Sink the Tirpitz - Hunting Germany's Super Battleship

This video is sponsored by Call of War, a free to play multiplayer strategy game: callofwar.onel...
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.o...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: Geni; Bundesarchiv; US National Archives

[@hanzup4117]

Finally, a bit of history I knew before Mark Felton made a video on it. That's a rare thing.

[@mJC4698]

Yes but do you know the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the wise?

[@gangisspawn1]

@@mJC4698 he wasn't too wise if he died.

[@garrysekelli6776]

@@mJC4698 darth vader?

[@steveclarke6257]

This is a bit of history I know a lot about and there are errors in this video regarding the attack by the X craft

[@johnbeckman492]

Jeremy Clarkson, in spite of his hijinks on other shows, tells this story with spellbinding style.

[@JohnDiabol]

I am from Tromsø, the location where the Tirpitz sank. She went down outside of Håkøya, a small island located outside of the main city of Tromsø. There is a memorial on the location and a huge piece of thick steel, supposedly a piece of the ships hull stands there still as a reminder of what happened in November 1944 and the men that died in their line of duty. Something that Mark didn't mention in the video is how knocking could be heard from inside the hull of the ship for a couple of days after she capsized while crew on the outside worked frantically to cut through hulls and bulkheads to save the men still trapped inside. A lot of souvenirs were taken from the ship by the men that worked with scrapping her and many are still in privately owned hands to this day. I've personally seen many artefacts from inside the ship, including shell casings from her secondary batteries, uniforms, medals, cutlery and more.

[@ole8602]

Hello, am from tromsø. I have a nazi dagger from tirpitz.

[@williamwilliam5066]

@@ole8602 I have Himmler's fine dining cutlery from Tirpitz

[@LeoPlaw]

I saw a video somewhere here on KZbin about the sinking. Apparently there was a British sympathizer amongst the Germans who manned the radar units. He delayed the critical notification of the incoming bomber attack, meaning the Luftwaffe squadron was scrambled too late and thus arriving after the bombing attack. The Terpitz was already sunk. One of the interviewees was one of the Luftwaffe pilots. The video also mentioned the same as @JohnDiabol the sailors trapped in the Terpitz desperately trapped inside banging on the hull, gradually going silent as they one by one died while the rescue teams raced desperately to cut the hull and bulkheads open.

[@JohnDiabol]

@@LeoPlaw I've also heard that the squadron that got sent out to intercept the bombers were sent in the wrong direction as it was reported by the radar station that the bomber formation was heading further North towards Alta where the Tirpitz had previously been located. The correct information was delivered to the squadron far too late and by the time they got to the Tirpitz she had already been sunk. Major Heinrich Ehrler, the commander of III./Jagdgeschwader 5 took all of the blame for the sinking and the delays of the luftwaffe. He was initially court-martialed, but his sentence was eventually reduced and he got demoted and sent back to Germany to fly Me-262's against bomber formations. On the 4th of April 1945 he shot down two B-17 bombers and rammed a third. His last words broadcasted over the radio were "Theo, I've just used all my ammunition. I'm going to ram. Good bye. See you in Valhalla." What a badass!

[@LeoPlaw]

@@JohnDiabol I didn't know that part about Major Heinrich Ehrler. Thanks. Terrible losses on all sides.

[@davemicrowave1311]

These old big battleships are so majestic and badass.

[@mikasammallahti1272]

Yes and no. But so easy to destroy

[@bkjeong4302]

And obsolete upon launch in WWII. 29 battleships entered service just before/during WWII, right as they became obsolete thanks to the massive increase in combat ranges brought by advances in naval aviation. Only two of those 29 ever did anything to justify their existence (namely, kill an enemy peer opponent in a situation where carriers or land-based aircraft couldn’t have done it), and even those two only had one success each.

[@felixk1843]

@@bkjeong4302 Bismarck is one of them, which one is the other one?

[@bkjeong4302]

@@felixk1843 Bismarck is NOT one of them, because the Battle of Denmark Straits was not a situation where carriers couldn’t have done the job for either side (if Germany had a carrier that is: the fact they didn’t doesn’t change the fact neither side actually needed to enter a gunfight at Denmark Straits, and if the British just used their carriers there they would never even have been fired upon and likely have sunk or badly damaged both German ships) The two are Washington and Duke of York.

[@gb2301]

@@MercuriusHibernicus if their only use is that said 3rd world countries dont pick up their former pastime of slavery then I would call that functional, go find out why America built a navy, a real one and it was not the British, ironically it was to stop the Barbary pirates enslaving Americans, whilst they were breeding and buying slaves themselves

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

She was my first airfix model boat back in the early 70’s, after built she was chosen to advertise airfix models in a toy shop…got a free 24th scale mustang for my troubles 😊

[@mikepette4422]

I think mine was from Revell it was a really clean beautiful kit. Back in those days I sometimes, though not always, found the Airfix kits a bit dodgy with bigger kits and they weren't a detailed as they should be. Having said that I think I had far more Airfix kits than Revell but that was because of the number of 1/72 planes I bought and with planes you couldn't beat the sheer diversity of aircraft kits from Airfix

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

@@mikepette4422 I think I had some Revell models but, what got me to buy was the better images/art on the boxes, can’t remember if my Saturn 5 model was Revell or airfix but it was well detailed…..I was just lucky Mike, my mother worked in the toy shop, pocket money went further with staff discount 😉😊

[@warrenmilford1329]

I had models from both companies, but did you ever build any Matchbox brand models? They came in two colour 1/72, or for the next range up, three colour plane kits. They also made a range of two colour 1/72 tank kits, that also came with a small diorama base included, e.g. a white coloured brick wall for the T-34 tank model to run over. I really got into it as a kid.

