Barents Sea, Battle of the

In World War II, important British naval victory over German forces north of Murmansk, 30 December 1942. The battle was a humiliating defeat for the German Navy, which so enraged Hitler that Admiral Erich Raeder was relieved of his post as commander-in-chief of the German Fleet and most of the German Navy was confined to training exercises in the Baltic, some ships having their guns removed to provide coastal defences for Norway.

The German force, including the cruisers Lützow and Admiral Hipper, and six destroyers, attacked a British convoy en route to Murmansk. The convoy was protected by six British destroyers and five smaller escort vessels which launched a vigorous counterattack, enabling it to turn away, but then themselves ran into part of the German force. The Germans were unable to tell whether they were British or German vessels due to poor visibility and hesitated long enough for the destroyers to lay a smoke screen. The British ships were severely damaged, and two were sunk, but were saved by two cruisers from Murmansk which sank one German destroyer and damaged the Admiral Hipper. The German commander broke off the fight and retired.