DKM Ships damaged in Brest

[Francis Marliere]

Gentlemen,

In 1941, the RAF damaged the German ships at Brest. Gneisenau was hit by a torpedo on 6 April then by 4 bombs 5 days later, Scharnhorst was hit by 5 bombs on 24 July and Prinz Eugen took a lone bomb on 2 July. Do you know when these ships were repaired ?

Thanks for any help,

Francis Marliere

[RF]

By late summer 1941. As you say Prinz Eugen was also hit in the British air raids, the XO was killed.

The three ships were ready for action by the time Hitler declared war on the USA - an action that could only reinforce the decision made by Hitler to bring them all home via the English Channel.

[aurora]

Brest was as heavily defended as any target throughout the war, in any country. In addition, there were the natural defences of the hills around it. RAF Coastal Command was given the task of making a torpedo run against Gneisenau with Bristol Beauforts.
The three Bristol Beauforts were piloted respectively by Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell, Flying Officer John Hyde, and Sergeant H Camp, all of 22 Squadron and all veterans. Flying independently, they were to rendezvous near Brest but poor weather prevented this and Campbell made the strike alone which succeeded in hitting Gneissnau. It brought him a posthumous VC.but he lost his life crashing into the surrounding hills.

aurora

[RF]

The comments about Brest are right, having seen the place for myself.

For all the efforts of the British it is quite likely the German ships were as safe in Brest as in any German harbour, as the fate of Gneisenau after the Channel Dash demonstrated.

[Francis Marliere]

Thanks for the replies.

[aurora]

For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 13 March 1942 ]. Over Brest Harbour, France, 6 April 1941, Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell, 22 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

In recognition of most conspicuous bravery. This officer was the pilot of a Beaufort aircraft of Coastal Command which was detailed to attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest Harbour at first light on the morning of 6th April 1941. The aircraft did not return but it is known that a torpedo attack was carried out with the utmost daring.
The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour, protected by a stone mole bending around it from the west. On rising ground behind the ship stood protective batteries of guns. Other batteries were clustered thickly round the two arms of land which encircle the outer harbour. In this outer harbour near the mole were moored three heavily-armed anti-aircraft ships, guarding the battle cruiser. Even if an aircraft succeeded in penetrating these formidable defences, it would be almost impossible, after delivering a low-level attack, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond.

This was well known to Flying Officer Campbell who, despising the heavy odds, went cheerfully and resolutely to the task. He ran the gauntlet of the defences. Coming in at almost sea level, he passed the anti-aircraft ships at less than mast-height in the very mouths of their guns and skimming over the mole launched a torpedo at point-blank range.

The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. By pressing home his attack at close quarters in the face of withering fire on a course fraught with extreme peril, Flying Officer Campbell displayed valour of the highest order.