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

@@warrenmilford1329 no I didn’t, hornby trains and scalextric was my other love…then girls came along 🥴😉😊

[@secondchance6603]

Airfix... happy memories!

[@vk2ig]

Another _Tirpitz_ fact: one of the Norwegian resistance radio operators who kept tabs on the _Tirpitz_ and reported her position to the British was Torstein Raaby, who was later the radio operator on Thor Heyerdahl's _Kon-Tiki_ expedition.

[@muskokamike127]

wow not many mentions of Kon Tiki these days. Fun fact: I used to date a greek girl and she laughed whenever I called tstsiki sauce "kon tiki" sauce lol

[@vk2ig]

@@muskokamike127 🤣 One of my primary school teachers used to read a book to us for 20 minutes each day. This was to get the class interested in reading - it was a tactic that worked. Each book would take a few weeks to get through. One of those books was Heyerdahl's story of the _Kon-Tiki,_ and I found it absolutely fascinating. I read the book many years later and found it even more so, as I could see the story through more experienced eyes.

[@muskokamike127]

@@vk2ig Thumbs up to that teacher.....While I haven't lately, but I've always been an avid reader. I can't even tell you how I learned of the Kon Tiki, could have been in a book? But yeah, a fascinating story. I read Lord of the flies in school and have read it at least twice more in adulthood.

[@user-mj7qw6xo1u]

Good Fact

[@trevorhart545]

Kon-Tiki Balsa Wood from South America Westwards, Ra II Papyrus from Africa Westwards. Thor seemed to like to Travel Westwards, then from Norge that IS the Sea/Ocean route. Q. Why is this not taught in schools today? BBC did programmes on this, Oh yes 40 -50 years ago when it wasn't WOKE, Liberal and Marxist.@@vk2ig

[@stc3145]

Fun fact: Pieces of steel from the Tirpitz are used to cover pot holes on the roads in Oslo.

[@petermuller608]

You use steel to cover pot holes? Wouldn't rocks be much more suitable?

[@theonlymadmac4771]

@@petermuller608 temporary covers during repairs. Another piece is in Sinsheim museum, Germany

[@manoelreinaldoreinaldo6120]

Interesting .

[@bruce3579]

Do they really?!?!

[@thejudgmentalcat]

A good use for war junk.

[@QUADFLY]

Such a class story! It's a never ending learning cycle from Dr Felton!

[@denisrose9207]

Thats for sure! I've been watching WW2 documentaries for 45 years, I thought I've seen pretty much most of what's out there, I'm wrong on that! I can't get enough of this! Dr. Felton is the man!

[@tylerbozinovski427]

A historian with the title of doctor? Interesting.

[@Jester-Riddle]

@@tylerbozinovski427 ... You can academically be a Doctor of many non-medical subjects, but I do note your intended irony ...

[@QUADFLY]

@George Washington blah blah booooooo

[@830554]

The bottom plates from Tirpitz was removed and sent to Oslo capital of Norway. They are used for covering construction holes in the streets of Oslo. And still in use today in almost mint condition

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

Road plates

[@stephhaug3316]

Gut so

[@robinwitting2023]

Will they be of that special pre-Atomic era steel? Could be worth a few kroner? Robin Witting

[@dieterrahm4044]

The german steel for their battleships was "Wotan hart". For one ship they needed steel stripes in 1m x 1m x 5000m diameter. Woran hart was the best steel the germans made.

[@silgen]

When I was a radiographer in a hospital I spent some time working on an experimental scintillation imager which required all outside sources of radiation be blocked. They did this by constructing a chamber out of 16 inch thick plates salvaged from a German WWI battleship scuttled at Scarpa Flow in 1919. Amazing the uses old battleships can be put to :)

[@SilverPigeon1]

I worked several years in a hardware store i Tromsø. I once had a customer who bought a powerful planer from me, with blades that could handle teak wood. He could tell me that he had gotten hold of alot of the teak deck from Tirpitz, and was going to make a dining table for his granddaughter. Thats what you call a dining table with history in it.

[@paulmaxwell8851]

The decks were in fact armoured, with steel up to 4.7 inches thick. That's why the first attack failed; the bombs were unable to penetrate the deck. Go back to 4:59 and Dr. Felton tells us that Operation Tungsten failed when the fifteen 1600 lb armour-piercing bombs that hit were unable to damage anything below deck. If your story is true, that teak would have been found somewhere in the living areas, used for ornamental reasons. However, I've never heard of such luxury in German naval ships.

[@SilverPigeon1]

@@paulmaxwell8851 Yes, the decks where armoured, but on top of the steel, there where placed wooden teak planks as top cover. The teak quality was superb, and where used freqently in different building projects in Tromsø after the war.

[@timpedder6046]

Squadron Leader "Benny" Goodman, the last wartime surviving pilot of 617 and who took part in the final raid on Tirpitz, passed away a few days ago aged 100. R,I.P Benny Goodman.

[@AndersonERockefeller]

Ohh thank God!

[@rogerkay8603]

@@AndersonERockefeller ??

[@adrianalbertoriverairizarr385]

A Morning is never complete if you don’t watch a Mark Felton Production.

