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  Much has been written on the Channel Dash (that the Germans named Operation Cerberus). So often Hitler's military plans can be described as nothing short of crackpot, but in this case it largely worked - despite extreme scepticism from his Naval High Command.
  
  Our forces certainly were caught on the back foot, mainly because no-one expected them to negotiate the Straits in daylight. Of the 32 Coastal Forces vessels available 27 were re-assigned elsewhere, and the low cloud cover would have severly hampered operations by RAF Bomber Command - not to mention the overwhelming cover given to the fleet by the Luftwaffe.
  
  What the Fleet Air Arm and Coastal Forces did in the Straits of Dover deserves the highest admiration. I quote three testimonials:-
  
  Admiral Bertram Ramsay wrote: "In my opinion the gallant sortie of these six Swordfish aircraft constitutes one of the finest exhibitions of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty the war had ever witnessed."
  
  The Commander of the German fleet, Vice-Admiral Otto Ciliax said: "The mothball attack of a handful of ancient planes, piloted by men whose bravery surpasses any other action by either side that day".
  
  Commander Helmuth Giessler, the navigating officer of the Scharnhorst said: "Such bravery was devoted and incredible. One was privileged to witness it."

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