Free Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis

light to his advantage. Each night shortly before midnight the electricity supply to Santa Isabel was shut down, to save power. It was then that March-Phillipps’ raiders intended to sail into the darkened harbour, to steal away the ships and their crew. If Lippett could get the terrace of the Casino Restaurant rigged with Tilley Lanterns – pressurized paraffin lamps – the diners would be entombed in a sea of light, blinding them to whatever was taking place in the dark waters below.
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    As Lippett and Zorilla went about crafting their elaborate onshore deception, so training got underway aboard the assault vessels at sea. March-Phillipps split his crew into five separate teams to prepare them for what was coming – something that SOE agent Guise described as: ‘A cut-out operation. In other words, simple theft.’ The men were divided into a cable party, an engine room party, a boarding party, back-up boarding party plus the all-important towing party.
    DIY coshes were handed out, consisting of long metal bolts sheathed in rubber – for a nervous government in London had stressed that they wanted minimal casualties, especially among the Spanish population.
    ‘Whenever possible, intimidate,’ March-Phillipps urged his men. ‘If not, use force. Speed is essential.’
    The largest weaponry possessed by the assault force were some Bren guns – a 7.62mm light machinegun – mounted on their bipods on the tugboats’ bows. Likewise, the Bren gunners were urged: ‘Deal with any boats. Shoot across bows. No useless slaughter.’
    March-Phillipps and Appleyard would command the attack from the decks of the larger tugboat, the
Vulcan
, while Lassen would lead the assault force onto their target boat, the
Duchessa d’Aosta
. Meanwhile,
Maid Honour
Force stalwart Leslie Prout would be in charge of the African stokers in the ship’s boiler room, ensuring they didn’t down tools and run when the explosions and gunfire started. The
Vulcan
would need all the power she could muster to drag the massive bulk of the Italian ship free, and it was vital the stokers kept shoveling the coal into her engines. The three Spaniards were also stationed on the
Vulcan
, so they could cry out friendly greetings in Spanish, if challenged.
    The smaller tugboat, the
Nuneaton
, was charged with seizing the German ship, the
Likomba. Maid Honour
Force veteran Graham Hayes – part of the five-man crew who had sailed the
Maid Honour
out from Britain – would command and lead the assault from her decks. He had with him SOE agent Guise, plus the youthful Buzz Perkins. Two District Commissioners, a Mr Newington and Mr Abell, formed part of the civilian volunteer force supporting them.
    At first the weather was stormy and the Colonial Service volunteers were terribly seasick. But by day two the sea hadcalmed, and the first day’s training aboard the
Vulcan
got underway. It was vital that the wire hawsers were made fast to the
Duchessa d’Aosta
swiftly, so she could be hauled out of the harbour with all due alacrity. While Tugmaster Coker concentrated on schooling his raw recruits in tow-wire drill, Hayes gathered his volunteers on the
Nuneaton
’s sun-washed deck, to demonstrate one of the most important skills of all – how to use a Tommy Gun.
    The Thompson submachinegun was over twenty years old by the time the war began. However, it remained a favourite of elite raiding forces for several reasons – some of which are reflected in the weapon’s various nicknames: ‘Trench Sweeper’, ‘Trench Broom’ and ‘The Chopper’. It was of simple, reliable design, had a high volume of fire, and its .45-calibre cartridge delivered real stopping power. When fitted with a 30-round stick magazine, or a 50-round drum, it really was possible to sweep an entire enemy trench with fire from a Thompson – not to mention the deck of an enemy ship.
    But as the would-be raiders unleashed bursts of Tommy Gun fire at targets tossed in the sea, disaster struck.