[@TheProfessor_1]

indeed so

[@archstanton6102]

@George Washington completely irrelevant to the video and just spam

[@thelivingstalin0189]

for me mark is a evening job

[@LauweAuwe]

Easy evening

[@ricktmater7486]

Agreed

[@hirepgym6913]

My uncle RAF Pilot Alan Grant was killed trying to sink the Tirpitz his still buried in Norway

[@geordie1032]

They were extremely skilled and brave men. R.I.P. Pilot Alan Grant.

[@hirepgym6913]

@@geordie1032 It was a very strange thing it was kept on the official secrets list for 30 years they said originally he was shot down taking supplies to Russia and i have photo,s of him taking off but in Mk I Hampdon ? he must have changed planes somewhere .

[@dickvansteijn4115]

RIP

[@Nord_Mann]

Thank you for his sacrifice❤️

[@hirepgym6913]

@@Nord_Mann Thanks but i never met him i was just named after him i only saw his grave in Norway .

[@dinopalada449]

I discover this chanel few months ago and every video is pure joy to watch. Big suport from Croatia

[@sandi_ogame]

Je odlican je ja ga pratim vec godinama premda sam strastveni ljubitelj ww2 uvijek nesto novo naucim sa svakim videom

[@dinopalada449]

@@sandi_ogame svaki video je super i ja sam također ljubitelj povijesti a pogotovo ww2

[@sandi_ogame]

@@dinopalada449 drago mi je evo da smo se nasli sto se tice drugog svjetskog rata 😊 volio bih da sma bio umogucnosti u zivo vidjeti tirpiz sigurno bi to bio nevjerovatan prizor

[@tuljan4419]

English please lol salim se, kanal je odlican. Steta sto nema vise videa o NOBu i Balkanu, da imamo razlog za svadjanje

[@sandi_ogame]

@@tuljan4419 ne zanima me ta sekcija konkretno moram biti iskren, oduvijek od malih nogu sma bio fascibiran nazi pokretom i kako se uopce to uspijelo dogoditi te se onda prelilo na konpletnu povijest drugog svjetskog rata

[@30smsuperstrat]

My frustration is when a video is excellent, such as this one, I'm filled with such euphoria that I forget to hit the 👍. Happily I remembered this time!

[@turinturambar8622]

Always like a mark Felton production before you watch, it's a good bet you'll like it !

[@melanieladbrooke1221]

Ohh bless cotton socks ,

[@wellingtonsboots4074]

Thank you for this, my father didn't tell us much about his war experience. But sinking the Tirpitz was an exception. This brought back some good memories.

[@aldreenbautista2375]

I have seen a lot of videos about the air attack operations against Tirpitz but only a few about the midget submarines raid. I actually first heard of it in the channel Yarnhub a few weeks ago. I am glad that Mr. Felton covered most, if not all of the actions taken by the British to sink the battleship. Great video as always!

[@ajaxpowder]

If you like this sort of thing you should look into Drachinifel KZbin channel.

[@aceeastwood2871]

10:55 The craters after the explosion are still visible in Google maps. Fun fact! One of the Dambuster aircraft, Easy Elise, is resting on a bog in Sweden near the town of Porjus

[@GiovanniRuffinengo]

Could you tell us more?

[@wal7070]

can you give coords?

[@MrOllimaster]

@@wal7070 found it, 69.64764, 18.80315

[@vk2ig]

@@MrOllimaster That's the coordinates of one of the bomb craters, thanks.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

@@vk2ig you can see the creation that same bomb crater in the video…!

[@yuthdecay9247]

A Cold beer and a Dr Felton video after work, life is good

[@tytzup5397]

Same here!

[@ajax5622]

Yup. After work beer and a felton production. Noice

[@vincentrobinson9325]

🍺🙂 EXACTLY

[@DiogenesOfCa]

Did you drink a Tall Boy?

[@TheSuperMegaFox]

Great video! I was friends with the only Bismarck survivor who lived in the United States. His name was Bruno Rzonka. He was always open about discussing what happened during the battle. He was very adamant that the ship was scuttled at the end and not sunk by torpedoes. According to him, after all the guns were knocked out, orders were given over the intercom, to scuttle the ship and he was one of the crewmen that did it.

[@benadam7753]

It's also been said that while the townspeople were happy that the Tirpitz had been sunk, they genuinely felt bad for Tirpitz's crew that died because while on shore leave the crewmen were well behaved boys!

[@loveyukikazeforever5441]

no war!!!!!!

[@michaelmerritt7406]

Naval CO's have proven across many centuries and many Navies that they can think of new and innovative punishments for bad behaviour. Chief among them, simply being denied liberty or leave is incentive enough for many sailors to not act like an ass in class.

[@mortalclown3812]

It breaks my heart that boys died in every army. When will humanity learn? The Allied heroes of WWII will likely never be seen again.

[@benadam7753]

@@MrDaiseymay What is the title of the book?

[@williamzk9083]

@@michaelmerritt7406 The Germans were genuinely well behaved. In much of Europe they were seen as liberators from the Russian/Soviets (eg the Baltic States, Finland) and their good behavior compared to Russians was noted. Obviously the Germans lost and they suffered the negative propaganda looser suffer. In general German troops (at least the Army) were required out in groups of 4-5 so that they could supervise and witness each other. The Germans were very careful that propaganda could not be used against them in trying to win over a population. Obviously this varied country by country. We only need to look at Russia current propaganda efforts against Ukraine to see what goes on in wars.

[@PedroConejo1939]

I had a friend who flew on one of the Fleet Air Arm raids against the Tirpitz. He lost a lot of friends that day and told me he was physically sick when he went to a cinema and saw in the news reels that the RAF had sunk it with almost no losses.

