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RN Submarine Museum has a bit, for sure - plus I think a few other recovered items on display.

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In Operation Source, Tirpitz was successfully attacked by X-6 and X-7. Skippers Donald Cameron and Geoffrey Place were both awarded the VC. (📸 Adobe Stock) But X-7 (📸 own) was sunk after laying its charge, with Lionel Whittam and Bill Whitley killed.🕯️

Modern-day view of Tirpitz’s anchorage in Altafjord, where X-7 men Lionel Whittam and Bill Whitley lost their life.

Part of X-7’s wreck was salvaged by the Kriegsmarine soon after Operation Source. The remainder was found and raised in 1976 and is now on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

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Once back in the UK, Shean, Coles (📸 IWM A 26937) and Brooks are assigned to X-22 and start training with COPP in Scotland. But it turns out to be a fractious relationship between Shean and the COPP men; they're reassigned to X-24 and their COPP work comes to an end.

Max Shean (circled left) and Vernon Coles (right) photographed later in the war.

Max Shean, Joe Brooks and Vernon Coles' attack on Scharnhorst doesn't even get underway. Their sub X-9 had been lost with its passage crew (🕯️Edward Kearon, Harry Harte and George Hollett) when its tow line broke while being towed to Norway by sub HMS Syrtis (📸 IWM FL19599).

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But today their attack on Scharnhorst (📸 IWM HU55631) has to be abandoned as X-10 develops defects. They sit on the bottom of a fjord rather than head to sea and wait until they hear explosions from the other subs' attacks, rather than risk detection and compromising the op.

Scharnhorst photographed earlier in the war while underway in heavy seas.

Among the men taking part in the attack are some who will within months go on to work with COPP for operations off the Normandy coast.

In X-10 are Ken Hudspeth (📸 IWM A 19626), Bruce Enzer, Leslie Tilley and Geoff Harding. Hudspeth, Enzer and Tilley will all be involved in both reconnaissance of Omaha Beach and providing beach-marking for Juno Beach on D-Day.

Informal portrait photograph of Ken Hudspeth wearing naval uniform.

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🗓️ #OTD in 1943 – X-craft submarines from the 12th Submarine Flotilla carry out Operation Source, an attack targeting the German ships Tirpitz (📸 IWM A 19625), Scharnhorst and Lützow, which are anchored in fjords in Norway (🗺️ Adobe Stock). #NavalHistory 🧵

Air reconnaissance photograph showing Tirpitz at anchor in Norway.

Map of Europe with the location of Operation Source, in northern Norway, circled.

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With attendees from COPP and the other SOG units – SBS, SRU (Sea Reconnaissance Unit) and RM Detachment 385 – the meal is dubbed 'The final Combined Operation'. Over coming weeks teams will start heading home, with 'hostilities only' men looking forward to civvy life again. 2/2

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 21/09/2026

🗓️ #OTD in 1945 – senior NCOs in the Small Operations Group (SOG), which includes COPP, host a 'farewell dinner' at their base, Hammenhiel Camp in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) (📜 RM Museum). There's also a variety show titled The Final Fling. #NavalHistory 1/2 ▶️ buff.ly/YuPxvwJ

Cover of the menu produced for the farewell dinner held at Hammenhiel Camp, depicting four men representing the different services drinking through straws from a bucket labelled ‘Bubbly’.

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I may have been a bit 'over tired' by the end of Day 2 ... Thanks to everyone who came to talk and to the Royal Engineers Museum for hosting!

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 19/09/2026

All set up for Day 1 of the War Winning Engineering weekend at the Royal Engineers Museum – pop upstairs and come and say hello if you're visiting!

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Schürch is found guilty of treachery. He will go on to be executed in Pentonville prison, north London, on 4 January 1946 – the last man to be executed in the UK for an offence other than murder. (📸 Adobe Stock, illustrative) /🧵 Full story: ▶️ buff.ly/PZC9KZw

Recent photograph of landings inside Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, which was modelled on Pentonville Prison.

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After the Italian surrender most of the COPP men escaped and made their way back to the UK, where they were interviewed by intelligence staff already following up rumours about Schürch. But Hart is the only one to give 'in person' evidence at today's court martial. (📸 own)

The Duke of York Headquarters in London, where Theodore Schürch's court martial was held. The building is now home to the Saatchi Gallery.

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When he first met Irvine, Schürch had said: "Ah, you’re the man who goes sunbathing on enemy beaches!" But Irvine had never told any of his fellow POWs about the circumstances of his capture; if Schürch knew, he could only have heard it from the Italians.

