91�ȱ�

My father's account of HMS Belfast and the Bombing of the Tirpitz
[All spellings are as in the original document]

30th March 1944
A nice day with warm sunshine. We put to sea at 1110 and with us is the “Duke of York” flying Admiral Fraser’s flag, “Anson” with the V.A.2 aboard, “Victorious”, one of our largest Aircraft Carriers and an escort of five destroyers. Our job is to shadow the convoy which consists of 50 ships and has an escort of 3 cruisers with Admiral Hamilton aboard the “Diadem” and about 20 Destroyers with Captain “D.17” and captain”D.4” and captain Walker. During the afternoon the “Duke” and “Anson” fired full broadsides and we fired our 4” and close-range. The Comander has told us that the “Tirpitz” may be out.

31st March
All day we have travelled at 28 knots. We went to E.A.S. at 1040 and while we were there a U-Boat was reported in the vicinity. Nothing happened though. It is colder today and frequent snow-storms. At 1915 a message was received reporting the sinking of a U-Boat by Captain Walker. That makes his total up to 18. 4 Stukas were shot down by escort ships with the convoy. We crossed over the Arctic Circle about 2300. Fairly calm all day.

1st April
At 1000 enemy aircraft were reported to be 35 miles away. “Victorious” sent up 2 “Seafires” to intercept them but they had gone. Continuous snow and hail and very cold. At 2330 a U-Boat surfaced off our Port Beam and destroyers were too late to ram it. 4 Depth Charges were dropped but they never got it. We “stood-to” waiting to open up with our 4”. It has been very calm today.

2nd April
We put the clocks on 1 hour at 0200 and White Watch only had a 3 hr “middle”. At 1200 our force was joined by the “Furious” which is a large A/C. Carrier, “Diadem”, “Jamaica” “Sheffield” cruisers and 4 other A/C Carriers with an escort of 7 Destroyers. I have never seen such a Fleet at sea before. We put the clocks back 1 hour at 1800. I dont know why! We were informed tonight that 42 “Baracudas” were going out at dawn tomorrow to bomb the “Tirpitz” which is anchored in Alten Fiord, N. Norway. Destroyers with the convoy sank another U-Boat today and bought down 1 more plane. So far all attempts to attack the convoy have failed and we have got no damage or casualties. We are getting well north now and should soon be leaving the convoy which has been 70 miles North of us.

3rd April
We went to E.A.S. at 0400 and it was broad daylight. “Victorious” and “Furious” are about ½ mile off our Starboard Quarter. 21 “Baracudas” took of between 0415 and 0430 and reached their objective at 0515. We are about 50 miles off the Norweigan coast. The second wave of “Baracudas” took off, off the “Furious” at 0515. All told there were about 60 fighter escort which were off the other carriers. All aircraft were back by 0745 and the attack was not a great success although several hits were scored. They were ready for it. A big cloud of smoke hid the target and some of the planes brought their bombs back. We lost 3 “Barracudas” over the target and one was lost in taking off. Survivors were picked up by a destroyer. One of the planes crash-landed on returning. Fell out from E.A.S. at 1100. At 1900 the Destroyer (G73) came alongside for oil. 200 tons was pumped aboard in just over 2 hours and we were doing about 15 knots all the time. At 1100 we could see the sun shining on the Norweigan coast which was 50 miles away. The first time I have ever seen it. The bombing of the “Tirpitz” was on the six and nine news. Aircraft are going out to attack it again tomorrow. Up until 1900 the convoy has beaten off all attacks made by U. Boats and aircraft and it has passed Bear Island. At 1200 the “Duke of York” and 2 Destroyers left us. They are going to escort a convoy which is returning from Russia to England.

4th April
The raid which should have been carried out was cancelled. The Captain told us that he had got a message from the C. in C. saying that yesterday’s raid was a shattering success. More will be released on reaching harbour. On the news this morning the announcer said “The raid is believed to have been carried out by Carrier-based planes and that there were long stories about it in all the London newspapers”. All day we have been holding a South Westerly course. Low cloud and calm. At 1310 the Captain spoke again. “I have just received a message from V.A. 2” I will give it briefly. The “Tirpitz” received 17 hits. 3 of them were 1600 lb. Bombs. 2 large explosions were seen and fierce fires were started. She was shifting berths when the first planes arrived. The hits were, 3 forecastle, 1 “B” Turrett, 2 Bridge, 3 amidships, 2 “Y” Turrett, 3 After superstructure, 3 right aft. The Captain said also that there was no German fighter opposition. We lost 2 Baracudas not 3. Also 1 fighter. The message which was signalled when the planes returned said 3 were missing. He finished off by saying “That’s all. Good enough.” I quite agree. We put the clocks on 1 hour at 23:30.

5th April
Messages of congratulation have been coming in all day. The Kings message reads HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CONCERNED. At 0215 this morning we saw a huge flash on the horizon. 4 mins after that a message was picked up saying that a sub was in the vicinity and that Destroyers were looking for it. An hour later a message was received to say that it couldn’t be found. No-one seems to know what the flash was. Nice day and calm until 2000 when it turned up a bit rough. On the 9 p.m. news a full account of the raid was given. We were classed as “units of the 91�ȱ� Fleet”. There were no names of ships given.

6th April
A bit rough this morning but much milder. At 1000 the Comander told us that the Convoy had arrived safely at Kola Inlet and the C in C had sent congratulations to Admiral Hamilton. So far as is known 2 U. Boats and 5 aircraft have been destroyed. It may be more as no signals have been received since the 3rd. Turned out to be a very nice day. Fleet exercises were carried out and “dummy” torpedo attacks by “Baracudas”. Very interesting. Entered harbour at 1615 and dropped hook at 1640. We were at sea 7 days 4 hours 30 mins. I have enjoyed it very much and the mail has just come aboard.

E. E. Reeds
17.30. 6th April ‘44

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