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This webpage reproduces a section of Combined Operations by Hilary St. George Saunders published by The Macmillan Company New York, 1943 The text is in the public domain. This page has been carefully proofread and I believe it to be free of errors. If you find a mistake though, please let me know! next: Chapter 1

 p. v  Foreword

London, April 11 (by Cable) — This record contains some account of combined operations in general, and of the exploits of the Command which bears that name.

The term "Combined Operations" is vague and does not convey more than a general meaning; but their scope is definite and precise. A combined operation is a landing operation in which, owing to actual or expected opposition, it is essential that the fighting services take part together, in order to strike the enemy with the maximum effect, at the chosen point and at the chosen moment. To help the services to do this a Combined Operations Command was formed, whose primary function is to train officers and men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force in the conduct of amphibious warfare. It is also the task of this Command to plan and execute all kinds of raids, small or large.

Amphibious operations are a complex form of warfare. On the material side they entail technical study, the production of new machines of war, special types of assault craft, both large and small, and the use of these and other new devices. On the human side they demand the creation of sailor-soldiers, soldier-sailors, and airmen-soldiers, who must cooperate with imaginative understanding of each other's methods and problems. The Combination Operations Command is concerned with both of these aspects and with many others.

The Command has its own forces, of which the Commandos and landing-craft crews form a part. But many other units pass through its combined training centres: not only British and Dominion, but also United States troops and those of our other allies — the Fighting French, Norwegians, Czechs, Poles, Dutch, and Belgians. United States Naval, Marine, Army, and Air Corps officers form part of the Combined Operations headquarters, and United States Rangers operate side by side with British Commandos.

We cannot win this war by bombing and blockade alone: it can be  p. vi won only when our armies have taken physical possession. If we look at the map we find that there is no place where United States or British troops can land to give the enemy without the probability of severe opposition. They can only be taken there in force by a seaborne expedition with air support. They cannot land unless, in fact, combined operations are carried out. Amphibious warfare, therefore, will play an even greater part in the coming year than it has in the past.

The story of this series of operations has been accurately set down, but it is not complete since, for security reasons, some of our most success­ful raids cannot yet be mentioned at all, whilst some details of others must remain untold until the war is won.

 p. vii  Preface

This record contains some account of combined operations in general and also of the exploits of the Command bearing that name. Its growth, considerable in 1942, will be still greater in 1943. The story is not complete. Much must remain unsaid, for the war is not yet won and everything cannot therefore be told while there are enemies as well as friends to read it. When it was decided to write the story, the Chief of Combined Operations gave but one order: — "Bearing considerations of security in mind, see to it that the account is accurate and truthful." That order has been obeyed.

The term "combined operations" is vague and does not convey more than a general meaning. Yet their scope is precise and definite.

A combined operation is one in which two or more of the Fighting Services co‑operate in order to strike the enemy with the maximum of effect at a chosen place and a chosen moment.

With this end in view, a Combined Operations Command was formed, whose personnel consists of officers and other ranks of the three Fighting Services. Its primary function is to provide training for amphibious warfare, which comprises all kinds of offensive action from small raids to large assault landings. It is also the task of this Command to plan and execute raids on the coasts of the enemy.

Amphibious warfare is a complicated business and has many aspects. On the material side new machines of war, special types of craft, both large and small, to be used for the assault, and other devices for the discomfiture of the enemy, must be studied and produced. On the human side, such warfare necessitates the closest spirit of co‑operation in all who wage it.

The Combined Operations Command is concerned with both these aspects and with many others. It produces the craft and the weapons; but above and beyond all else it seeks to foster the spirit of co‑operation in all fighting men, united as they are by the danger and glory of their calling. In so doing it is creating in its Combined Training Centres  p. viii sailor-soldiers, soldier-sailors, airmen-soldiers, who have a complete understanding of each other's methods and problems.

The Combined Operations Command has its own troops, of which the Commandos form a part. But many other troops pass through its hands; not only British and Dominion but also American troops, and also those of other Allies — the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Dutch, the Belgians, the Fighting French — all of them from the array of the United Nations.

Here is set down the story of a series of operations of which the end is not yet. In some of them, the Combined Operations Command did not play the chief part, but served as one of the component elements involved. Whether these operations failed or succeeded has not been taken into account. They are presented as they happened. The motto of those who carried them out and who will play the leading part in those to come is the motto of the Combined Operations Command — "United we conquer."

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