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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox military conflict<br />
|conflict = Operation Devon<br />
|partof = the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] of [[World War II]]<br />
|image =<br />
|caption =<br />
|date = 3–6 October 1943<br />
|place = [[Termoli]], [[Italy]]<br />
|coordinates = {{coord|42.00|N|14.98|E|region:IT_type:event|display=inline,title}}<br />
|map_type = Italy<br />
|map_size = 220<br />
|territory = <br />
|result = Allied victory<br />
|combatant1 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}<br />
|combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}<br>{{flag|Italian Social Republic}}<br />
|commander1 = {{flagicon|UK}} [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]]<br>{{flagicon|UK}} [[John Durnford-Slater]]<br />
|commander2 = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Albert Kesselring]]<br>{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Richard Heidrich]]<br />
|strength1 = Around 650 commandos<br />
|strength2 = Unknown<br />
|casualties1 = 32 killed, 85 wounded and 23 missing<ref name="Saunders">Saunders H. St.G. (1949) ''The Green Beret: The Story of the Commandos 1940–1945'', Michael Joseph, London: 362 pp.</ref><br />
|casualties2 = Unknown<br />
|notes = <br />
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox Italy}}<br />
}}<br />
'''Operation Devon''' was the [[codeword]] given to an [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious landing]] by [[British Commandos]] at [[Termoli]] on the [[Adriatic]] coast of [[Italy]] during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] of [[World War II]]. It was launched on 3 October 1943, as part of the attack on the [[Volturno Line]], and was undertaken by [[No. 3 Commando]], [[40 Commando|No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando]] and other elements of the [[2nd Special Service Brigade]]. It was later reinforced by two brigades of the [[78th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 78th Infantry Division]].<ref name="Saunders"/><br />
<br />
In the early hours of 3 October 1943, Nos. 3 and 40 (RM) Commandos, and elements of the [[Special Raiding Squadron]] landed behind the German lines under cover of darkness at Termoli, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast, north of the [[Biferno]] River. 40 Commando penetrated well into the town before the Germans were alerted, and brisk close-quarter fighting with [[Fallschirmjäger (World War II)|German paratroopers]] from [[1st Parachute Division (Germany)|1 ''Fallschirmjäger'' Division]] ensued. By 08:00 hours{{cn|date=July 2022}}, the commandos had captured the town and controlled the approaches. So complete was the surprise that the ''kampfgruppe'' commander - Major Rau - was captured in his pyjamas and German vehicles and motorcyclists still drove into a commando ambush position until noon.<br />
<br />
German infantry counter-attacked in strength, later supported by tanks and panzergrenadiers from [[16th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|16 Panzer Division]], but the commandos, together with reinforcements from the 78 Division, held off repeated infantry and armoured counter-attacks until 6 October. By noon on the 6th they had linked up with the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], and by noon on the 6th the enemy was in full retreat.<ref name="Saunders"/><br />
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==Aftermath==<br />
The operation was an outstanding success. They had overcome all attempts, by a force superior in numbers and armament, to dislodge them and in so doing, won a valuable harbour; they caused the enemy to withdraw from the natural defence line on the Biferno and denied them the use of the important lateral road from [[Naples]], thereby forcing them to retreat further northwards.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=15 June 2010|publisher=Royal Marines|title=Battle of Termoli|url=http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/reference/FS_dates_unit_hist.htm#termoli}}</ref><br />
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The operation had been a costly one for the commandos, however. Saunders recorded that between them they lost three officers and 29 other ranks (ORs) killed, 7 officers and 78 ORs wounded, and one officer and 22 ORs missing.<ref name="Saunders"/> (He did not record the casualties among 78 Infantry Division on this operation.)<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{British Commando raids of the Second World War}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devon, Operation of 1943}}<br />
[[Category:Conflicts in 1943]]<br />
[[Category:World War II British Commando raids]]<br />
[[Category:1943 in Italy]]<br />
[[Category:Province of Campobasso]]<br />
[[Category:Amphibious operations of World War II|D]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Germany|D]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Italy|D]]<br />
[[Category:October 1943 events]]<br />
[[Category:Amphibious operations involving the United Kingdom]]<br />
[[Category:World War II operations and battles of the Italian Campaign]]<br />
[[Category:Italian campaign (World War II)]]</div>Bot