The Small Scale Raiding Force

The triumphs and tragedies of the British special operations group that performed missions against Nazi Germany during World War II.

The Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) was formed in February 1942 by Gus March-Phillips with Major General Gubbins's SOE European chief's approval. March-Phillips and his Maid of Honor Force had just had complete success with their operation (POSTMASTER) off West Africa. Equipped with a specially adapted motor torpedo boat, the SSRF immediately started planning for operations.


Op FROUDESLEY, with the aim of destroying the battleship Tirpitz ran into technical problems and was delayed but, in August and September, three daring cross Channel missions were successfully carried out without loss. Their fourth operation (ACQUATINT) was disastrous when all 10 SSRF men, including March-Phillips were killed or captured. Despite this hammer blow, SSRF now commanded by Geoffrey Appleyard made two raids on Sark a week later. Despite their successes, inter-service rivalry ("the war within") led to the break-up of the SSRF in early 1943.


Brian Lett's The Small Scale Raiding Force tells the revelatory stories of their missions and describes the many colorful characters who made up this special group including Anders Lassen VC, Graham Hayes and Andre Desgranges, the Free Frenchman whom the Gestapo "turned".


This superbly researched book lifts the veil on a little known but highly effective special force unit and the gallant individuals who served in it.