Operation Archery 27 September 1941

British commandos, backed up by the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Norwegian troops, undertook Operation Archery under Mountbatten, the leader of British Combined Operations. The aim was to take out the local garrison and sink enemy shipping. They would also attempt to destroy the local fish oil factories (the oil was being shipped to Germany and the extracted glycerine being used as an ingredient in high explosives). Four groups landed at strategic points, and a fifth remain on-board ship to act as a floating reserve. Fierce fighting took place in the town, yet the operation was successful. Some 15,000 tons of shipping was destroyed, along with dockyards, warehouses and fish oil factories. Hitler was so outraged he ordered an increase in defences, and reinforced the Norwegian Atlantic wall with an extra 30,000 troops.