Phil Ward

Tip of the Sword - Raiding Forces Phil Ward

Raiding Forces Small Operations Group with Colonel John Randal in command makes a night drop on the Italian held Island of Castelrozzo. The plan is to capture the island in order to use it as a base of operations for Commando raids on Axis held islands in the Aegean Sea. Admiral Sir "Razor" Ransom, the Deputy Commander of Operations (Irregular), wants Raiding Forces to reorganize into a small scale amphibious raiding unit. With Field Marshal Rommel's Afrika Korps driven off the continent of Africa, gun jeep desert patrolling has come to an end. Instead of jeeps, the Raiders will transition to high speed MAS Boats, PT Boats and caiques. Major the Lady Jane Seaborn is shot outside the Gizera Restaurant. Commander Ian Fleming arrives and tasks Raiding Forces to carry out a Top Secret Golden Fleece mission. And, Raiding Forces carries out a night combat jump on Sicily to capture a vital bridge at Gela for Major General George S. Patton.