Portal:Royal Navy/Selected battle/3

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The Battle of the North Cape, was a naval battle of World War II that occurred on December 26, 1943. Ships of the Royal Navy engaged and sank the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst off Norway's North Cape. The outcome of the battle demonstrated the vital importance of radar in modern naval warfare. While the Scharnhorst outgunned her opponents - with the exception of HMS Duke of York - the early loss of radar-assisted fire control combined with the problem of inclement weather left her at a significant disadvantage. The battle was the last significant engagement of the Atlantic Campaign, and essentially ended the threat posed by German surface ships.

The battle may also be the northernmost in the history of naval warfare.