Hunting Tirpitz: Naval Operations Against Bismarck’s Sister Ship

351 Pages·2012·11.25 MB·English

by  G.H. Bennett

HUNTING TIRPITZ
ROYAL NAVAL OPERATIONS AGAINST BISMARCK’S SISTER
SHIP
Britannia Naval Histories of World War II
Contents
Britannia Royal Naval College
Foreword Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
Introduction Dr G. H. Bennett
PART I
Abbreviations
Introduction
Object of Operation and Forces
Preparations and Plan
Outward Passage (Plan 3)
The Approach (Plans 3 and 4)
The Attack (Plan 5)
The Commando Operations
The Withdrawal
Destroyer Action (Plan 7)
Return Passage (Plan 3)
Results and Lessons
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Endnotes
PART II
Introduction
Preparations
Plan of Operation
Preliminary Movements
Passage to Norway (Plan 3)
The Attack on the Tirpitz (Plans 4, 5, 6)
Narrative of X10 (Plan 4)
Movements of Operational Submarines (Plan 3)
Return Passage
Conclusion
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Endnotes
PART III
Introduction
Plans and Preparations (Plans 1 and 2)
Passage From Scapa (Plan 1)
Departure of First Strike (Plans 1 and 2)
First Strike (Plan 2)
Second Strike (Plan 2)
Return to Scapa
Lessons and Comments
Conclusion (Plan 4)
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Endnotes
Part IV
Brief History
The Ship
The Attacks
Conclusions
Appendix A
Appendix B
Part V
Personal Accounts
Part VI
The Tirpitz Veteran’s Association
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope GCB OBE ADC
Dr G. H. Bennett
This book is invariably to be kept locked up when not in use and is not to be
taken outside the ship or establishment for which it is issued without the express
permission of the Commanding Officer.
This book is the property of His Majesty’s Government.
It is intended for the use of Officers generally, and may in certain cases be
communicated to persons in His Majesty’s Service below the rank of
Commissioned Officer who may require to be acquainted with its contents in the
course of their duties. The Officers exercising this power will be held
responsible that such information is imparted with due caution and reserve.
Attention is called to the penalties attaching to any infraction of the Official
Secrets Acts.
Director of Naval Construction Admiralty
31 March, 1949
P.03370/47
ebook edition first published in the United Kingdom in 2017 by University of Plymouth Press, Room 002,
18 Endsleigh Place, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
eISBN 978-1-84102-405-9
© University of Plymouth Press 2017
A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-84102-310-6
Publisher: Paul Honeywill
Commissioning Editor: Charlotte Carey
Series Editors: G. H. Bennett, J. E. Harrold, R. Porter and M. J. Pearce
The rights of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Crown Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, without the prior written
permission of UPP. Any person who carries out any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be
liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Historical content courtesy of Britannia Museum, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, TQ6 0HJ.
Cover image © Edward Stables 2012
The historical documents reproduced here appear as unedited text, apart from minor changes made to date
formats and corrections to typing errors found in the original.
Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
A majestic landmark, which towers above the harbour town of Dartmouth in
Devon, Britannia Royal Naval College was designed by royal architect Sir Aston
Webb to project an image of British sea power. A fine example of Edwardian
architecture, the College has prepared future generations of officers for the
challenges of service and leadership since 1905.
The Britannia Museum opened in 1999 to safeguard the College’s rich
collection of historic artefacts, art and archives and promote greater public
understanding of Britain’s naval and maritime heritage, as a key element in the
development of British history and culture. It also aims to instill a sense of
identity and ethos in the Officer Cadets that pass through the same walls as their
forbears, from great admirals to national heroes, to royalty.
Britannia
Foreword Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
With this welcome new series of Second World War battle summaries, history
once again speaks to posterity.
There is much in this nation’s long and distinguished maritime and naval
history upon which to reflect and celebrate. In so doing, we are reminded
especially of our country’s inextricable dependency on the sea for our prosperity
and security.
We are also reminded that, within an ever-changing security environment, the
characteristics of the sea and the attributes of maritime forces prevail. Enduring
truths that the story of the hard-won pursuit of the Tirpitz illustrates so clearly. A
story of determination, innovation and heroism. A story which demonstrates
graphically Tirpitz’s strategic significance because of her potential to prevent the
flow of trade; always the lifeblood of ours and Russia’s economies at a critical
time. Consequently, the Tirpitz shaped the Admiralty’s and British War
Cabinet’s thinking perhaps for longer than any other capability or platform
during the War.
Dr Bennett’s introduction helpfully sets the naval staff historians’ accessible
battle summaries in their wider context. Together, the Royal Navy’s attempts to
render the Tirpitz unusable – by deploying daring and imaginative raids, midget
submarine attacks and Fleet Air Arm sorties – are as much inspirational as they
are instructive. Indeed, I would commend readers, when absorbing these
engaging pages, to reflect upon another enduring truth; the qualities of human
endeavour: qualities of courage, leadership and professionalism – quietly,
consistently and valiantly displayed for the nation and for freedom. Qualities that
were tangible yesterday, are visible today and will be indispensable tomorrow.
I am most grateful to the Trustees of the Britannia Museum and the University
of Plymouth Press for producing this immensely worthwhile series of battle
summaries. The Britannia Naval Histories of World War II will be a valuable
resource for anyone with either a professional, personal or even passing interest
in British maritime and naval history.
Posterity should listen with attentiveness.
Introduction Dr G. H. Bennett In 1941, the North Atlantic
witnessed a desperate struggle as Germany’s newest battleship
Bismarck tried and failed to escape pursuing units of the Royal
Navy. Making her sortie from the Baltic on 19 May 1941,
Bismarck slipped into the North Atlantic via the Greenland–
Iceland gap in search of the convoys running from North America
to the United Kingdom. The Royal Navy countered by deploying
most of its capital ships in the Atlantic and the Gibraltar based
‘Force H’ from the Western Mediterranean. On 24 May, the
battlecruiser HMS Hood, the ‘pride of the Royal Navy’, and HMS
Prince of Wales, Britain’s newest battleship, engaged Bismarck and
her escorting heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. The battle was over in a
matter of minutes as HMS Hood was destroyed with the loss of all
but three of her crew of 1,418, and HMS Prince of Wales, fighting
on alone for 13 minutes, retired to shadowing distance after
sustaining damage. It was a stunning success for the German
Navy, but other major units of the Royal Navy were already
closing with the German task force. Bismarck had sustained
apparently minor damage to her fuel bunkers in the encounter,
but in the midst of an Atlantic dominated by the Royal Navy, it
was enough to terminate the operation.
It was decided that Bismarck should head for St. Nazaire, which had the only
dock on the Atlantic coast capable of accommodating the mighty battleship. It
was a perilous voyage with an uncertain end, even if Bismarck succeeded in
making port. In port, on the French coast, Bismarck would be in range of R.A.F.
Bomber Command. Prinz Eugen was detached from Bismarck as both ships’
companies prepared for a desperate race for safety. Aided by the vastness of the
Atlantic, Bismarck succeeded in getting away momentarily from the shadowing
British units. Reacquiring their target as Bismarck pushed steadily towards St.
Nazaire, the Fleet Air Arm were able to deal a decisive blow: a torpedo strike
from a Fairey Swordfish late in the evening of 26 May jammed Bismarck’s
rudder and condemned her to steam in circles, miles short of her intended
destination. The following morning, British vessels engaged the Bismarck.
Within 45 minutes, Bismarck’s main armament had been silenced and British