Saint-Nazaire in WW2 History | World War II Database

1 Aug 1912

France

The keel of Lorraine was laid down by Chantiers de Penhoët at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Lorraine | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

30 Sep 1913

France

Lorraine was launched at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Lorraine | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

18 Aug 1931

France

The keel of Émile Bertin was laid down by Chantiers de Penhoët at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Émile Bertin | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

9 May 1933

France

Émile Bertin was launched at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Émile Bertin | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

21 Sep 1933

France

The keel of cruiser Georges Leygues was laid down by At. & Ch. de St. Nazaire-Penhoet at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [ | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

24 Mar 1936

France

Cruiser Georges Leygues was launched at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Georges Leygues | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

12 Dec 1936

France

The French battleship Strasbourg was launched at the Saint-Nazaire-Penhoet shipyard at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Strasbourg | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | AC]

27 Feb 1941

France

German submarine U-48 landed master Thomas Llewellyn Bradford and chief officer Alfred Hodder of British steam merchant ship Nailsea Lass, sunk by the submarine three days prior, at Saint-Nazaire, France. The two were later taken to the German prisoner of war camp Marlag und Milag Nord. ww2dbase [Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | HM]

23 Dec 1941

France

U-576 arrived at Saint-Nazaire, France, ending her second war patrol. ww2dbase [U-576 | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

20 Jan 1942

France

U-576 departed Saint-Nazaire, France, starting her third war patrol. ww2dbase [U-576 | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

28 Feb 1942

France

U-576 arrived at Saint-Nazaire, France, ending her third war patrol. ww2dbase [U-576 | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

13 Mar 1942

France

Lieutenant Commander Stephen Beattie, commanding officer of destroyer HMS Campbeltown, was captured by the Germans at Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire, France. ww2dbase [Raid on Saint-Nazaire | Stephen Beattie | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

28 Mar 1942

France

Executing Operation Chariot, British destroyer HMS Campbeltown sailed into the Loire River estuary near Saint-Nazaire, France with commandos on board at 0122 hours. She was detected and fired upon by coastal guns. Despite hits, she rammed into the dry dock at 0134 hours and unloaded commandos and other troops, who wrecked the dry dock, suffering 169 killed and 215 captured; 228 escaped via small vessels, leaving the explosives-laden HMS Campbeltown behind, which detonated at noon, killing 360. ww2dbase [Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | TH, CPC]

Photo(s) dated 28 Mar 1942

HMS Cambeltown wedged in the dock gates of Saint-Nazaire, France, 28 Mar 1942, photo 01 of 10

German personnel on HMS Campbeltown at Saint-Nazaire, France, 28 Mar 1942, photo 3 of 9

HMS Cambeltown wedged in the dock gates of Saint-Nazaire, France, 28 Mar 1942, photo 02 of 10

HMS Cambeltown wedged in the dock gates of Saint-Nazaire, France, 28 Mar 1942, photo 03 of 10

See all photos dated 28 Mar 1942

29 Mar 1942

France

U-576 departed Saint-Nazaire, France, starting her fourth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-576 | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

21 Apr 1942

France

20 French civilians were killed by Germans at Saint-Nazaire, France in retaliation of the 28 Mar 1942 raid by British commandos. ww2dbase [Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

16 May 1942

France

U-576 arrived at Saint-Nazaire, France, ending her fourth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-576 | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

6 Aug 1942

France

German submarine U-578 departed Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]

3 Jan 1943

France

USAAF heavy bombers attacked the docks and U-Boat pens at Saint-Nazaire, France, starting several fires. ww2dbase [Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | AC]

16 Feb 1943

France

USAAF heavy bombers attacked the German U-Boat pens at Saint-Nazaire, France. ww2dbase [Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | AC]

25 Mar 1944

France

U-976, a German Type VIIC submarine, was sunk in the Bay of Biscay south-west of Saint-Nazaire, France by gunfire from two RAF Mosquito aircraft from 248 Squadron RAF/L&I. Four of the submarine's crew of 53 lost their lives. ww2dbase [Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | HM]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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