Senior German officers boarded Campbeltown without recognizing that she might conceal a large explosive charge. The commandos had already damaged the pumping station, and the destroyer had rammed the dock. In a total war, however, those visible attacks did not rule out further destruction. Because the explosives detonated later than planned, the defenders theoretically had time to pull the ship clear and perhaps return the dock to service. A restored facility would then likely have become a priority RAF target once earthquake bombs were available.
Notable Point · 20:59-22:36
Campbeltown's concealed charge denies a second chance
The delayed explosion briefly left a theoretical chance to save the dock, though any repaired facility could later face RAF attack.