KM SCHARNHORST CREW ASSOCIATION - Signed 15 Survivors of the Sinking ** SOLD **

KM SCHARNHORST CREW ASSOCIATION

Special Signed Card - 15 veterans who survived the sinking.

The great Battlecruiser 'Scharnhorst' had participated in the famous 'Channel Dash' of February 1942. Although she had managed to reach a safe port she did not do so unscathed - striking TWO mines which severely damaged her.

By December 1943 the war was turning against Germany and it was decided that the German Navy needed to use it's Capital ships against Allied convoys supplying the Soviet Union. 'Scharnhorst was ordered to attack the next available Convoy and she put to sea with five destroyers as escort.

However, the Royal Navy were reaping the rewards of being able to read the  'Enigma' traffic between German vessels and they knew exactly what the German intentions were.

'Scharnhorst' put herself in a position to attack the Convoy unaware that large British Naval Units were already positioning to engage her - the Cruisers 'Norfolk', 'Belfast' and 'Sheffield' were to guard the Covoy along the expected route of attack while, to the South east, HMS 'Duke of York', the cruiser 'Jamaica' and several destroyers were to cut off 'Scharnhorst's' line of retreat.

At 0840hrs on 26 December 1943 'Scharnhorst' appeared on the radar of HMS Belfast, the Germans, however, had switched their radar off to avoid detection, which played into British hands. At 0924 'Belfast' opened fire, closely followed by HMS Norfolk. 'Scharnhorst' fired back but attempted to disengage from the cruisers - being hit TWICE in the process. By extremely bad luck one of the 8 inch shells struck the forward rangefinders and destroyed the radar antenna - leaving 'Scharnhorst with only it's aft radar, which possessed only a limited forward arc.

The British Cruisers followed the damaged German ship, firing again, provoking a response from 'Scharnhorst', who again tried to disengage, but managing to hit HMS Norfolk twice. The 'Scharnhorst' tried to elude her pursuers but the British kept her in radar contact until HMS Duke of York arrived, which she did at 1650 and opened fire. One of her 14 inch shells struck the forward gun turret, putting it out of action and starting a fire that required both the forward magazines to be flooded to prevent an explosion. In the meantime, 'Scharnhorst' was being hit by more and more shells, knocking out guns and causing serious damage to the boiler room. Still 'Scharnhorst' fought on - repairing the damage she managed to get up to 22 knots and was straddling 'Duke of York' with shells, disabling the fire control system. However, the loss of so many of 'Scharnhorst's secondary guns meant she was now vulnerable to destroyer attack. The Destroyers Scorpion and Stord fired 8 torpedo's of which four struck the German ship causing her to slow to 12 knots and allowing 'Duke of York' to close the range once again. Now with only one gun remaining 'Scharnhorst' was struggling to defend herself and she was hit by several more torpedo's. At 1945 she went down with her propellers still turning.

Of the 1,968 Officers and crew, only 36 survivors were pulled from the freezing waters.

This is a VERY RARE COMMEMORATION CARD issued by the 'KM SCHARNHORST' CREW ASSOCIATION "In memory of the bravery of the crew of 'KM Scharnhorst' and is signed by no less than 15 of the survivors of the sinking.

*** SOLD ***