Operation Claymore

During World War II, Operation Claymore was a British Commando and Royal Navy raid on 4 March, 1941 on the Lofoten Islands, off the coast of Norway, just inside the Arctic Circle.

The raid was conducted by approximately 1000 men of No.3 and No.4 Commando, 52 Norwegian combat volunteers and demolition teams from the 55th Field Squadron Royal Engineers. The force made an unopposed landing and generally continued to meet no opposition. They achieved their objective of destroying fish oil factories and some 3,600 tonnes (800,000 gallons) of oil and glycerine (some of the oil being destined for use in munitions).

Through naval gunfire and demolition parities, 18,000 tons of shipping were sunk and boarding of the German armed trawler Krebs yielded a set of rotor wheels for an Enigma cypher machine and its code books.

The British experienced only one accidental injury and returned with some 228 German prisoners (various), 314 loyal Norwegian volunteers and a number of Quisling collaborators.