1 Aug 1912

France
30 Sep 1913

France
18 Aug 1931

France
9 May 1933

France
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
12 Dec 1936

France
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]
30 Nov 1941

France
  • German submarine U-206 became missing in the Bay of Biscay, possibly lost in a British minefield just west of Saint-Nazaire, France. All 46 men aboard were lost. ww2dbase [U-206 | Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire | CPC]
23 Dec 1941

France
20 Jan 1942

France
28 Feb 1942

France
13 Mar 1942

France
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 10German personnel on HMS Campbeltown at Saint-Nazaire, France, 28 Mar 1942, photo 3 of 9HMS Cambeltown wedged in the dock gates of Saint-Nazaire, France, 28 Mar 1942, photo 02 of 10HMS 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
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
6 Aug 1942

France
9 Nov 1942

France
14 Nov 1942

France
17 Nov 1942

France
23 Nov 1942

France
3 Jan 1943

France
  • The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh launched a bombing raid against the German submarine facilities at Saint Nazaire, France. The Bomb Group had a change of command, and therefore the air base at Thurleigh, with Colonel Frank Armstrong relieving Colonel Charles Overacker. ww2dbase [Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | RAF Thurleigh | Saint Nazaire | DS]
16 Feb 1943

France
1 May 1943

France
  • The USAAF 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh launched a bombing raid against the German submarine facilities at Saint Nazaire, France. It was on this mission that ball turret gunner SSgt Maynard Smith performed the acts of gallantry that resulted in his award of the Medal of Honor. ww2dbase [Bombing of Cities in France and Low Countries | RAF Thurleigh | Saint Nazaire | DS]
29 May 1943

France
28 Jun 1943

France
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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