Continued from May 31st.
The battleship HMS Duke of York engaged the Scharnhorst on December 26, 1942, in the dark of night which was lit up by star shells and damaged the German ship. The cruiser HMS Jamaica also launched torpedoes.
The Scharnhorst broke away and then the Matchless and other destroyers finished it off with 19 torpedoes. The Scahrnhorst sank at 7:15 PM with 1,867 men. Only 36 survived and the Matchless picked up six.
The British destroyers wanted to rescue more Germans, but fear of possible U-boats in the area, called off the effort. This greatly bothered the Matchless' crew. Norman Scarth said, "I grieve for those men every day of my life."
After this, the Matchless continued its Arctic convoys until August 1944 when it was decommissioned for repairs and then recommisioned and served in the Mediterranean.
It served in the Turkish Navy until 1971 when it was scrapped.
Former british crewmembers formed the HMS Matchless Association. The ship's badge was presented to the maidenhead Burrough Council in 1942, but it was since lost.
Story of a Ship. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label Scharnhorst. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scharnhorst. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
HMS Matchless-- Part 2
In June 1942, the Matchless took part in Operation Harpoon which aimed to relieve the besieged island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship was damaged by a mine June 15th and had to remain in Malta for repairs. During that time, the Matchless survived 265 air raids.
Repaired and out of Malta, the Matchless returned to the island during Operation Malta, also designed to relieve it.
Its next service was two Arctic convoys until May and June 1943, when the destroyer escorted the RMS Queen Mary half way across the North Atlantic. The ocean liner was carrying none other than Winston Churchill on his way to the United States for a meeting with FDR.
While on convoy duty in December, the Matchless and three other destroyers were ordered to leave and join a task force going against the German cruiser Scharnhorst. On December 25th, word was received that the British cruisers Belfast, Norfolk and Sheffield had engaged it.
The Scharnhorst had been ordered to attack convoys, but avoid a general battle with Allied warships. On December 26th, Boxing Day in Britain, there was another fight and the Scharnhorst broke off and started heading for its home base in a Norwegian fjord.
The Matchless and other destroyers were ordered to intercept it.
Running for Home. --GreGen
Repaired and out of Malta, the Matchless returned to the island during Operation Malta, also designed to relieve it.
Its next service was two Arctic convoys until May and June 1943, when the destroyer escorted the RMS Queen Mary half way across the North Atlantic. The ocean liner was carrying none other than Winston Churchill on his way to the United States for a meeting with FDR.
While on convoy duty in December, the Matchless and three other destroyers were ordered to leave and join a task force going against the German cruiser Scharnhorst. On December 25th, word was received that the British cruisers Belfast, Norfolk and Sheffield had engaged it.
The Scharnhorst had been ordered to attack convoys, but avoid a general battle with Allied warships. On December 26th, Boxing Day in Britain, there was another fight and the Scharnhorst broke off and started heading for its home base in a Norwegian fjord.
The Matchless and other destroyers were ordered to intercept it.
Running for Home. --GreGen
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
How the Scharnhorst Was Sunk-- Part 2
December 26, 1943 is British Boxing Day and that is when the British ships caught up with the German cruiser Scharnhorst which had altered course and running for safety in a Norwegian fjord. It was pitch dark and radar was being used.
The Scharnhorst first encountered the HMS Duke of York and engaged the battleship receiving damage and being forced to slow down because of it. Various other destroyers and cruisers moved in for the kill. Star shells lit up the sky.
Near the end, the destroyers came in and fired off their torpedoes at the Scharnhorst, often described at the most beautiful fighting ship of any navy. Fighting to the end, the German ship fired every gun still operational and used 20 mm cannon on the destroyers.
The destroyers and HMS Matchless could not find the Scharnhorst on their second torpedo run, but did find men, mostly dead, floating in the water. Norman Scarth remembers a man from the Matchless calling out, ""Scharnhorstgesunken?" and getting the reply "Ja Scharnhorst gesunken!"
The destroyers scrambled to get nets over the side to rescue the Germans. Only 36 of the 2,000 man crew were saved.
Then, the Matchless was ordered away and Scarth can still remember voices calling out for help in that cold Arctic water.
A Valiant Ship to teh End. --GreGen
The Scharnhorst first encountered the HMS Duke of York and engaged the battleship receiving damage and being forced to slow down because of it. Various other destroyers and cruisers moved in for the kill. Star shells lit up the sky.
Near the end, the destroyers came in and fired off their torpedoes at the Scharnhorst, often described at the most beautiful fighting ship of any navy. Fighting to the end, the German ship fired every gun still operational and used 20 mm cannon on the destroyers.
The destroyers and HMS Matchless could not find the Scharnhorst on their second torpedo run, but did find men, mostly dead, floating in the water. Norman Scarth remembers a man from the Matchless calling out, ""Scharnhorstgesunken?" and getting the reply "Ja Scharnhorst gesunken!"
The destroyers scrambled to get nets over the side to rescue the Germans. Only 36 of the 2,000 man crew were saved.
Then, the Matchless was ordered away and Scarth can still remember voices calling out for help in that cold Arctic water.
A Valiant Ship to teh End. --GreGen
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
How the Scharnhorst Was Sunk-- Part 1
From the December 25, 2011, BBC News "How Germany's feared Scharnhorst was sunk in World War II" by Claire Bower.
The Scharnhorst was sunk by Allied forces 26 December 1943 in the Battle of North Cape.
Norman Scarth was 18 and on the destroyer HMS Matchless protecting a convoy to Soviet ports in the Arctic Circle. Rumors were out that the Scharnhorst had gotten out and was on the prowl. The Matchless, going full speed at 35 knots in mountainous seas in a full gale, was ordered to join the 10th CruiserSquadron with the HMS Belfast, Norfolk and Sheffield.
These cruisers had already had an engagement with the Scharnhorst, but it had gotten away
The British Admiralty guessed the Scharnhorst would be heading north to attack the Matchless' convoy.
More to Come. --GreGen
The Scharnhorst was sunk by Allied forces 26 December 1943 in the Battle of North Cape.
Norman Scarth was 18 and on the destroyer HMS Matchless protecting a convoy to Soviet ports in the Arctic Circle. Rumors were out that the Scharnhorst had gotten out and was on the prowl. The Matchless, going full speed at 35 knots in mountainous seas in a full gale, was ordered to join the 10th CruiserSquadron with the HMS Belfast, Norfolk and Sheffield.
These cruisers had already had an engagement with the Scharnhorst, but it had gotten away
The British Admiralty guessed the Scharnhorst would be heading north to attack the Matchless' convoy.
More to Come. --GreGen
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