Hunting Tirpitz, livre ebook

Never previously published in this format, documents once stamped ‘restricted’ have been sourced from Britannia Royal Naval College’s Library. These include the Battle Summaries of Chariot, Source and Tungsten and include charts and plans drawn up by serving Royal Navy Officers during and immediately after World War II.
In late 1944, the German battleship Tirpitz was sunk by RAF Bomber Command. While it was the RAF that delivered the final coup de grâce, it was the Royal Navy, from 1942 to 1944, that had contained, crippled and neutralised the German battleship in a series of actions marked by innovation, boldness and bravery. From daring commando raids on the coast of France, to the use of midget submarines in the fjords of Norway and devastating aerial attacks by the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Navy pursued Tirpitz to her eventual destruction. 

The foreword is by Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff. The introduction, by Dr G H Bennett, expertly guides the reader through a level of detail that does not appear in post-war accounts, putting the summary in context. Dr Bennett has written over a dozen books and is an Associate Professor at Plymouth University.

Hans Mueller (Lieutenant, Tirpitz), New Bern, North Carolina, USA

“During the attack, 12 November 1944, I was on the astern bridge as a lieutenant and responsible for the firing of the light anti-aircraft guns. I was awaiting orders from Lieutenant Commander Fassbänder. Since the telephone was no longer working, I gave orders for all canons to shoot. In the meantime, a series of bomb hits caused the Tirpitz to start capsizing. When the rail, and part of the port side weapons, were underwater, I jumped into the cold sea without a life-jacket. Tower Cäsar exploded as I reached the water. The resulting suction pulled me a few meters under. This probably saved my life. As I re-emerged I saw many dead comrades. I then swam approximately 100 m to the net cage and held on to it. After about 20 minutes, a lifeboat picked me up. The machine oil in the water and on my body was also a lifesaver. It kept us warm.