[@lonniebailey4989]

I thank your friend for his service. Greetings from USA.

[@mortalclown3812]

I must've misunderstood your comment; he was ill because the Allied fighters had few losses? That's how it reads.

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@mortalclown3812 No, he was sick because he'd lost so many friends in a futile attempt to destroy the battleship and because there was no mention of this in the newsreel about the successful attack.

[@Gekkko]

Wait your friends? are you implying that you at least 100 years old rn?

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@Gekkko No, I'm not. Have a look at the tenses and then do some sums. Hint: You can have friends who are not the same age as you.

[@KomradeCPU]

I was in awe with that last air attack footage, the Tirpitz guns firing through the smoke followed by the bombing, incredible cinematography.

[@YETICOPTER]

incredible that those Lancasters were able to score three hits like that. really shows the ingenuity and skill of bombardiers in that era.

[@brianperry]

Years ago I saw the tallboy and the larger Grand Slam bombs in various museums in UK ....impressive or what!!... also seeing the moment of release and it falling towards the target...

[@maximkretsch7134]

Well, the Tirpitz was anchoring. As incredible as the hits at Pearl Harbor.

[@YETICOPTER]

@@maximkretsch7134 in the video it sounds like bombs were dropped from a fairly high altitude, Pearl Harbor was a lot more dive bomb/torpedo bombers

[@brianperry]

@@maximkretsch7134 The difference was Pearl Harbor was for the most part dive bombing and torpedos... the Tirpitz was a high level attack...18'000 ft or thereabouts that was incredibly accuracy from such an altitude

[@maximkretsch7134]

@@brianperry It is the principle of a shotgun that a small percentage of the ammo will hit the target if you aim roughly in the right direction. But that has more to do with statistics than with precision bombing.

[@oldesertguy9616]

Your stories are the perfect combination of the right length, great information packed into a compact package, and effective narration. I don't think I've ever been disappointed.

[@juliegreenministries117]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro... He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑... + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@francopesce1970]

This remind me of my childhood playing cod (2003) as a british SAS on a secret mission to sink the Tirpitz... and now mark made a video about this ship

[@trentharrison7141]

Found it so hard as a kid

[@Dave-hu5hr]

🥔

[@demonhighwayman9403]

My grandfather did some of the Russian convoys, his last convoy was PQ17 when his ship was sunk. I wish I knew more about his WW2 history but he never really spoke about it.

[@jeffheineken6709]

This is the trouble, both of my Grandfathers served but didn’t really speak about any of it.

[@riatorex8722]

That's unfortunate. But your grandfather must've had his reasons

[@NorskElsker]

Tirpitz steel is still being used in Norway, some of her armour plating is being used as plates to cover up ditches dug in the streets so that cars can drive over while construction is under way. Also you can get knives and what not made from Tirpitz steel

[@f.morgani3568]

Now that is great news, I would love to own one of those knives.. As far as most are concerned, and myself, THE FINEST STEEL IN THE WORLD... ID LOVE TO WORK A EDGE, THAT LAST FOREVER..

[@brianreddeman951]

I've heard this story oodles of times but Mark Felton is a superb storyteller.

[@stumccabe]

Thank you Dr Felton. Well over a million subscribers now - well deserved . This is certainly one of the best channels on KZbin and surpasses anything made by the MSM with their teams of writers and backed by limitless funds.

[@martij30]

I've been to the Kafjord last summer, the place where the Tirpitz lay before it moved to Tromso. There's still pieces of the ship there next to the water, as well as a huge crater made by one of the Tallboys. There's also a nice little museum just off the road called the Tirpitz museum. For anyone that ever visits the northern parts of Norway this is definitely worth a visit!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

She was nicknamed The Lone Queen of the North. It was a Tallboy that ended her reign. Thank you Dr Felton for another quality upload.

[@donmega6687]

Tall boys and Jonny walker 💩💩💩💩 where's die bell numbnuts

[@donmega6687]

I have dam busters on DVD baw ain't seen it yet that's not your real voice lol

[@limerot]

One of the generators on Tirpitz is located in Northcape Municipality. It was used to produce electricity after the war to the people of Honningsvåg. The generator is placed in a small cabin on the old ferry dock. I bicycle past that cabin every week. Some years ago, a group of people tried to start the generator, but the engine seized and cracked the cylinder block.

[@edwardhewer8530]

Out of all the film footage from WW2, seeing those Tall Boy bombs strike is pretty incredible. That is some serious accuracy from those aircrews knowing the altitude they dropped at. RIP to those on Tirpitz and the crews who fought against her.

[@martinlubbe4685]

Love these Docs I wish Mark Felton did the whole WW2 in detail damn..... i could stay up all night watching Mark Felton educating me about history !!

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Know this story quite well but that doesn’t stop me from watching your take on it 👍

[@SleepingCube]

An amazing video! A real shame what happened to the crew of Tirpitz. Torches were needed to cut through the hull of the ship to rescue the sailors trapped inside. The local Norwegians hid most of the torches and sealed the fate of the sailors and barely any were available. As Mark said in the video, only 82 were actually rescued.

[@45auto82]

@SleepingCube: Yup, nearly the same for the USS Oklahoma when she capsized during Pearl Harbor hit. Rescuers could hear Morse code tapping from trapped sailors for days after, but the bottom hull plate was so thick it took forever to get into and being so damaged, the compartments weren’t well connected any longer so many of the survivors of the attack either drowned or died of suffocation. What a terrible way to die. May God Bless the souls of all sailors, all nations, for those lost at sea.

