What role did Royal Navy Bluejacket commandos and landing parties play during the war?
Short answerThey supplied naval expertise to raids and landings, identifying and destroying maritime targets while destroyers supported operations ashore.
NotesRoyal Navy personnel joined raids because sailors already understood which ships, machinery, and harbour facilities needed to be seized or destroyed. Bluejacket commandos took part in Norway and in Mediterranean and Dodecanese operations supported by Tribal-class destroyers such as HMS Nubian. An island-surrender anecdote shows how a destroyer's concentrated guns could compel a garrison without a formal assault force.