took big balls
Didn't know the crew had to wear Arctic clothing on the equator
I cannot help but wonder why they did not use a submarine.
According to an episode of World War Weird some years ago these limpet mines had a strange aspect. To create a delay of about 5 hours before exploding each mine had an aniseed ball placed next to the detonater. Once these had dissolved the arming mechanism would set off the main charge.
Another "the uk wins ww2" post their are thousands of them.
I was stationed at Exmouth, WA, where the ship was modified. It isn't the edge of the earth, but you can see it from there. The sandbags of old defensive bunkers around the lighthouse are still there. OK, they have turned to sandstone, but you can still make out the weave of the canvas bags they used. We all knew it was active during WWII, but never heard THIS story. Very cool story.
The movie “The Wackiest Ship in the Army!” was based on this Operation. It was a Comedy, staring Jack Lemon. Also the British tried this kind of operation again only using a Submarine in place of surface ship. The Raider’s were caught and killed sadly.
One reason for keeping the raid secret was to keep open the option of a repeat raid.
ATTN NOW DO A VIDEO ON OPERATION RIMAU The Next Raid First Jaywick then Rimau.. You have to tell the rest of the story
At 1.37 there are 2 flags on the screen. One is a Japanese Rising Sun flag and the other appears to be two horizontal zig zag lines . Do you know what this is ?
Is it my imagination or did the narrator tone down his voice for the telling of this secret mission??
Badasses all.
The crews are always dressed in Duffel coats, Jerseys and flat cloth caps in the tropics.
One of your best videos! Thank you
Those MEN were NOT confused about their pronouns !
Great video!
Men with b@lls!
I built one of these kayas in 1970 based on the plans from the UK Folboat manufacturer.
The frames I cut out were marine ply, the stringers pinus radiata, the skin light canvas.
It had a bulkhead behind the seat for the attachment of a 2hp outboard motor, a foot operated string and rubber band activated rudder with a step for a mast at the front of the cockpit coaming, with attachable dagger boards on the sides.
Not one photo or film clip here shows the actual kayaks……or even their general shape…
You'd be better off reading about the book written about the journey of the Krait…and the kayaks….
Good story.
The number of men carrying special operations on the sea; on lande, from the air is so important that a book should be written about them all and focus on their bravery, fortitude, gallantry and high morals and their acceptance of death for the sake of the victory of Allied Forces.
Too bad you could only show images od life at sea only taken in the North Sean; the Northern Atlantic or New England and Easter Canada. Images from more luscious countries; closer to Singapour and Indonesia landscape would have given more authenticity to the whole story.
Nonnetteless thank you again.
Excellent stuff bro
KFC
😊
😊😊
Sooo ships put back into service in WEEKS, local population tortured, 2000 miles and a month and a half 🤔 am I missing something, brave, sure ww II had tens of thousands of men like this and we owe them an unpayable debt. Still I must be missing something as I don't see the value.
I live 10min down road from camp X
Amazing. It is also amazing that you didnt show a few photos of the Krait today.
I'm from Queensland , Australia.
Z forces trained on Fraser Island just off Hervery Bay.
There is a plaque on the sea front explaining what these brave guys trained for.
As a kid I must have read that Plaque a 100 times, just dreaming of what they did.
RIP brave commando you are always remembered.
Bravo Sir thank you
Honestly, they should not have done it, so much sacrifice for little gain. incidentaly the krait still exists in the Sydney maritime museum.