Topzle Topzle

List of Allied attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz

Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:54:43 PM Wikipedia source

The German battleship Tirpitz was attacked on multiple occasions by Allied forces during World War II. While most of the attacks failed to inflict any damage on the battleship, she was placed out of action for a lengthy period following the Operation Source midget submarine attack on 22 September 1943 and for a short period after the Operation Tungsten aircraft carrier strike on 3 April 1944. Tirpitz suffered severe and irreparable damage after being hit by a Tallboy bomb during the Operation Paravane air raid on 15 September 1944, and was sunk with heavy loss of life in the Operation Catechism raid on 12 November that year.

Tables

· List of attacks
17 Hampdens
17 Hampdens
Date
8/9 October 1940
Location
Wilhelmshaven
Allied units
RAF Bomber Command
Attacking force
17 Hampdens
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Attacked Tirpitz in dry dock
32 Wellington, Whitley, Hampdens
32 Wellington, Whitley, Hampdens
Date
8/9 January 1941
Location
Wilhelmshaven
Allied units
RAF Bomber Command
Attacking force
32 Wellington, Whitley, Hampdens
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
25 Wellingtons, 9 Hampdens
25 Wellingtons, 9 Hampdens
Date
29/30 January 1941
Location
Wilhelmshaven
Allied units
RAF Bomber Command
Attacking force
25 Wellingtons, 9 Hampdens
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
116 Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington, Whitleys
116 Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington, Whitleys
Date
28 February/1 March 1941
Location
Wilhelmshaven
Allied units
RAF Bomber Command
Attacking force
116 Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington, Whitleys
Damage
None
Allied losses
1 Blenheim
Notes
75 reported bombing Wilhelmshaven, no damage recorded
14 Whitleys
14 Whitleys
Date
28/29 May 1941
Location
Kiel
Allied units
RAF Bomber Command
Attacking force
14 Whitleys
Damage
None
Allied losses
1 Whitley
Notes
3 aircraft reached target area, bad weather
47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirling, 11 Halifax heavy bombers
47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirling, 11 Halifax heavy bombers
Date
20/21 June 1941
Location
Kiel
Allied units
RAF Bomber Command
Attacking force
47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirling, 11 Halifax heavy bombers
Damage
None
Allied losses
2 Wellingtons
Notes
Bombed Kiel
9 Halifaxs, 7 Stirlings
9 Halifaxs, 7 Stirlings
Date
28/29 January 1942
Location
Åsenfjorden
Allied units
Royal Air Force
Attacking force
9 Halifaxs, 7 Stirlings
Damage
None
Allied losses
1 Stirling
Notes
Night bombing attack.
12 Albacore torpedo bombers
12 Albacore torpedo bombers
Date
9 March 1942
Location
At sea off the Lofoten islands
Allied units
HMS Victorious
Attacking force
12 Albacore torpedo bombers
Damage
None
Allied losses
2 Albacores
Notes
Attacked during Operation Sportpalast
33 Halifaxes
33 Halifaxes
Date
30/31 March 1942
Location
Fættenfjord
Allied units
Royal Air Force
Attacking force
33 Halifaxes
Damage
None
Allied losses
5 Halifaxes
Notes
Most failed to find target on account of bad weather.
31 Halifaxes, 12 Lancasters
31 Halifaxes, 12 Lancasters
Date
27/28 April 1942
Location
Fættenfjord
Allied units
Royal Air Force
Attacking force
31 Halifaxes, 12 Lancasters
Damage
None
Allied losses
5 aircraft
23 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters
23 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters
Date
28/29 April 1942
Location
Fættenfjord
Allied units
Royal Air Force
Attacking force
23 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters
Damage
None
Allied losses
2 aircraft
2 Chariot manned torpedoes
2 Chariot manned torpedoes
Date
31 October 1942
Location
Trondheimsfjord
Allied units
Royal Navy
Attacking force
2 Chariot manned torpedoes
Damage
None
Allied losses
2 Chariots, 1 trawler
Notes
Operation Title failed, mechanical problems
4 X Craft
4 X Craft
Date
22 September 1943
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Royal Navy
Attacking force
4 X Craft
Damage
Serious damage
Allied losses
3 X-craft, 3 killed, 6 captured
Notes
Operation Source
15 aircraft
15 aircraft
Date
10/11 February 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Soviet Air Forces
Attacking force
