List of Allied attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:47:22 AM 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
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
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
Attacking force
40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters
Damage
15 bomb hits 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
Attacking force
N/A
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Planet, cancelled, bad weather
27 Barracudas, 36 fighters
27 Barracudas, 36 fighters
Date
15 May 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet
Attacking force
27 Barracudas, 36 fighters
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
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
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
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
Attacking force
14 fighters
Damage
None
Allied losses
None
Notes
Operation Goodwood
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters
Date
24 August 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet
Attacking force
33 Barracudas, 44 fighters
Damage
2 bomb hits, minor damage
Allied losses
6 aircraft
Notes
Operation Goodwood
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters
Date
29 August 1944
Location
Kaafjord
Allied units
Home Fleet
Attacking force
26 Barracudas, 41 fighters
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, 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
Near miss
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
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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | 40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters | 15 bomb hits and strafing, superficial damage, 122 killed, 316 wounded | 3 Barracudas, 1 Hellcat, 9 killed | Operation Tungsten |
| 24 April 1944 | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | N/A | None | None | Operation Planet, cancelled, bad weather |
| 15 May 1944 | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | 27 Barracudas, 36 fighters | None | None | Operation Brawn cancelled, bad weather |
| 28 May 1944 | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | N/A | None | None | Operation Tiger Claw, cancelled, bad weather |
| 17 July 1944 | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | 44 Barracudas, 40 fighters | None | 1 Barracuda, 1 Corsair | Operation Mascot |
| 22 August 1944 (am) | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | 44 Barracudas, 53 fighters | None | 3 aircraft | Operation Goodwood |
| 22 August 1944 (pm) | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | 14 fighters | None | None | Operation Goodwood |
| 24 August 1944 | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | 33 Barracudas, 44 fighters | 2 bomb hits, minor damage | 6 aircraft | Operation Goodwood |
| 29 August 1944 | Kaafjord | Home Fleet | 26 Barracudas, 41 fighters | None | 2 aircraft | Operation Goodwood |
| 15 September 1944 | Kaafjord | 9 Squadron, 617 Squadron | 28 Lancasters | 1 bomb, severe damage | None | Operation Paravane |
| 29 October 1944 | Tromsø | 9 Squadron, 617 Squadron | 38 Lancasters | Near miss | 1 Lancaster | Operation Obviate |
| 12 November 1944 | Tromsø | 9 Squadron, 617 Squadron | 32 Lancasters | Tirpitz sunk, 950–1,204 killed | 1 Lancaster | Operation Catechism |
References
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 90
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 116
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 119
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 128
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 158
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 165
- Bishop (2012), p. 53
- Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 233
- Roskill (1961), p. 170
- Bennett (2012), p. 13
- Bennett (2012), pp. 13–14
- Bishop (2012), p. 295
- Roskill (1961), p. 171