Tirpitz

German battleship in World War II, launched 1939 as a sister ship to the Bismarck. It sailed to Norway January 1942 and remained there, a permanent threat to Allied convoys bound for the USSR until it was sunk by the RAF November 1944.

Although it frequently sailed out to scatter convoys, it was never brought to action. It was attacked by British midget submarines 23 September 1943, and was further damaged by an air strike launched from a British carrier April 1944. The RAF attacked with Lancaster bombers September 1944 and in November it was towed to a new and more secure hide near Tromso. On 12 November the RAF attacked with 5,500 kg/12,000 lb armour-piercing bombs, and the Tirpitz capsized and sank.