15 aircraft
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
4 aircraft found target
40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters
40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters
Date
3 April 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Searcher, HMS Emperor, HMS Pursuer, HMS Fencer
Attacking force
40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters
Damage
14 bomb hits and 1 near miss (4 1600 lb bombs and 11 500lb bombs) and strafing, superficial damage, 122 killed, 316 wounded
Allied losses
3 Barracudas, 1 Hellcat, 9 killed
Notes
Operation Tungsten
N/A
N/A
Date
24 April 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Searcher, HMS Emperor, HMS Pursuer, HMS Striker.
Attacking force
N/A
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Planet, cancelled, bad weather
27 Barracudas, 28 Corsairs, 4 Seafires, 4 Wildcats.
27 Barracudas, 28 Corsairs, 4 Seafires, 4 Wildcats.
Date
15 May 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious.
Attacking force
27 Barracudas, 28 Corsairs, 4 Seafires, 4 Wildcats.
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Brawn cancelled, bad weather
N/A
N/A
Date
28 May 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious.
Attacking force
N/A
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Tiger Claw, cancelled, bad weather
44 Barracudas, 40 fighters
44 Barracudas, 40 fighters
Date
17 July 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Furious, HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable.
Attacking force
44 Barracudas, 40 fighters
Damage
None
Allied losses
1 Barracuda, 1 Corsair
Notes
Operation Mascot
44 Barracudas, 53 fighters
44 Barracudas, 53 fighters
Date
22 August 1944 (am)
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Furious, HMS Nabob, HMS Trumpeter
Attacking force
44 Barracudas, 53 fighters
Damage
None
Allied losses
3 aircraft
Notes
Operation Goodwood
14 fighters
14 fighters
Date
22 August 1944 (pm)
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carrier HMS HMS Indefatigable
Attacking force
14 fighters
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Goodwood
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters (10 Hellcats, 24 Corsairs, 10 Fireflies)
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters (10 Hellcats, 24 Corsairs, 10 Fireflies)
Date
24 August 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Furious.
Attacking force
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters (10 Hellcats, 24 Corsairs, 10 Fireflies)
Damage
2 bomb hits (1x1,600lb, 1x500lb), minor damage
Allied losses
6 aircraft
Notes
Operation Goodwood
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters (7 Hellcats, 17 Corsairs and 10 Fireflies, with 7 Seafires used for diversionary attacks).
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters (7 Hellcats, 17 Corsairs and 10 Fireflies, with 7 Seafires used for diversionary attacks).
Date
29 August 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable.
Attacking force
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters (7 Hellcats, 17 Corsairs and 10 Fireflies, with 7 Seafires used for diversionary attacks).
Damage
None
Allied losses
2 aircraft
Notes
Operation Goodwood
28 Lancasters
28 Lancasters
Date
15 September 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
9 Squadron, 617 Squadron
Attacking force
28 Lancasters
Damage
1 bomb hit (1x12,000lb Tallboy), severe damage
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Paravane
38 Lancasters
38 Lancasters
Date
29 October 1944
Location
Tromsø
Allied units
9 Squadron, 617 Squadron
Attacking force
38 Lancasters
Damage
Damage from 1 near miss (1x12,000lb Tallboy)
Allied losses
1 Lancaster
Notes
Operation Obviate
32 Lancasters
32 Lancasters
Date
12 November 1944
Location
Tromsø
Allied units
9 Squadron, 617 Squadron
Attacking force
32 Lancasters
Damage
Uncertain, probably 3 hits and 2 near misses (all 12,000lb Tallboy bombs). Tirpitz sunk, 950–1,204 killed
Allied losses
1 Lancaster
Notes
Operation Catechism
Date
Location
Allied units
Attacking force
Damage
Allied losses
Notes
8/9 October 1940
Wilhelmshaven
RAF Bomber Command
17 Hampdens
None
None
Attacked Tirpitz in dry dock
8/9 January 1941
Wilhelmshaven
RAF Bomber Command
32 Wellington, Whitley, Hampdens
None
None
29/30 January 1941
Wilhelmshaven
RAF Bomber Command
25 Wellingtons, 9 Hampdens
None
None
