The Battle Of North Cape

[The Sailor]

HMS BELFAST and the SCHARNHORST.

Many have seen HMS Belfast tied up alongside in the Thames, and many have been on board her to have a look as I have.
Back about 64 years ago on the 25th December 1943 the German Battlecruiser Scharnhorst had sailed in company with her destroyer screen to attack two Arctic convoys as they passed the northern tip of Norway.
HMS Belfast was present that day as a major unit in defence of the convoys.
HMS Belfast together with Sheffield harried the huge ship towards the waiting Duke of York, where it met it's end.
Here is the story of that action. The Battle of the North Cape.


http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00e004005

Other pics. Belfast sails under Tower Bridge and Belfast at her berth in the Thames today.

[tim lewin]

you sound as though you might be interested in my project to raise funding in Russia, where i earn most of my modest crust, to reconstruct the masts of Belfast to comemorate the 65th anniversary of the battle of North Cape. I have made a pdf begging brief whch we tranlated into a Russian language DVD but unfortunately its too big to attach, if anyone might like to see it please ask and I'll send it direct as email atttachment.
More if anyone is interested.
tim

[The Sailor]

Raise funding in Russia for a British ship? Who would be interested there?

[tim lewin]

The Battle of North Cape was the closing period for Belfast on the Kola run, she had been more or less a constant escort covering force for the previous 2 years for which she was awarded "Arctic" as a battle honour in adition to the North Cape one. The Russians are very interested in the convoy history and treat our veterans rather better than we do, the crux of the plan is to replace the terminally rusted masts with replicas built from Russian steel, in a russian yard (next to Archangel) and deliver them here in a Russian ship. All very symbolic. Most of the time Belfast was on the Kola run she was escorted by Tribals in both close and covering capacity. The Russians have preserved their own Belfast, the cruiser Aurora, from the first war, at St. Petesburg. For Russians, anything to do with the Patriotic War is of grweat interest.
tim

[The Sailor]

Well I am really surprised at this information. I guess my surprise stems from the Soviet attitude during WW2, when suspicious and threatening members of the Soviet army surrounded the arriving ships and made sure the sailors weren't allowed ashore to see anything.
They say the closest thing they ever got to a thank you for risking their lives was a grunt from the Russian bear for more,

Thank you for this explaination Tim, as I said it is the first I have ever heard of any thawing towards proper relations with the West like this coming out of Russia.
Maybe we may even see Russia joining the ECU next.

[herakles]

A stirring story indeed.

And it underscores yet again the huge contribution British Intelligence made to the successful outcome of the war. For example, I have heard it said that Bletchley was the biggest single factor that determined our success in WW2.

I know little of the role of intelligence in WW1 but the same can be said to explain Wellington's great success in the Peninsula war. They broke the French codes so they were always one step ahead of the enemy.

I have a question: how could Scharnhorst have "lost contact with her destroyer escort"? Their role was clearly pivotal. On the surface, this sounds to be most incompetent. Or was it part of the British design? Part of the battle plan? Was it engineered? Or was it just damned good luck that it happened?

[Batstiger]

If I remember correctly the Scharnhorst herself dispatched the destroyers prior to the engagement owing to the deteriorating weather conditions. I have the book but would have to re read part of it to confirm that.

[Alan B]

And here she is when she came home to Pompey for a refit.

[The Sailor]

Funny to see it in colour Alan. Doesn't seem right.
I always think that WW2 was fought in black and white and the world didn't get coloured until about 1960.

I don't know about anyone else but somehow warships look real in black and white and coloured photos seem only suitable for a modern world of container ships and cranes.

I think women look better in black and white too.

Colour ruined it all although I concede that there are one or two walking around today that I don't mind looking at.

[herakles]

Just maybe re black and white. Personally it's the medium I like to use when photographing things. Until I hand the film in to be processed. You have to mortgage the house to pay for it!

:eek:

[The Sailor]

Bit off topic for the Battle of North Cape Richard mate, but aren't you into digital cameras yet. My Pentax K1000 went out the window five years ago.
By the way, sorry your sig pic isn't fixed yet. It should be soon. Haven't seen Kc for a few days.

[Alan B]

I'll agree with that sailor. There's more atmosphere in black and white.
Alan

[The Sailor]

Especially if you are taking pictures like this Alan.

[herakles]

I remember watching "World War 2" in colour. Channel 4? BBC2? Forget. I must say seeing war footage in colour was most odd.

:rolleyes:

[Batstiger]

Let's keep a bit of order guys and stick with the thread!

Some overall pictures of the Scharnhorst, pics 7 and 8 also show Gunther Prien's U.47 returning to Keil after sinking the Royal Oak at Scapa Flow 14th October 1939.

[The Sailor]

Gee you're a spoil sport Bob. All we were doing was looking a pics of Ingrid Bergman for a minute.
Great pics though, especially the Scharnhorst. Big bugger wasn't it? Needed getting.

Hey, how did U-47 get in on the act? Think I might do an article and you can put it in there. Gotta keep on topic Bob.
Graeme

[Batstiger]

Let's make a deal Graeme, I'll help keep the ****** away if you'll stick to the thread.

Bob.

[The Sailor]

Actually some of these sales guys could come in handy Bob. I am really interested in the ointment that makes you bigger.
Another one just joined. See if he has a cheaper brand.