Operation Gunner

'Gunner' was a British unrealised plan for an amphibious landing near Brest in the Brittany region of German-occupied France (November 1942).

The scheme was seen by the British as a means of placating US enthusiasm for a strategically significant operation across the English Channel as soon as possible after the 'Bolero' arrival of substantial US forces in the UK. However, the British were generally unenthusiastic given their experience with the 'Jubilee' setback at Dieppe and sensibly wished to husband resources so that a massive strength could be built up for a definitive return to the continent as the major Allied blow against German strength in the West. Other schemes of this period envisaged descents on Cherbourg, the Channel Islands, other French ports and even Norway, but all were sensibly shelved in favour of 'Overlord'.