February 11th is the 70th Anniversary of the beginning of Operation Cerberus, the “Channel Dash” in which major elements of the German Navy “dashed” from Brest to home waters, right through the English Channel. Against the Odds Magazine commemorates this remarkable event with their latest Pocket Battle Game and a special offer. With any purchase, Feb. 9 through 13, just enter (and apply) the promo code “DASH” on the order form and you’ll receive a deluxe version of the game “Operation Cerberus, the Channel Dash,” complete with die-cut counters and extra expansion rules and units.
The Channel Dash, (codenamed Operation Cerberus by the Germans), was a major naval engagement during World War II in which a German Kriegsmarine squadron consisting of both Scharnhorst class battleships, and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen along with escorts, ran a British blockade and successfully sailed from Brest (in Brittany) to their home bases in Germany via the English Channel.
On February 11th, 1942, the Kriegsmarine’s ships left Brest at 21:15 and escaped detection for more than 12 hours, approaching the Straits of Dover without discovery. As the German ships passed through the straits and on into the North Sea, British armed forces intercepted them, and attacks were made by the Royal Air Force, the Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Artillery. The attacks and bombardment were unsuccessful, and by February 13th all the Kriegsmarine’s ships had completed their transit. In support of the German naval operation, the Luftwaffe launched Operation Donnerkeil (Thunderbolt for those of us who don’t speak German)) to provide air superiority for the passage of the ships.
