Roger Keyes directed Combined Operations from July 1940 to October 1941 and refused to tolerate service-first obstruction inside the organization. Under him, plainly named Commando formations became instruments for attacking selected assets with small bodies of highly trained troops. Operation Claymore in the Lofoten Islands illustrated the model of strategic insertion and concentrated damage that later framed Frankton. Louis Mountbatten succeeded Keyes and led the organization when the Bordeaux raid was planned and launched.
Chapter · 20:24-23:10
Keyes built Combined Operations around strategic raids
Roger Keyes imposed an interservice mission on Combined Operations and promoted small, carefully inserted forces against strategically valuable targets.