28 February/1 March 1941
Wilhelmshaven
RAF Bomber Command
116 Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington, Whitleys
None
1 Blenheim
75 reported bombing Wilhelmshaven, no damage recorded
28/29 May 1941
Kiel
RAF Bomber Command
14 Whitleys
None
1 Whitley
3 aircraft reached target area, bad weather
20/21 June 1941
Kiel
RAF Bomber Command
47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirling, 11 Halifax heavy bombers
None
2 Wellingtons
Bombed Kiel
28/29 January 1942
Åsenfjorden
Royal Air Force
9 Halifaxs, 7 Stirlings
None
1 Stirling
Night bombing attack.
9 March 1942
At sea off the Lofoten islands
HMS Victorious
12 Albacore torpedo bombers
None
2 Albacores
Attacked during Operation Sportpalast
30/31 March 1942
Fættenfjord
Royal Air Force
33 Halifaxes
None
5 Halifaxes
Most failed to find target on account of bad weather.
27/28 April 1942
Fættenfjord
Royal Air Force
31 Halifaxes, 12 Lancasters
None
5 aircraft
28/29 April 1942
Fættenfjord
Royal Air Force
23 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters
None
2 aircraft
31 October 1942
Trondheimsfjord
Royal Navy
2 Chariot manned torpedoes
None
2 Chariots, 1 trawler
Operation Title failed, mechanical problems
22 September 1943
Kaafjord
Royal Navy
4 X Craft
Serious damage
3 X-craft, 3 killed, 6 captured
Operation Source
10/11 February 1944
Kaafjord
Soviet Air Forces
15 aircraft
None
None
4 aircraft found target
3 April 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Searcher, HMS Emperor, HMS Pursuer, HMS Fencer
40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters
14 bomb hits and 1 near miss (4 1600 lb bombs and 11 500lb bombs) and strafing, superficial damage, 122 killed, 316 wounded
3 Barracudas, 1 Hellcat, 9 killed
Operation Tungsten
24 April 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Searcher, HMS Emperor, HMS Pursuer, HMS Striker.
N/A
None
None
Operation Planet, cancelled, bad weather
15 May 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious.
27 Barracudas, 28 Corsairs, 4 Seafires, 4 Wildcats.
None
None
Operation Brawn cancelled, bad weather
28 May 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious.
N/A
None
None
Operation Tiger Claw, cancelled, bad weather
17 July 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Furious, HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable.
44 Barracudas, 40 fighters
None
1 Barracuda, 1 Corsair
Operation Mascot
22 August 1944 (am)
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Furious, HMS Nabob, HMS Trumpeter
44 Barracudas, 53 fighters
None
3 aircraft
Operation Goodwood
22 August 1944 (pm)
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carrier HMS HMS Indefatigable
14 fighters
None
None
Operation Goodwood
24 August 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Furious.
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters (10 Hellcats, 24 Corsairs, 10 Fireflies)
2 bomb hits (1x1,600lb, 1x500lb), minor damage
6 aircraft
Operation Goodwood
29 August 1944
Kaafjord
Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable.
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters (7 Hellcats, 17 Corsairs and 10 Fireflies, with 7 Seafires used for diversionary attacks).
None
2 aircraft
Operation Goodwood
15 September 1944
Kaafjord
9 Squadron, 617 Squadron
28 Lancasters
1 bomb hit (1x12,000lb Tallboy), severe damage
None
Operation Paravane
29 October 1944
Tromsø
9 Squadron, 617 Squadron
38 Lancasters
Damage from 1 near miss (1x12,000lb Tallboy)
1 Lancaster
Operation Obviate
12 November 1944
Tromsø
9 Squadron, 617 Squadron
32 Lancasters
Uncertain, probably 3 hits and 2 near misses (all 12,000lb Tallboy bombs). Tirpitz sunk, 950–1,204 killed
1 Lancaster
Operation Catechism

References

  1. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 90
  2. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 116
  3. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 119
  4. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 128
  5. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 158
  6. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 165
  7. Bishop (2012), p. 53
  8. Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 233
  9. Roskill (1961), p. 170
  10. Sink the Tirpitz!
  11. Bennett (2012), p. 13
  12. Bennett (2012), pp. 13–14
  13. Bishop (2012), p. 295
  14. Roskill (1961), p. 171
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.