[@SleepingCube]

@@45auto82 Indeed. I believe it was the same for the USS Arizona as well. May they all rest in peace.

[@SilverPigeon1]

After seeing many documentaries about Tirpitz, I've never heard that torches where hid from the germans. Torches was collected from german controlled shipyards and workshops to free the trapped crew. The problem was that the steel of the hull was very hard and strong, and very thick. It took a long time to cut.

[@SleepingCube]

@@SilverPigeon1 I do think the Germans managed to source their own torches, however Jan Forsgren in his book "Sinking the Beast" writes "Acetylene torches were needed to cut into the thick hull, and none were initially available. Local Norwegian civilians who owned torches hid them, and only one could be found."

[@seangannon6081]

A lot of sailors have suffocated while people used torches to get them out, they turn the air to poison, so if you don’t pump fresh in air they can be killed too

[@PUBHEAD1]

Whoohoo, just as I'm puttering in the garage doing chores another video from Mark pops up. I love listening to these while working around the house.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

As always, Amazing! Thank you Dr. Mark Felton!

[@marcusandersen6782]

I just took a break from my home exam in Arctic Tourism studies, where my goal is to design a day-tour planned in the Kåfjord area, and where the focus will be on Tirpitz and the still visible remains of the German naval base located there. Your timing could not be better! Thank you for the videos. My German girlfriend does not understand my interest in the war, but the tales of bravery and valor that you collect and visualize are fascinating.

[@ericdickison7995]

Great as always Mark! The Tall Boy that exploded on the shore still has its enormous crater as testament of the power of these bombs

[@chainweaver3361]

Another very interesting story from Mark Felton. Never fails to entertain.

[@thunderbird1921]

This ship was literally the Rasputin of warships. You think it's destroyed, only for it to keep on living. Unbelievable what it took to demolish it.

[@JavierCR25]

Imagine needing a whole air armada to take care of one battleship. This real story far surpasses any fictional story. Thanks Professor!

[@m1co294]

It took a furious Churchill to take care of her sister ship as well

[@JavierCR25]

@@m1co294 a furious Churchill is even scarier, and I actually mean that hahaha

[@curtismes]

Mark you have to do a separate video on The Raid on St Nazaire...else the Tirpitz story is incomplete!

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

My favorite wwii story! Guys were crazy!

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

@@MaxwellAerialPhotography just watched it, there’s a good chapter on the raid in the book iron sea

[@danielday713]

A big thanks from 🇨🇦. Such great episodes. The economy in the narrative and the images present credible accounts of a time long since gone. But thanks to your efforts, they will not be forgotten.

[@danielgreen3715]

Tall boys and Johnnie Walkers !! Hahaha sounds like a rather lethal cocktail!! Was it the red or the black label!!??

[@viking1236]

Blue! Lol

[@nematolvajkergetok5104]

Red from blood and black from grief.

[@PK2Productions]

Nothing like coming in from mowing the lawn and listening to one of these. Great vid as always, incredible it took so many raids to destroy.

[@emveeie1391]

lmao, same for me, half the yard done, taking a break with Mark Felton.

[@thunderbird1921]

Imagine the air crews' reaction each time they learned Tirpitz was still alive after their raid. "**** IT!!!" This thing was the Rasputin of warships. Every time you think it's gone, it somehow still lives!

[@mygoditsfullofstars9148]

One of the few youtube channels where I hit the like button before i see the video. You just know it`s going to be good.

[@flimsyjimnz]

Me too -feel guilty at compromised integrity.... does that make us bad people?!

[@americanviking9384]

As someone who doesn't know alot of WWII history, I really appreciate your educational videos! Thank you Dr. Felton from the US 🇺🇸

[@Bullski123]

4:14,that picture is from fættenfjord,a small fjord that branches off of the Trondheimsfjord northeast of the city of Trondheim,about an hour from where i live.Tirpitz was moored here from 16 January 1942 to 29 October 1943. During this time the Royal Air Force attacked the Tirpitz four times with limited success. Due to the heavy amount of anti-aircraft weaponry, both on the ship and in the surrounding area, the RAF lost 17 airplanes and 64 crew members in the attempts.

[@johnss7754]

Thanks for the great video. A truly awesome ship. My uncle (a Canadian) was on an early bombing raid in the fjord, in a Halifax that was shot down and crash landed on the ice. All crew got out, but three were badly injured and were left behind, while the rest of the crew went over the mountains to Sweden so they could re-enter the fray - which they did. The Halifax was recovered, I think in the late 70's.

[@Intreductor]

Me: I should study for my exams. Mark Felton: Here, study history instead.

[@gunnermurphy6632]

Lol true

[@bactrosaurus]

Same with geography here XD

[@KSU1967]

lmao

[@stevethomas760]

Well, you are under a doctor's care, Dr. Mark Felton

[@ryanholland6750]

The first time I heard of the tirpitz was a few years ago when Jeremy Clarkson did a documentary on the greatest raid of all at St Nazaire by the commandos because the base there had the only dry dock big enough to have the tirpitz. It’s a very good documentary and I’d highly recommend it. It then led into another documentary Clarkson did on the Arctic convoys specifically PQ-17 where the ill fated decision to scatter the ships was due to the tirpitz presence in the area

[@andrewgillis3073]

St. Nazaire was the only dry dock on the Atlantic coast that to dock the Tirpitz. The dockyard at Wilhemshaven, where the Tirpitz was built, could handle dry docking the ship, but it was on the Baltic sea, and any German ship attempting to get to it would undoubtable be pounced on by the Royal Navy. Depictions of both Bismarck and Tirpitz often show them with HUGE swastikas painted on the bow and stern decks. I've never seen a photo of these, but it is mentioned that the Tirpitz had them painted on because the German air force (lutwaffe) kept accidentally bombing it. But that was after it was moved to Norway.

