List of Allied attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz

The German battleship Tirpitz was attacked on multiple occasions by Allied forces during World War II. While most of the attacks failed to inflict any damage on the battleship, she was placed out of action for a lengthy period following the Operation Source midget submarine attack on 22 September 1943 and for a short period after the Operation Tungsten aircraft carrier strike on 3 April 1944. Tirpitz suffered severe and irreparable damage after being hit by a Tallboy bomb during the Operation Paravane air raid on 15 September 1944, and was sunk with heavy loss of life in the Operation Catechism raid on 12 November that year.

List of attacks

Date Location Allied units Attacking force Damage Allied losses Notes 8/9 October 1940 Wilhelmshaven RAF Bomber Command 17 Hampdens None None Attacked Tirpitz in dry dockMiddlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 90 8/9 January 1941 Wilhelmshaven RAF Bomber Command 32 Wellington, Whitley, Hampdens None None Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 116 29/30 January 1941 Wilhelmshaven RAF Bomber Command 25 Wellingtons, 9 Hampdens None None Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 119 28 February/1 March 1941 Wilhelmshaven RAF Bomber Command 116 Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington, Whitleys None 1 Blenheim 75 reported bombing Wilhelmshaven, no damage recordedMiddlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 128 28/29 May 1941 Kiel RAF Bomber Command 14 Whitleys None 1 Whitley 3 aircraft reached target area, bad weatherMiddlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 158 20/21 June 1941 Kiel RAF Bomber Command 47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirling, 11 Halifax heavy bombers None 2 Wellingtons Bombed KielMiddlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 165Bishop (2012), p. 5328/29 January 1942 Åsenfjorden Royal Air Force 9 Halifaxs, 7 Stirlings None 1 Stirling Night bombing attack.Middlebrook and Everitt (1985), p. 233Roskill (1961), p. 170 9 March 1942 At sea off the Lofoten islands 12 Albacore torpedo bombers None 2 Albacores Attacked during Operation Sportpalast 30/31 March 1942 Fættenfjord Royal Air Force 33 Halifaxes None 5 Halifaxes Most failed to find target on account of bad weather. 27/28 April 1942 Fættenfjord Royal Air Force 31 Halifaxes, 12 Lancasters None 5 aircraft 28/29 April 1942 Fættenfjord Royal Air Force 23 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters None 2 aircraft 31 October 1942 Trondheimsfjord Royal Navy 2 Chariot manned torpedoes None 2 Chariots, 1 trawler Operation Title failed, mechanical problemsBennett (2012), p. 13 22 September 1943 Kaafjord Royal Navy 4 X Craft Serious damage 3 X-craft, 3 killed, 6 captured Operation SourceBennett (2012), pp. 13–14 10/11 February 1944 Kaafjord Soviet Air Forces 15 aircraft None None 4 aircraft found targetBishop (2012), p. 295 3 April 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Searcher, HMS Emperor, HMS Pursuer, HMS Fencer 40 Barracuda dive bombers, 80 fighters 14 bomb hits and 1 near miss (4 1600 lb bombs and 11 500lb bombs) and strafing, superficial damage, 122 killed, 316 wounded 3 Barracudas, 1 Hellcat, 9 killed Operation Tungsten 24 April 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Searcher, HMS Emperor, HMS Pursuer, HMS Striker. N/A None None Operation Planet, cancelled, bad weather 15 May 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious. 27 Barracudas, 28 Corsairs, 4 Seafires, 4 Wildcats. None None Operation Brawn cancelled, bad weather 28 May 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Victorious, HMS Furious. N/A None None Operation Tiger Claw, cancelled, bad weather 17 July 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Furious, HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable. 44 Barracudas, 40 fighters None 1 Barracuda, 1 Corsair Operation MascotRoskill (1961), p. 171 22 August 1944 (am) Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Furious, HMS Nabob, HMS Trumpeter 44 Barracudas, 53 fighters None 3 aircraft Operation Goodwood 22 August 1944 (pm) Kaafjord Home Fleet carrier HMS HMS Indefatigable 14 fighters None None Operation Goodwood 24 August 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Furious. 33 Barracudas, 44 fighters (10 Hellcats, 24 Corsairs, 10 Fireflies) 2 bomb hits (1x1,600lb, 1x500lb), minor damage 6 aircraft Operation Goodwood 29 August 1944 Kaafjord Home Fleet carriers: HMS Formidable, HMS Indefatigable. 26 Barracudas, 41 fighters (7 Hellcats, 17 Corsairs and 10 Fireflies, with 7 Seafires used for diversionary attacks). None 2 aircraft Operation Goodwood 15 September 1944 Kaafjord 9 Squadron, 617 Squadron 28 Lancasters 1 bomb hit (1x12,000lb Tallboy), severe damage None Operation Paravane 29 October 1944 Tromsø 9 Squadron, 617 Squadron 38 Lancasters Damage from 1 near miss (1x12,000lb Tallboy) 1 Lancaster Operation Obviate 12 November 1944 Tromsø 9 Squadron, 617 Squadron 32 Lancasters Uncertain, probably 3 hits and 2 near misses (all 12,000lb Tallboy bombs). Tirpitz sunk, 950–1,204 killed 1 Lancaster Operation Catechism

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