Sinking of the 'Tirpitz'

From her completion in 1941, the 40,600-tonne German battleship 'Tirpitz' became a threat to the safety of British and Allied convoys and naval ships alike. Not only was her warlike potential much to be respected, but her existence alone had the effect of tying up considerable naval air resources keeping her under surveillance. During a "sink the 'Turpitz'" campaign from March 1942 to November 1944 the ship became the target for nine separate and carefully-planned attacks by naval and air forces. In the first eight attacks she suffered damage - at times severe - but seemed merely to add strength to the legend of impregnability that had developed around her. On 12 November 1944 the ninth attack took place. At 10.30 am while lying in Tromso Fiord on the north coast of Norway, the ship was attacked by a force of twenty-nine RAF Lancaster bombers. Each aircraft carried a 5,443 kilogram (12,000 pound) bomb. Three direct hits - amidships, bows and stern - were scored. Huge explosions occurred; the ship caught fire, and only fifteen minutes after the start of the strike the 'Tirpitz' rolled over and sank. Only one Lancaster failed to return from the attack and it landed safely in Sweden.