Main content
This programme is not currently available on BBC iPlayer

Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Raid of All Time

Jeremy Clarkson tells the story of the audacious commando raid on the German occupied dry dock at St Nazaire in France on March 28th 1942.

Jeremy Clarkson tells the story of what’s been called ‘the original Mission Impossible’ – the audacious Commando raid on the German occupied dry dock at St. Nazaire in France on March 28th 1942.

Operation Chariot, as the raid was codenamed, had a simple aim – to destroy the dry dock and thus deny the German battleship Tirpitz a safe haven on the Atlantic coast of France.

There were many who thought the mission too risky, but the Chief of Combined Operations, Louis Mountbatten, pushed forward.

This programme explores the story around March 26th 1942, when Commandos in Cornwall boarded their floating bomb and set off to see if the element of surprise really could overcome all the odds.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 5 Dec 2010 20:00
BBC Two

Credits

Director Richard Pearson
Presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Producer Andy Wilman

Broadcasts

  • Wed 13 Jun 2007 01:30
    BBC One
  • Sun 29 Jun 2008 21:00
    BBC Two except East & Yorkshire
  • Sun 5 Dec 2010 20:00
    BBC Two except East, Wales (Analogue) & Yorkshire