Scharnhorst (1936)
The Scharnhorst is a German Cuirassé launched on October 3rd 1936 in the port of Wilhelmshaven. One finished his armament at the time when the Second world war burst.
At the time of its first exit at sea, it destroyed the British cruiser Rawalpindi (November 23rd, 1939). It took part then in the Campagne of Norway with the battleship Gneisenau (its Sister-ship ).
Always with the Gneisenau , the Scharnhorst captured 22 ships combined at the beginning of 1941, before settling with Brest.
February 12th, 1942, the ship forced the passage of the Pas-de-Calais in full day to return to Germany. After various repair, the Scharnhorst regained Norway and made team with the Tirpitz to threaten the convoys combined in direction of Mourmansk.
December 22nd, 1943, it left in company of five Destroyer S to the meeting a allied convoy. In the morning of the 26, it is found vis-a-vis the cruisers of the 10th squadron. It succeeds in escaping, but the British battleship Duke off York joined it in the afternoon for an artillery battle of more than two hours. The Scharnhorst runs with 19:45. On the 1 900 men of crews, only 36 survivors will be fished out in ice-cold water.
See too
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