Fort Harrison Helena Montana

[Robert Bergeron]

More information . The Museum says there were 2300 men in the initial contingent. Case made 3000 V42 knives . The remaining 700 spares were distributed to replacements until they ran out . That explains the rarity of that combat knife . History has it that they never got to do demolitions , jump or skied. Their initial mission was to raid Germans nuclear research facilities in Norway . Thus the ski, parachute ,mountain and demolitions training . That role was taken over by the Royal Commandos for some reason i don’t know . They did do some amazing mountain climbing at La Difensa Italy which will remain their singlemost daring and incredible feat . Being such a new concept ( special forces ) , nobody in the chain of command knew how/ when / where to use them. In the Aleutians ( Alaska) they were used as Marines in an amphibious assault. In Anzio as regular infantry in a Scout role . In the Provence landing , they were used as Scouts to recce the beaches and as Seals to reduce communications and command & control within the beach area . At La Difenza they acted as Special Forces in a daring , mountain surprise attack on the unsuspecting German force that greatly outnumbered them. The US Rangers were employed in a similar fashion at Pointe du Hoc during the D day Op Overlord. So yes, all US & Canadian Special forces have their origin in this unit and proudly so . R.