Tirpitz, German Battle Ship

A FLEET IN BEING

After only two unsuccessful missions against enemy convoys, in September 1943 the Tirpitz made ifs single successful mission in which she destroyed the allied supply bases at Spitzbergen. It was not, however, this minimal success but the continuous threat to Englands convoys that forced Britain to hold its Home Fleet in readiness. Only after the German battleship Scharnhorst had been sunk in the North Sea on 26 September 1943 could the Royal Navy concentrate all its efforts on engaging and annihilating the Tirpitz, as she sat, waiting on a plate, in the Norwegian flords.

THE END OF THE TIRPITZ

A first unsuccessful attack on the Tirpitz by midget submarines took place on 30/31 October 1942. On 23 September 1943 two other midget submarines had more success and damaged the Tirpitz with limpet mines. British carrier aircraft attacked on 3 April 1944 and again damaged the ship heavily. After several more or less unsuccessful air attacks, on 15 September 1944 the Royal Air Force attacked the ship for the first time with 12,000lb (5450kg) Tallboy bombs. One of these hit the target and put the ship out of action for good. On 12 November 32 RAF Lancasters with Tallboy bombs finished the Tirpitz off: she capsized and 971 men were drowned.

TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Battleship
Machinery: 3-shath geared turbines giving 138,000shp
Dimensions: Length, 248m (813.6ft), beam 36.0m (118ft)
Displacement: 52,600t (full load)
Draught: 10.6m (34.75ft) (max)