The Tirpitz battleship, officially known as the KMS Tirpitz, was one of the two Bismarck-class battleships built by Nazi Germany during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, who was instrumental in the development of the Imperial German Navy before World War I, the Tirpitz was one of the largest and most powerful battleships ever constructed.
Here is a brief overview of the story of the Tirpitz battleship:
- Construction and Commissioning:
- Construction of the Tirpitz began in October 1936, and it was launched on April 1, 1939.
- It was commissioned into the German Kriegsmarine (navy) on February 25, 1941, under the command of Captain Hans Meyer.
- Role in the Norwegian Campaign:
- The Tirpitz played a significant role in the Norwegian Campaign in 1940, where it operated in Norwegian waters to threaten Allied naval forces and secure control of the region.
- Threat to Allied Convoys:
- The mere presence of Tirpitz in Norway posed a constant threat to Allied convoys traveling to and from the Soviet Union, particularly those using the Arctic route.
- The British Royal Navy conducted several unsuccessful attempts to sink the Tirpitz while it was in its Norwegian fjord bases.
- Attacks on Tirpitz:
- The Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy launched numerous raids and attacks against the Tirpitz. Notable among these was the “Operation Tungsten” raid by British carrier-based aircraft in April 1944, which inflicted significant damage on the battleship.
- Relocation:
- Due to the damage sustained in the “Operation Tungsten” attack and the increasing threat of Allied air raids, the Tirpitz was relocated to various fjords along the Norwegian coast.
- Final Attack and Sinking:
- On November 12, 1944, the Tirpitz was subjected to a major attack by British Lancaster bombers in an operation known as “Operation Catechism.”
- The attack resulted in severe damage to the ship, and it eventually capsized and sank in Tromsø, Norway.
The sinking of the Tirpitz was a significant victory for the Allies, as it eliminated a major threat to their naval and convoy operations in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. The loss of the Tirpitz marked the end of its threat to Allied shipping and was a symbolic moment in the decline of the German Navy during World War II.