Editing Gironde estuary (section)

== Second World War ==
[[File:Oper frankton cockle.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Folding kayak|Mark II canoes]] used in [[Operation Frankton]], the British attack on Bordeaux in 1942]]
In December 1942, during the [[Second World War]], [[Operation Frankton]] took place with the goal of destroying ships moored at the docks in Bordeaux.

The plan was for six canoes to be taken to the area of the Gironde estuary by [[submarine]]. Twelve men would then paddle by night to Bordeaux. On arrival they would attach timed  [[limpet mines]] to the docked cargo ships and escape overland to Spain.

The raid was carried out by a small unit of [[Royal Marines]] known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD), part of [[Combined Operations Headquarters|Combined Operations]], led by [[Herbert Hasler|Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler]]. They succeeded in slipping into the harbour unnoticed and sank one ship and severely damaged four others. Only two of the men returned to the UK alive, but they did enough damage to greatly disrupt the use of the harbour for the following months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2008/12/08/hayling_canoes_feature.shtml|title = Hayling Island's secret canoes}}</ref>

The prototypes of the [[Char B1|Char B1 ter]] heavy tank were lost in the Gironde as a result of German bombing in 1940.<ref>Stéphane Ferrard, 2014, "Du Char B à l'ARL 44, un long cheminement (II). 1937-1940 : Ce Mal Aimé. Le char B 1''ter''", ''Histoire de Guerre, Blindés & Matériel'' '''109''': 67-78</ref>

{{Commons category|Gironde estuary}}