[@ryanholland6750]

@@andrewgillis3073 Yeah quite correct forgot the documentary was centred around the battle of the Atlantic

[@s.a.g5417]

I am a simple man, I see a Mark Felton video, I click

[@morrisbuschmeier2047]

Well, the women often don't get along with men's hobbies. 🤷🏼‍♂️ At least you had German twins from hell.

[@williamwilliam5066]

As a sheep. YOu lose

[@roybeau4599]

I have learned more in here than any history class ever taken and all of them taken and I know they can't cover it all but Mark Felton Productions is amazing. Thanks for your time and work.

[@alanburke1893]

Another illuminating video from Dr. Felton. Full of context usually absent from so many KZbin 'documentaries'. The scripting and editing exceed most hyperbolic TV productions. Like a short-format Ken Burns.

[@sandergjertsenstvold1051]

I've been waiting for you to tell about Tirpitz!

[@vespelian5769]

Another little masterpiece. I've never seen that film of Tirpitz's destruction before.

[@mathiaslimbodal667]

In norway we use Tirpitz to make plates and knives. is still there

[@pparalaxx3014]

Could you sell me A knife all the way To Texas? I have 100 dollars right now

[@felipfelop8220]

3k and its yours 🕳👍

[@dougearnest7590]

@@pparalaxx3014 - What a great idea. Tirpitz knives with a certificate of authenticity from the Norwegian government could be a big seller.

[@pparalaxx3014]

@@dougearnest7590 where could we find a supplier

[@felipfelop8220]

Until 1957

[@alanbrudenell4918]

So well done Mark. I knew so much about this already as I have been there and stood in the bomb crators that are still there to this day. I also have a part of the tirpitz in my garage.

[@mod91Kauai]

Best WW2 mini documentaries ever. I always start a Mark Felton video, then quickly get persuaded to play Modern Warships. Then I return and watch more.

[@fromulus]

That footage is AMAZING!

[@vcv6560]

All of war is awful but imagine being in the hull of that ship when those bombs come in at warp speed!

[@7983usmc]

I just learned recently that my sons roommates grandfather was a member of the German Battleship Tirpitz. From the photo he had of him on the ship, it looks like he was member of anti aircraft gun crew.

[@hawkeye8278]

"...950-1200 men died with the ship." and "...she was scrapped where she lay." So what happened to all those men and the 'sanctity of the grave?'

[@watching99134]

Perhaps the construction needs of the Norwegians after the war outweighed their sentiment towards respecting German war dead.

[@markcartwright8169]

Excellent video as always, My father always used to tell me about the sinking of the Tirpitz, great to actually see some actual footage of the event, Cheers Mark!

[@rickhumphries3941]

Thank you Mark . The sinking of the Bismarck seemed to get more publicity but this story of the Tirpitz I never heard off . The Brits sure poured a lot of resources into taking the Tirpitz out . Great story and info

[@ollieb9875]

Don't know if you've ever seen Howl's moving castle but that ship looks like it belongs in such a universe.

[@Roscoe_B]

The German's ability to repair damaged ships while dealing with a turning tide of war is truly amazing.

[@RAKITHA9]

They probably had enough spares to build another battleship

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

Depends on your definition of repair, after the tallboy hit that caused one of the 15" turrets to jump off its bearings, that turret was never usable again. They didn't have a big enough crane available locally to put it back on its bearings. So although a lot of the damage could be fixed, Tirpitz was never fully combat effective after that raid. The British didn't know this so kept up the air raids until they were certain she was sunk.

[@389383]

@@gwtpictgwtpict4214 Surprised that spies in Norway or intercepted messages couldn't tell them that. That ship wasn't going anyplace.

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

@@389383 I'm sure spies in Norway were providing information on the Tirpitz's condition, but how much do you trust that information? No criticism of the Norwegians supplying the information intended, but was this information first, second or third hand? You hear something interesting from one source, you really want it confirmed from a second.

[@matthewwhittaker5428]

Desperation is a great incentive.

[@АлексейГоликов-щ4д]

dramatic and informative as usual, thank you!

[@jzghostrider66]

GREAT Timing Mark. I'm working on getting my 1/350 scale Tirpitz from Tamiya underway. Thanks for this well timed video. Also reading Daniel Knowles Tirpitz The Life and Death of Germany''s Last Great Battleship as we speak.

[@juliegreenministries117]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro. He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑. + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@laurencetilley9194]

I remember building a model of USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, she is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. The second model war ship I built was Tirpitz, she took me the entire Christmas School holidays to build and caused many Tarzan grip glue headaches in the process of construction. Thanks Mark for sharing another wonderful story.

[@genes.3285]

I tried to complete the USS Constitution also. I gave up. I got the masts and rigging numbered confused. I did manage to do everything else. That was in the 1960s.

