Hitler promised his people that the thousand-year Reich takes the crown of Britain mistress of the seas, and German sailors will receive the best in the world fleet.As a result the strongest for the time ships "Bismarck" and its "sistership" - the battleship "Tirpitz".The fate of the latter will be discussed here.
concept of German battleships
Being enthusiastic about the successful raid on German ships extensive trade communication England during the First World War, the German admiral saw a new fleet "raider".They believed that the ship, which has a high speed, large power reserve and weapons, able to resist the enemy of the whole squadron, will be a real "horror" for the trade routes of the enemy.A fleet of vehicles can and does block the enemy's maritime traffic.Based on this concept, designed the battleship "Tirpitz" which, in fact, was a "overgrown cruiser", but with the arms of the battleship.Eight 380-millimeter guns "Tirpitz" were able to send 800-pound bombs on the horizon (35.5 km) and the speed (30.8 knots), and cruising range (9,000 nautical miles), he had no equal among shipsthis class.
comparing with other ships
As already mentioned, the battleship "Tirpitz" was built on the concept of a cruiser, and for its outstanding quality and high-speed driving was paid a total armor and survivability of the ship."Tirpitz" and "Bismarck" is now styled almost the most powerful ships in the history of mankind, and yet many of their contemporaries surpassed "the Germans" and the armor, and weapons, not to mention such a quality, like mine protection."Richelieu", "South Dakota", the Italian "Littorio" and the Japanese "Yamato" was clearly more powerful battleships.Glory German ship gave fascist propaganda and justification of the English fleet, who lost his battle with the "Bismarck" of its flagship, and then the war almost at full strength chasing "Tirpitz".In the image below you can see the battleship "Tirpitz" - the picture was taken in the parking lot in Norway.
Combat service
Kriegsmarine Plans went awry.An attempt to break into the enemy's communications over the death of the battleship "Bismarck" and more like the Germans did not attempt to undertake.In addition to the destruction of convoys copes submarines and naval aviation.The battleship "Tirpitz" by and large participated in only one, almost futile combat operations - a campaign to Spitsbergen in 1942.After that, his entire war hidden in the Norwegian fjords and the British navy, air force and special forces tried to reach him.For the British government destruction of the battleship was fixed idea, Churchill even called him "a beast."One's presence off the coast of Norway has led the British to abandon the naval convoys to Murmansk.So we can say that the battleship "Tirpitz" has done a lot - doing nothing.
Death battleship
In November, the 44th year to the battleship still got the British.November 12, surprised the anti-aircraft defense, the ship dropped its 4500-pound bombs 32 "Lancaster".Four extra-heavy bombs fell on his deck, their explosions detonated ammunition battleship, he rolled over and sank.
