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Lot Essay
THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP TIRPITZ WAS COMPLETED IN 1941 AND FROM THAT TIME CONSTITUED A GRAVE MENACE TO ALLIED CONVOYS. ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, 1943 SHE WAS AT SEA IN COMPANY WITH THE SCHARNHORST AND ESCORTED BY TEN DESTROYERS. AFTER BOMBARDING ALLIED INSTALLATIONS AT SPITZBERGEN - THE ONLY OCCASION THAT SHE FIRED HER HEAVY GUNS IN ACTION - THE FORCE RETURNED TO NORWAY. ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, FOUR ALLIED MIDGET SUBMARINES ACCOMPANYING H.M.SUBMARINE STUBBORN ENTERED THE SOROY SOUND, ALTENFJORD, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SINK HER AT ANCHOR. THIS ATTACK WAS ONLY PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL - ALL THE MIDGET SUBMARINES WERE LOST; HOWEVER TIRPITZ WAS IMMOBILISED FOR SIX MONTHS.
IN FEBRUARY 1944, A SECOND ATTEMPT TO SINK HER WAS MADE WITH RUSSIAN BOMBERS ATTACKING THE BATTLESHIP, HOWEVER TO LITTLE EFFECT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED ON APRIL 3RD BY THE BOMBERS OF THE FLEET AIR ARM WHICH AGAIN FAILED TO SINK HER. FROM JULY ONWARDS THERE WAS A SERIES OF AIR ATTACKS CULMINATING ON NOVEMBER 12TH 1944 WITH A RAID BY NO LESS THAN 32 R.A.F. LANCASTER BOMBERS. IT WAS THESE MASSIVE BOMBS OF 12,000 LBS. EACH WHICH FINALLY PENETRATED THE BATTLESHIP'S ARMOURED DECK AND TORE A HOLE 100 FEET LONG IN HER SIDE, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION IN HER AFT MAGAZINE. THE TIRPITZ THEN CAPSIZED, GOING DOWN WITH ABOUT 1,000 OF HER CREW. HOWEVER, EIGHTY-FIVE SURVIVORS ESCAPED THE NEXT DAY THROUGH A HOLE CUT IN THE PART OF THE HULL WHICH STILL REMAINED ABOVE WATER.
IN FEBRUARY 1944, A SECOND ATTEMPT TO SINK HER WAS MADE WITH RUSSIAN BOMBERS ATTACKING THE BATTLESHIP, HOWEVER TO LITTLE EFFECT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED ON APRIL 3RD BY THE BOMBERS OF THE FLEET AIR ARM WHICH AGAIN FAILED TO SINK HER. FROM JULY ONWARDS THERE WAS A SERIES OF AIR ATTACKS CULMINATING ON NOVEMBER 12TH 1944 WITH A RAID BY NO LESS THAN 32 R.A.F. LANCASTER BOMBERS. IT WAS THESE MASSIVE BOMBS OF 12,000 LBS. EACH WHICH FINALLY PENETRATED THE BATTLESHIP'S ARMOURED DECK AND TORE A HOLE 100 FEET LONG IN HER SIDE, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION IN HER AFT MAGAZINE. THE TIRPITZ THEN CAPSIZED, GOING DOWN WITH ABOUT 1,000 OF HER CREW. HOWEVER, EIGHTY-FIVE SURVIVORS ESCAPED THE NEXT DAY THROUGH A HOLE CUT IN THE PART OF THE HULL WHICH STILL REMAINED ABOVE WATER.