 Combined Operations badge | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1940; 85 years ago (1940) |
| Dissolved | 1947; 78 years ago (1947) |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | War Office building Whitehall London |
| Parent agency | War Office |
Combined Operations Headquarters[1] was a department of the BritishWar Office set up duringSecond World War to harass the Germans on the European continent by means ofraids carried out by use of combined naval and army forces.
The command used air and naval units to deliver theCommandos to various targets, and then recover them. Thus, it was a combined arms coordination and command structure.Admiral of the FleetRoger Keyes was the first director, from 17 July 1940 to 27 October 1941. He was replaced first byLord Louis Mountbatten, who led the command for a year. He in turn was succeeded by Major GeneralRobert Laycock (October 1943 – 1947).
It comprised background staff whose job was to plan operations and to develop ideas and equipment to harass the enemy in any way possible. It also covered all those who worked withlanding craft up to and including thelanding ships that were used in the variousamphibious operations.
The badge of Combined Operations was an Eagle over asubmachine gun over ananchor, reflecting the three service arms; theRoyal Air Force, theBritish Army and theRoyal Navy. In 1941 the title of Director of Combined Operations was changed to Adviser Combined Operations. In 1942 the title of Adviser Combined Operations was changed to Chief of Combined Operations.[1]
The department existed until 1947 but later re-emerged under a new name in 1951, as theAmphibious Warfare Headquarters.[1]
Operations included[citation needed]:
TheAttack on the Iron Coast (film) depicts an account of Allied Combined Operations Headquarterscommandos executing a daring raid on the German-occupied French coast during theSecond World War.[3]
52°43′52″N1°43′23″W / 52.7311°N 1.7230°W /52.7311; -1.7230