Nick Hall looks at two fierce naval actions that took place in the space of just four days in April 1940 in Norway’s Ofotfjord and resulted in the loss of 12 destroyers, two British and ten German.
The battles of Narvik, fought in the confined waters of Ofotfjord, could not save Norway from invasion, but they crippled the Kriegsmarine’s escort forces for months to come. British warships were already at sea when German’ launched its invasion of Norway. They were spread thinly, however, and failed to detect a force of ten German destroyers commanded by Kapitan Friedrich Bonte aboard Wilhelm Heidkamp… continue reading
Ships Monthly Magazine November 2010 Issue >>