Operation Catechism

This article is about the RAF Bomber Command operation. For a description of the target, see German battleship Tirpitz.

Operation Catechism
Part of Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)
Capsized German battleship Tirpitz after Operation Catechism
Date November 12, 1944 Location Norway Result British victory Tirpitz sunk
Belligerents
RAF Bomber Command	Kriegsmarine Luftwaffe
Commanders and leaders
Group Captain James Brian Tait	KzS Robert Weber (KIA) Major Heinrich Ehrler
Strength
31 Avro Lancasters	German battleship Tirpitz (Bismarck class battleship)
Casualties and losses
1 bomber damaged	1 battleship sunk 1,000 KIA/MIA

Operation Catechism was the last of nine attempts to sink or sabotage the Kriegsmarine battleship Tirpitz during World War II. On November 12, 1944, the RAF Bomber Command dispatched 30 Avro Lancaster heavy bombers from No. 9 Squadron RAF and No. 617 Squadron RAF (including a film unit aircraft from No. 463 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force) from RAF Lossiemouth to the Tirpitz's mooring in Tromsø, Norway; each one equipped with a Tallboy bomb. At least two bombs (one source says three)^[1] hit the Tirpitz, which suffered a violent internal explosion. The battleship capsized and remained bottom upwards (one source says the Tirpitz sank).^[1] Approximately 1,000 of the 1,900 men on board were killed or injured and one No. 9 Squadron RAF Lancaster was severely damaged by flak; it landed safely in neutral Sweden with its crew unhurt.^[2] The final sinking of the battleship Tirpitz is attributable to 617 Squadron and the bomb dropped by the Commanding Officer, Group Captain Tait. On 12 November 2009 the attack was re-enacted in a competition between No. 9 and 617 Squadrons at Wainfleet Air Weapons Range, again 617 Squadron proved to be victorious.

The destruction of the Tirpitz meant that the threat from German surface ship attack against the Allied Artic convoys supplying the Soviet Union was considerably lessened, and several British capital ships could therefore be moved from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

References and notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "Tirpitz, November 12, 1944". Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. UK Crown. http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/tirpitz.html. Retrieved 2007-05-24. 
2. ^ "Campaign Diary". Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. UK Crown. http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/nov44.html. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 

RAF Flight Lieutenant John Leavitt (center) and crew prior to taking off on Operation Catechism

Main article: German battleship Tirpitz

Coordinates: 69°38′55″N 18°48′16″E / 69.64861°N 18.80444°E / 69.64861; 18.80444