TIRPITZ Eagle Staff Ride 1 Contents Introduction 2 Tirpitz Eagle - Staff Ride Phase Briefing 4 The German Battleship Tirpitz 6 Schlachtschiff Tirpitz 8 The Strategic Situation 10 Attacks on the Tirpitz 11 The Saint-Nazaire Raid 12 The Halifax at the RAF Museum Hendon 13 Royal Navy Missions 14 Aircraft Carrier Attacks 17 The RAF Returns to the Fray 20 Operation PARAVANE 22 Operation OBVIATE 24 Operation CATECHISM 25 Aftermath 27 Tromsø Cemetery 32 Further Reading 34 Front cover image: Tirpitz firing her main armament. Photo Courtesy: Michael W. Pocock. 1 Introduction Welcome to Tirpitz Eagle 2019. We will Staff Ride Stand Discussion study and commemorate the German Allied forces had to display innovation battleship Tirpitz at the very site where and agility, with a great deal of resilience, she met her end seventy-five years ago. in their attempts to sink the Tirpitz. This action was one of several during Which of these factors have you identified World War Two that saw the demise of from the campaign to sink the ship? such capital ships because of Air Power. Have you been involved with any operations that required similar innovation The day will begin with a journey by ship and fortitude? How do you think that the from Tromsø harbour to where the Tirpitz Bomber Command aircrew overcame their was berthed on 12 November 1944. operational and occupational stress As a result of Operation CATECHISM during their missions to sink Tirpitz? the Tirpitz capsized at 0952 local time. What tools should be available nowadays We will commemorate the loss of the to help cope with stress? ship at this time, as indeed the Norwegians do every year. 971 of the crew were killed, whilst a further 82 were rescued by comrades. We will then return to Tromsø for a buffet lunch where will have a presentation by a local historian about Tirpitz. After that we will go to Tromsø Cemetery, where there are 37 Commonwealth War Graves, to pay our respects. This will be followed by a visit to the Tromsø Tirpitz Museum. Once there we will split into smaller groups and a Staff Ride Stand Discussion will take place to draw out some of the lessons that can be identified from Allied attempts to sink the ship. We will then have time to prepare ourselves for the formal dining-in night in the evening. 2 Captain Friedrich Karl Topp inspects sailors aboard the battleship Tirpitz, 1941. Photo: Public Domain. Battleship Tirpitz under the protection of anti-torpedo nets, Narvik area, July 1942. Photo: Public Domain. 3 Tirpitz Eagle - Staff Ride Phase Briefing Purpose Aim Staff Rides have long been acknowledged 2. The aim of the FD (SR) is the proactive as a highly valuable training tool as well as analysis of past operations from which providing a stimulating and challenging direct application can be made to environment. The concept of the Staff Ride current and future operational was developed as long ago as the 19th environments through the study of: century and since then has been used to appreciate and discuss all elements of the a. The spectrum of military activity. military craft on the ground at sea and in the air. b. The employment and development of Air Power. Tirpitz Eagle provides a rich Staff Ride arena on which to study not only the c. Command and Leadership at all levels. historical framework, but also allows for us to project the lessons identified d. Deployed operations. for current RAF personnel at all levels. Throughout Tirpitz Eagle we will benefit e. The Ethos and Heritage of the RAF. from having a Spec Trg Wg SME on hand throughout the Exercise who will Staff Ride Stand – “Explore, Translate, support the training environment and Project”: provide input for ongoing discussions. 3. This should follow the profile Whilst Stand preparation time may be of “Explore” (tell the history), limited, a poor Stand delivery that shows “Translate” (show how it is obvious lack of work is unacceptable. relevant to today’s RAF) and Method “Project” (look into the future and see what can be learnt from this, Staff Rides – A Staff Ride (SR) compares and how it may affect you or your how we operated in the past to how we role). A Staff Ride Stand should operate now and may do in the future. provoke a group discussion. Definition The post-Stand discussion is at the 1. An RAF Force Development (SR) is heart of a good Staff Ride. Whilst the defined as: Stand presentation presents a body ‘The guided, participatory analysis of of evidence and analysis to the group, selected historical operations at relevant the following group discussion provides locations, in order to develop the moral a vibrant environment that encourages and conceptual components of Air and comment and personal experiences. Fighting Power across the RAF.’ A well-produced Stand may pose a 4 Conduct question to the group at the end of Each Stand shall be delivered in an the main presentation, thus enabling the appropriate location, chosen by the SME. rest of the group to debate. Each Stand It is important that those personnel presentation should last no longer than delivering the Stand are aware of the 25 minutes. It is at the discretion of those physical surroundings of the group; presenting the Stand to apportion time therefore, be conscious of noise and between them – it is advised however obstructions; i.e. a busy road, railway that equal time be given to each part of or inappropriate locations due to the question. If you have been paired distractions. Holding the attention of up with someone else to do a Stand it the group is the responsibility of those is recommended that one of you does delivering the Stand – they are your group. the “Explore” part whilst the other There will be full SME support, however does the “Translate” and “Project” parts. the SME will not play a role during the In answering the question given ensure Stand itself but may assist you in directing that you stick to the question and do not, discussions at the end of the Stand. as often the case, stray into other non- relevant areas. Conclusion Tirpitz Eagle is a tremendous opportunity A good way to start a stand is to set the for all participants to develop on scene of the location – for instance, if numerous levels. The Staff Ride phase is it’s a memorial – what does it signify? designed to run parallel to other activities When was it built? How many names/ at the heart of the exercise and provide burials? Also, don’t forget to read out the an understanding of why we study the question that you have been set so that past. There will be no examination and everyone in the group is fully aware of participants will not be marked on their the subject matter. The use of visual aids performance, however each element is encouraged. This may take the form of of these activities is essential training photographs and especially handouts and and thus must be regarded as so. It is maps – these engage the audience at a disrespectful to the group you are with – deeper level and provide good evidence and more importantly to those who were for you question. Whilst it is tempting to involved in the conflict being studied – use laptops, iPad and other electronic if you do not put the appropriate amount devices for your notes, try and avoid these of effort into your stand. The Staff as they often freeze or in some cases Ride phase is a highly rewarding and have run out of battery. Mobile phones enjoyable element of the week and will are not to be used for notes during the without doubt contribute significantly to Stand presentation. personal development. 5 The German Battleship Tirpitz Seventy-five years ago, the Royal Air Force sank “The Beast”, the German battleship Tirpitz, in a Norwegian Fjord North of the Artic Circle in a precision daylight attack carried out by 617 Sqn and 9 Sqn. This feat, the twenty-sixth planned Allied attack on the ship, is perhaps second only in fame in Royal Air Force history to The Dambusters attack on the Ruhr Dams by 617 Sqn in May 1943. Sister ship to the Bismarck – sunk by the Royal Navy in the North Atlantic in May 1941 – Tirpitz was the heaviest battleship to ever serve in a European Navy and her very existence as a “fleet in being” tied down a disproportionate amount of Allied resources whilst she lived as the “Lonely Queen The German battleship Tirpitz in Norwegian waters. of the North” until she met her end on Photo: Naval History & Heritage Command Photographic 12 November 1944. Department - NH71318 The German battleship Tirpitz in Bogen Bay in Ofotfjord, near Narvik, Norway, circa 1943-1944. Photo: Public Domain. 6 Crewmen on board the battleship, while she was moored in a Norwegian Fjord, circa 1942-44. One of the ship's 380mm (15) gun turrets is trained abeam, and several camouflage floats are in the distance. Photo: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. 7 Schlachtschiff Tirpitz After 29 months of construction in the increasing to 53,500 tons when fully armed, Wilhemshaven Navy Yard the Tirpitz supplied and crewed. She was 253 m long, was launched on 1 April 1939 and had a beam of 36 m with a draft of 10.6 m at was commissioned into service on full load. Its maximum speed was 30 knots 25 February 1941. By using a loophole in (35 mph) and it had a crew of 103 officers the post-World War One London Treaty and 1,962 enlisted men.