[@laurencetilley9194]

@@genes.3285 Yes the rigging was extremely complex and took me ages, it lead to many cramps in my young fingers. I to under took this assignment during the late 60's. I gave the completed model to my grand parents. My grand mother proudly displayed the model on her mantel piece whenever I came to stay. lol

[@sammni]

Good timing big fella Give me something to listen to when I work in the AE department tonight

[@Johnsmith-mw6pt]

Oh wow that’ll keep you entertained for 12 minutes. Idiot

[@sammni]

@@Johnsmith-mw6pt Hey thanks for the input. I'll go back to saving people tonight. And you can go back to calling people idiots. Okay buddy? 😂

[@juliegreenministries1428]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro. He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑. + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@silvermold]

More mr. Felton content, noice!

[@Ulvetann]

AH learnt two things about sailing ships into norwegian fjords: If You do it in the middle of the night, You'll get sunk, and if we don't like You, the rest of your shiney boats won't leave again.

[@michaelporzio7384]

Luftwaffe Major Heinrich Ehrler was scapegoated by the Nazis for failing to intercept the final raid. He was court martialed and convicted of negligence but later rehabilitated on orders from Hitler. Ehrler was an ace with over two hundred kills and a holder of the Knights Cross. He died in April 1945 while piloting an Me 262. Great archival footage of the sinking of Tirpitz, thanks Dr. Felton.

[@curtismes]

Coffee and Mark Felton...a great morning...I did my final paper for my history degree on the Raid of St Nazaire...a most interesting story of the Tirpitz...

[@frankbarnwell____]

a rainy day, and Dr Mark with a battleship story... and Pete Townsend's birthday.

[@hassanakabrownfabiopiker4914]

Face Dances Tonight, Fate Chances Moonlight

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

You mean, the guy who wrote, more than 60 years ago, "I hope I die and never grow old?"

[@juliegreenministries1428]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro... He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑. + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@hvis_lyset_tar_oss]

@@juliegreenministries1428 this isn't the real Dr Felton for anyone wondering

[@aydankhaliq2967]

@@juliegreenministries1428 doge to the moon

[@DrGull1888]

The last time I was this early, Germany still had a High Seas Fleet!

[@AS-xz3zo]

Step saying shits

[@sylvainfalquet6350]

Before 1915 then?

[@AK-vs9nr]

Damn cool times, gonna have wet dreams bout it tonight

[@phil036]

@@sylvainfalquet6350 hey we had our high sea fleet till 1918

[@alejandrodecesare5929]

A high seas practice target for the RAF..Brtitish Admiral: hey Doenitz matey we need to train our bombers out I the sea! ...Doenitz: JAWOHL!I will give you a big and shiny one!

[@gleasonparker1684]

We had to recite something about Norway in the first grade in 1955. Mine was "did you know that if Norway's coastline was stretched out ..it would reach half way round the world"

[@EdMcF1]

Also Slartibartfast got an award for the Norwegian coast, it's in the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy.

[@ulrikschackmeyer848]

Thought it was a quote from Slartibartfast? Must be wrong, then.

[@BobMuir100]

Now this is a well known story, however Mark you have added detail and background to the sinking that is wonderful. Thank you Bob England

[@StoccTube]

Mark Felton, whilst visiting my family in the UK in 2018 (I live in Australia) my dad said hop in the car I want to show you something. About 10 minutes from their house in Lincolnshire there is a tall boy bomb in a reclamation yard near the road. I have great photo of me standing next to it... they are bloody enormous! My grandfather mow 93 was also an engine fitter in the RAF and was awarded a British Empire Medal on the queens birthday honours for some a mission that I understand involved flying a Lancaster to the Arctic circle (or some such adventure, he’s written it down in a book). So I loved this video. Thanks

[@hallamhal]

My great grandfather on my mother's side piloted a midget sub that tried to sink the Tirpitz - guessing they didn't do much damage but they got home alive!

[@blankblankpog]

Just like her far cousin Musashi, they got overshadowed by their older sister

[@LiveMusicOntario]

Look at how young those air crew are on the left of the photo @9:30. A neighbour was tail gunner on Wellingtons doing submarine patrol. Before the war he was basically a farm boy in Poland who made his way to Britain. Like many veterans I knew, he'd say what I would also hear from those others many decades later at veterans occasions: "It was the most exciting time of my life. . . and I never want to do it again." RIP Anthony Paradowski.

[@lisahaven2035]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro. He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑. + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@mortalclown3812]

You tell in 12:00 what others take an hour to say ... and I'd much rather hear you for a longer time. You rock, Mark.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Thanks Dr. Felton! You read about the Tirpitz and it always seems to end with a brief statement, such as "Sunk by RAF Lancasters," but it never says "Not without cost." Those Lanc crews deserve to be remembered! Those "X-Craft" men were incredibly brave as well. War. What a waste.

[@FunkyVader]

Those bombs are just insane. There's still parts of Tirpitz visible at the site.

[@PedroConejo1939]

The Tallboy was 12 000 lbs whereas the Grand Slam was even bigger at 22 000 lbs. When released, the Lancaster carrying it would leap 200-300 feet upwards. Used against the Bielefeld Viaduct among other things.

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

@@PedroConejo1939 - I have read reports that old bombs like the Grand Slam and the Tallboy were used during the Vietnam War to blast LZs out of triple-canopy jungle there.

[@themudthedirtandthesand9079]

The 12,000 lb Tallboy that landed on the nearby shore, visible in this video many times and at lower left from 12:02-12:06, the crater is still there.

[@charliekendall4288]

@@DavidSmith-ss1cg The bombs were called Daisy Cutters. I've not heard they were WW2 surplus but very possible.

[@terrym4840]

No there isnt. Sorry I was there last year. Everything of the ship is gone.