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Schürch's attempts at gathering info were futile and not helped by what he said to Clifford Irvine (left, 📸 Peter Palmer via Simon Hatch), another COPP man who was a POW with Hart. Irvine had been caught on the Sicily coast after his swim suit flooded and he laid it out to dry.

Clifford Irvine on the left, crouching on rocks on the coast of Algeria. This photograph was taken in early 1943, before Irvine’s capture. SBS man Ron Loasby, who was working with COPP at the time, is in the centre; right is COPP man Bob Gillingham.

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After his capture, Hart and other COPP men caught at the same time had been placed in a POW camp alongside Schürch (📸 TNA WO 204/13021). Schürch was a 'stool pigeon' for the Italians, who were suspicious of the COPP men and wanted info, thinking they were part of the SBS.

The 'mugshot' photos of Theodore Schürch that were taken by American intelligence forces in Italy after his initial detention by them in 1945. He holds a sign with the text: "SCHURCH THEODORE JOHN WILLIAM, 11 MAY 45."

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🗓️ #OTD in 1945 – Archie Hart (third right, 📸 via 'A History of Third Lanark AC' Facebook group), an ex-COPP man who was taken POW during beach recce of Sicily in early 1943, gives evidence in London during the court martial of British fascist Theodore Schürch. #NavalHistory 🧵

Four Third Lanark footballers standing in a line face the camera. They're in front of a football-ground stand that’s full of supporters. Archie Hart is second from the right, arms folded, with his shirt's collar up. Three of the men, including Hart, are wearing outfield kit; the fourth, wearing a jumper, was presumably the goalkeeper.

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Over coming months the number of X-craft required will be reviewed and reduced from four to three, and then to two. But for now the first step is to check how deliverable the modifications requested by Willmott are within the time allowed. (📜 own collection) /🧵

Extract from schematics for production of the first ‘X-5’ class of X-craft, which were largely the same as the later X-20 class built to replace them.

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Willmott is told that two of the subs (X-20 and X-22) should be ready by mid-December, with two more (X-21 [📸 own collection] and X-23) by mid-Jan – although one of the January ones is currently earmarked for the US Navy so they can conduct their own trials with it.

X-21 nearing completion at Broadbent's in around April 1944. By that time COPP’s requirements had been downscaled and this particular sub never saw use by COPP.

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It's good timing: the 'next generation' of subs – the X-20 class – is about to go into production, including at Broadbent's in Huddersfield (📸 Google Streetview). This should allow comparatively easy inclusion of the many modifications that Willmott wants made to them.

Modern-day view of Broadbent's yard in Huddersfield.

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Usually COPP would use a conventional sub to do a multi-night recce op, but the Baie de la Seine is judged too shallow. So even though the COPP men would need training to help operate the X-craft, Willmott sees them as the 'best bet' for getting in close. (📸 own collection)

Illustrative photograph of X-craft officer Sub-Lieutenant Robinson, RNVR, who wasn’t involved in any COPP operations sitting at the hydroplane controls of an X-craft.

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Willmott is at a meeting chaired by Rear Admiral George Creasy (📸 IWM TR 2627), Chief of Staff to D-Day naval commander Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay. The midget subs aren't yet public knowledge but Willmott has been told about them by contacts at D-Day planning hub Norfolk House.

Portrait photograph of George Creasy, Chief of Staff to Admiral Bertram Ramsay.

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 15/09/2026

🗓️ #OTD in 1943 – COPP's Nigel Willmott tells D-Day planners that he'll need no fewer than four X-craft midget submarines (📸 IWM A 22899) if his men are to properly recce Normandy beaches right up to the currently-planned D-Day in early May '44. #NavalHistory 🧵 ▶️ buff.ly/HVUbXqB

Midget submarine X-25, which wasn’t involved in COPP operations, underway on the surface in Scotland.

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🗓️ #OTD in 1944 – COPP 10 start a quick-fire sequence of operations on Šolta (📸 Adobe Stock), an island off the coast of Yugoslavia (now Croatia). They are part of a concerted effort to force German units to abandon the island. #NavalHistory ▶️ buff.ly/XVGHfHA

View along part of the northern Šolta coast, near Stomorska. It's unknown if any COPP 10 operations were in this precise area of the island.

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/🧵 Find out more about Roger Courtney (📸 via Special Forces Roll of Honour website), regarded as one of the 'fathers' of the SBS: ▶️ buff.ly/JOFMVR4

Roger Courtney and his second wife, Dorris, photographed pre-war in their Folbot named 'Buttercup'.

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Subsequent boats from other pre-war civilian makers aren't much better, but the nucleus of the 'flotilla' that will go to Egypt with Layforce in early 1941 – and will help COPP founder Nigel Willmott do his first beach recce on Rhodes (🗺️ via McMaster Uni) – is taking shape.

