The heavy Cruiser
Prinz Eugen, part of the Hipper class (second group.) it was
intended to have two sister ships Seydlitz and Lutzow both never
completed. The Prinz Eugen built at Germaniawerft at Kiel and
launched on the 22nd August 1936 and commissioned 1st August
1940. She accompanied the Bismarck on the Bismarck's breakout
into the Atlantic, but escaped, later she returned to the Atlantic with
the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from Brest to Germany. After Germany's
surrender the Prinze Eugen was ceded to the USA at the Potsdam agreement.
The Us Navy crew although trained by Kriegsmarine personnel, were unable
to maintain the Prinz Eugen's machinery and a complete breakdown occurred
with the ship needing to be towed the rest of the way to Pearl harbor. She
was used as a target in the A bomb tests during operation Crossroads.
being the target in two tests, "Able" and
"Baker". The Prinz Eugen survived both tests without
structural damage but being contaminated. She was towed to Kwajalein and
decommissioned. On the 21st December due to damage she started to list,
unable to correct the situation the Prinz Eugen was towed to Enunuj
reef where she capsized and sank at position 167 Degrees 41 East and
8 degrees 44 south where she remains to this day.
Displacement:
16974 standard, fully loaded 19,050 tons. Speed: 32.5 knots
Compliment 1600
Armament:
eight 203mm 60 calibre guns in four pairs. twelve 105mm in six
pairs. twelve 37mm in six pairs Eight 20mm
and twelve 533mm Torpedo Tubes in four groups of three tubes. also carried
three aircraft.
Admiral Hipper Weighing Anchor by Randall Wilson
Admiral Hipper Weighing Anchor in Alta Fjord with Admiral
Scheer.
They sortied to engage convoy PQ17.
The Narvik Squadron by Anthony Saunders
The Last of the heavy Cruisers built by Germany (5 in total) The picture
shows Admiral Hipper making her first sortie on the 18th February 1940,
accompanied by the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau on Operation Nordmark. (Search
for allied convoys on the route between Britain and Norway).
HMS Glowworm's Attack on the
Admiral Hipper by Ivan Berryman HMS Glowworm, burning severely after receiving hits
from the mighty Admiral Hipper, is depicted turning to begin her heroic
sacrifice off the Norwegian coast on 8th April 1940. Hugely out-gunned
and already crippled, Glowworm's captain, Lieutenant-Commander Roope
rammed his destroyer into the side of the Admiral Hipper, inflicting a
40 metre rip in its armour belt before drifting away and exploding. 38
British sailors were rescued from the sea and Roope was awarded a
posthumous VC for his bravery, the first earned by the Royal Navy in
WWII.