[@misterputin8898]

Tirpitz stats be like: 1 day at the ocean 999999 days repairing it

[@RAKITHA9]

German vehicle reliability

[@tonymanero5544]

Like the SS D Trump

[@nathanielerskine1875]

@@tonymanero5544 wtf

[@hnorrstrom]

Britan still spend massive amounts to destroy it and protect convoys. Maybe it was simply worth the repair and build costs.

[@HerpDerpNV]

@@nathanielerskine1875 Its a troll account

[@bactrosaurus]

The amount of ships and Planes neccesary to kill one Single Ship is hillarious

[@CountScarlioni]

Well, the ship was killed by a couple of Lancasters. All the other dozens of ships and planes were necessary to repeatedly _miss_ one single ship!

[@generaladvance5812]

That belt & deck armour was no joke. Tirpitz performed better than Bismarck in terms of contributions to the war effort just by being a nuisance.

[@leroyholm9075]

Thorough and very brilliant coverage Thank You

[@billnu]

That footage of the final attack is pretty good and it’s mazing to see it happen. Thank you Mark! The bigger they are the harder they fall.

[@loveofmangos001]

Wasn't there also a squadron of FW-190s assigned to protect Tirpitz at her Fjiord she was sent for repairs but for some reason they arrived too late to prevent her from being sunk?

[@Dorkeus82]

Yeah, indeed as I can remeber due to confusion in communication air cover arrived to late over correct fjord, and ace pilot commanding it (Heinrich Ehrler) was even demoted and detained... Btw, he died in April 1945 over Berlin ramming his aircraft into US bomber when run out of ammo after already shooting down few of them

[@nematolvajkergetok5104]

I just made a comment about this. The radar station expected to alert the fighters was under command of a traitor. He deliberately didn't send an early warning and let the Tirpitz be sunk. This was only discovered recently. He later blamed it on confusion, which apparently worked.

[@Nord_Mann]

@@nematolvajkergetok5104 this is true. I think he had a Norwegian girlfriend from the Norwegian resistance army. They too should be recognized in the great effort of hunting down The Tirpitz. Without the bravery of Norwegians on the ground, radioing the location of Tirpitz to London, the ship wouldn’t have been found by the RAF, and successfully sunk.

[@nematolvajkergetok5104]

@@Nord_Mann I wouldn't call it an effort. He was a traitor of his nation. Such people don't deserve recognition. Even if their government was doing evil things at that time.

[@archstanton6102]

@@nematolvajkergetok5104 He may have been a traitor to germany but he benefited humanity

[@manoelreinaldoreinaldo6120]

Started the best master class of the World . My accomplishment Doctor Felton .

[@juliegreenministries1428]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro... He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑. + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@earlystrings1]

The Hitlerian strategy was always to develop overwhelmingly powerful and resource-intensive technological marvels. Examples include the Tigers, the V2, the cross-channel guns, and the two great battleships (but oddly, not a four engine bomber). The allied strategy was simply to design equipment that worked and produce it in absolutely overwhelming numbers.

[@theholyinquisition389]

There also was a four engine bomber the HE 177, but it had two engines mounted next to each other in one engine nacelle and therefore looks like a two engine bomber. This was because the Luftwaffe chiefs decided that it should be dive bombing capable and therefore the traditional layout wouldn't work. It also lead to the bomber catching fire rather easily and being generally unreliable.

[@azuralmusic]

Manhattan project big counterexample

[@pineutrino]

One thing routinely astonishing me is repairs. Mark mentions these huge bombing raids and huge amounts of damage, “months of repairs” - and then, “return to service” ... without a dry dock. That’s amazing to an armchair admiral like me. The Tirpitz is isolated in a fjord a gazillion freezing miles from home, zero supply chain, and its crew are able to counteract damage from massive torpedo and mine hits? Her armour must be half a metre thick or more. Surely not full repairs? How the hell could even quite an enthusiastic repair crew repair armour that thick without a dry dock? My hat’s off to ‘em.

[@shanehayes6048]

I have watched documentaries on this already, but still learned something. Thanks Mark.

Awesome short documentary as usual! Thank you, mr. Mark Felton!

[@hanzup4117]

How do you know if you haven't watched the video yet?

[@davidev4844]

His vids are always great. Have not seen a bed 1 yet

[@hanzup4117]

@@davidev4844 Fair - They are all good :)

[@juliegreenministries1428]

𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 ¢𝒓𝒚𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 administrator Vitor Castro. He 𝒊𝒔 available 𝒐𝒏 ω𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑. + /I /2 /O/ 9/ 3/ 9/ I /O /8 /9/ 3...

[@devensega]

I had a mate who had all the best toys but his mum wouldn’t let him play with them in case he broke them. This is the German navy.

[@bkjeong4302]

Except the toys were useless in this case.

[@neinnein9306]

In WW1 the toys didn't want to play. ^^

[@robinmaul4681]

@@neinnein9306 *didn't want

[@neinnein9306]

@@robinmaul4681 thx, changed.

[@watching99134]

Makes no sense, unless you don't consider submarines to have been part of the German Navy...

[@EstParum]

Kriegsmarine: "We have to challenge the Royal Navy head-on! And sink their Fleet!" Royal Navy:"Do you mean the Home Fleet. The mediteranian Fleet. The Pacific fleet. Or the Atlantic fleet?"

[@johnkelley2615]

Liked, shared with ww2 vet grandfather. He highly enjoys your videos Mr. Felton thank you

[@Duxdex]

Mark Felton is one of the best channels of WW2 ... Kudos to Mark and many likes for his productions