ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAST BIG-GUN NAVAL ACTION IN EUROPEAN WATERS
26 December 2020
On this day in 1943, the fifth Boxing Day at war with Nazi Germany, the last clash of ‘big gun’ ships took place in European waters.
In the darkness of the polar night, superior training, superior technology and superior force put an end to the career of Hitler’s ‘lucky ship’, Scharnhorst, sunk by the Royal Navy off the North Cape.
Just 36 of the 1,968 souls aboard survived, somehow rescued despite the stormy conditions as the Royal Navy upheld the words of Nelson: may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet.
Continues, with photos, at:
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... horst-sunk
Sinking of the Scharnhorst
- Pelican
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Sinking of the Scharnhorst
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
- Pelican
- Posts: 10067
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Re: Sinking of the Scharnhorst
Sir Humphrey
A good article on one of the last survivors of the Battle of the North Cape and his memories of that action, fought just over 80 years ago, and the last time a Royal Navy battleship engaged in surface combat with another battleship.
Well worth a read. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -trap.html
A good article on one of the last survivors of the Battle of the North Cape and his memories of that action, fought just over 80 years ago, and the last time a Royal Navy battleship engaged in surface combat with another battleship.
Well worth a read. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -trap.html
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.