There was a nice story in my paper today about a wartime German Kriegsmarine Captain recommending a Royal Navy officer for the Victoria Cross. In 1940 RN destroyer "HMS "Glowworm" found herself up against the German cruiser "Admiral Hipper". Vastly outgunned "Glowworm" engaged the vastly bigger ship with her torpedo armament but the attack failed. She then turned into the German cruiser and deliberately rammed her at high speed, severely damaging the cruiser but, unfortunately, sinking herself. Many of the destroyers crewmen were saved but her C.O. Lt.Cmdr. Gerard Roope was not amongst them. Greatly impressed with this officer's bravery, the "Hippers" commander, Captain Hellmuth Heye, wrote to the Admiralty via the Red Cross recommending Roope for a high gallantry award and Roope was granted a posthumous V.C.
It's unclear whether or not the ramming was deliberate. The senior surviving officer reported that Glowworm had lost rudder control some time before the collision.
On the other hand the fighting had to have got very close for Glowworm to have rammed in any shape or form. Just one of a long line of bad British Destroyer related experences for the Germans
could you imagaine those 8 inch guns hitting you at 300 yards or less? What do you reckon is the closest the main guns could engage a destroyer as I assue the guns would have problems with elevation at those close ranges FNG
The guns I would imagine could drop as low as 0 degrees but depending roll of the ship I'd guess that minumum range would be under a couple of hundred metres.
Gun elevation would not typically be the limiting factor, but the ability to track during rapid change in bearing.
Indeed. The Kriegsmarine must have wondered what the RN was giving their DD skippers in order to make them do such things!
Narcotics for brave men ? The Kriegsmarine may well have wondered what the RN was giving their DD skippers, but suspicions as to what promps British bravery have long been around. After the Light Brigade charged the Russian guns at Balaclava in the Crimean war, the Russian General commanding insisted that any British cavalry captives from this charge be brought before him. He then closely smelled every man's breath for signs of intoxicating liquor ! There were none !!. In the normal course of events this would have been surprising, given the average soldiers penchant for drinking anything that may intoxicate him, but the British soldiers serving in the Crimea were badly supplied with everything - including liquor ! BG
gives the charge of the light brigade some more fame. I wonder how famous the charge would have become if all the Brits were drunk. probably ending in the catalogue "most stupid attacks" and soon forgotten. but that's off topic. Back to operation Weserubung. IIRC the Glowworm first encounterd the german destroyer Hans Ludemann, who ran off at full speed once Glowworm shooted a light flare for recognition in the air. So much for german bravery on a destroyer
Loss of rudder control ? I think not. Tiornu, Although I have never heard it said that the "Glowworm" had lost rudder control prior to the ramming. It cannot, of course, be discounted. However, even with the loss of a rudder it probably would have been just as easy for the "Glowworms" captain to prevent a ramming as it was to undertake one and vice versa. Therefore, given the known nature and temperament of the Royal Navy's destroyer captains, I'd incline to the view that the ramming WAS deliberate. Either way, as we know, it sufficiently impressed the German captain to go to the trouble of making his recommendation for an award ! BG
German destroyer "runs away" I most certainly wasn't aware of the "Glowworm's" initial encounter with the German destroyer and that the German vessel allegedly "ran away". I wouldn't be so sure of that being so, however, since German destroyers were, I believe, substantially bigger than their British countrparts and I don't think for one minute that their captains were any the less aggressive than those of the Royal Navy. Perhaps the German vessel was low on fuel or ammunition ? Maybe a reader will kindly enlighten us. Incidentally, old Royal Navy hands refer to the Navy as the "Andrew". I know my Father did when talking with his shipmates. Has anyone else heard of the Navy's use of that name or knows why it is used ? BG
The Andrew Thank you, Ossian, for your kind efforts in researching the Royal Navy's nickname of the "Andrew". As has oft been remarked, it matters not if one doesn't know the answer to the question, just as long as one knows where to go to get it ! BG
That would seem logical. Bosworth, the german destroyer Hans Ludeman wasn't short on Ammo, don't know for the fuel. But the German high command had orderd that the ships had to do their transport/escort duties first and then wae war against the RN. Ludeman took off to regroup with the Hipper and the rest of the destroyers to make sure that the Glowworm would be dealt without the loss of german ships.