A strategic map of Rhodes showing key transport links.

The first 10 boats delivered are poor quality as Folbot Folding Boats Ltd suffers supply and labour problems. The final 20 boats are never finished after a Luftwaffe bombing raid on London destroys the company's workshop near St Paul's (📸 via National Library of Scotland).

Composite of pages from a pre-war catalogue produced by Folbot Folding Boats Ltd, which received the order for 30 canoes. (via jeeps-folbots-etc.epizy.com)

A post-war aerial photograph showing intense damage done to the area around Folbot Folding Boats Ltd's workshop on Hatfield Street in London, which is indicated by a red rectangle. The street no longer exists, having been replaced with post-war housing developments.

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It will be another month – after 8 Commando's moved to Inveraray in Scotland and Roger Courtney (📸 Special Forces Roll of Honour) has proven the efficacy of Folbots by 'raiding' infantry ship HMS Glengyle – before Keyes gives the final nod and an order is placed for 30 Folbots.

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 12/09/2026

🗓️ #OTD in 1940 – Roger Keyes, Director of Combined Operations (📸 IWM HU 139651), visits 8 Commando and is given a Folbot demonstration in the unlikely surroundings of Burnham-on-Crouch. It's the first official step to forming the Commandos' Special Boat Section (SBS). 🧵

Sir Roger Keyes (left) taking part in the funeral procession for men killed during the First World War’s Zebrugge raid.

Modern view of the river front at Burnham-on-Crouch, where 8 Commando was based immediately following its formation. On the left is the Royal Burnham Yacht Club, which 8 Commando used as its officers' mess.

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It will take them more than two weeks to get to their new base, a house in San Giorgio, on the eastern coast of Italy, as a prelude to operations in the Adriatic. 2/2

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 12/09/2026

🗓️ #OTD in 1944 – COPP 2 had little involvement in Operation Dragoon, the landings in southern France in mid-August. But now it's complete, they leave their base at Château de Fornali in northern Corsica (📸 Hemis/Alamy Stock Photo). #NavalHistory 1/2

Modern-day aerial view of Château de Fornali. In the background on the other side of a headland is a lighthouse. The château is situated on the banks of a small rocky bay.

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 11/09/2026

A great first day at We Have Ways Fest. Canoes! DD tanks! And some other stuff.

A Mark VII canoe with its lateen sale rigged

RN Beach Commando Re-enactors giving a talk about COPP

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 11/09/2026

German forces have already withdrawn to villages Sumartin (📸Adobe Stock) and Supetar as a prelude to evacuation – the aim of the landings is to ensure they don't achieve this unmolested. The main attacks over coming days are by Yugoslav Partisans. 2/2 ▶️ buff.ly/bFkz7fV

Modern-day view of Sumartin village with the towering coast of the mainland in the background.

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COPP Survey @coppsurvey.uk · 11/09/2026

🗓️ #OTD in 1944 – COPP 10's Hugh Maynard, Leslie Parker and George Talbot take part in landings on Brač, an island off Yugoslavia (now off Croatia). Setting out from their base on Vis (🗺️ via McMaster University), they guide in RM Commandos and supporting artillery guns. #NavalHistory 1/2

Extract from a strategic map of Yugoslavia with Vis and the attack on Brač indicated.

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It's not until the Normandy D-Day landings in June 1944 that COPP and the Scouts & Raiders work directly together again. /🧵 Find out more about COPP's involvement in Operation Avalanche: ▶️ buff.ly/hBK78M8

Unloading at one of the Salerno beaches.

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The Scouts & Raiders are no more happy: they were only at the last moment told they'd have British pilots aboard their boats, too, and seem exasperated that the Brits want to use traditional navigational techniques when landmarks ashore are clearly visible. (📸 Adobe Stock)

Modern-day view of Torre di Paestum (Paestum Tower), also known as Torre di Licinella, which stands just inland from the coast and was used as a landmark by the approaching assault vessels.

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Their frustration isn't eased when the landings start: they transfer to boats manned by US Scouts & Raiders only to find that these boats don't have bearing compasses, only steering compasses marked in 10-degree steps. (📸 Naval History & Heritage Command)

The US Scouts & Raiders’ LCS(S) – Landing Craft Support (Small) – at their training base, Fort Pierce in Florida.

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For a few days COPP 5 has been off the Italy coast in sub HMS Shakespeare, passing time since doing beach recce with help from the SBS. The planners have meantime changed beach boundaries, so the COPP men have had to do last-minute changes to marking plans. (🗺️ from CARL N5330)

A beach sketch of the southern beaches used by the Americans and marked during Operation Avalanche by a combination of COPP, the SBS and the US Scouts & Raiders.

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