Operation Paravane

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Operation Paravane
Part of World War II
Date September 11-17, 1944 Location Kaa Fjord, Norway Result target disabled
Belligerents
RAF Bomber Command	Kriegsmarine
Commanders
	KzS Wolf Junge
Strength
27 Avro Lancasters	German battleship Tirpitz, fixed anti-aircraft positions

Operation Paravane was the attack carried out by RAF Bomber Command on September 15, 1944 against the German battleship Tirpitz in the Norwegian Kaa Fjord.

Contents 1 Background 2 Operation 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 References and Notes

[edit] Background

Several attempts had been made to destroy or incapacitate the Tirpitz while she was based in the Norwegian fjords. From there she threatened important convoys carrying war materiel to the Soviet Union.

[edit] Operation

On September 11, 38 Avro Lancaster bombers of No. 9 Squadron RAF and No. 617 Squadron RAF, and de Havilland Mosquito from No. 5 Group RAF that would carry out weather reconnaissance, flew to to a temporary base at Yagodnik^{[citation needed]} in Northern Russia. Of the aircraft, one returned to Britain and 6 crash-landed in Russia; their crews were not seriously hurt.

For the planned attack on 15 September, 20 Lancasters were loaded with Tallboy bombs, 1 Lancaster was fitted for photo reconnaissance, and 6 (or 7 - the records are not clear) carried several 400-500 lb Johnny Walker mines; a type of bomb developed for attacking ships in shallow water.

The smoke screening equipment that was normally used to cover the Tirpitz were late in starting in response to the surprise attack. One Tallboy hit near the bow and caused considerable damage.

[edit] Aftermath

The bombing shock from the operation damaged the Tirpitz's engines, and the Germans converted the ship for use as a semi-static heavy artillery battery.

All of the Lancasters returned safely to the airfield in Russia, but while returning to Lossiemouth 2 days later, Flying Officer F Levy's aircraft crashed in Norway with 11 men on board.^[1] .

RAF Bomber Command also bombed the Tirpitz on two further occasions; Operation Obviate and the successful Operation Catechism.

[edit] See also

• [German_battleship_Tirpitz#British_attempts_to_destroy_the_Tirpitz]

[edit] References and Notes