Tirpitz: Hunting the Beast

by John Sweetman

For much of the second world war, the powerful German battleship Tirpitz dominated British and American naval strategy in the European theatre. Between May 1940 and November 1944, over 700 British aeroplanes attempted to bomb, mine or torpedo the 'solitary dinosaur' on thirty-three specific occasions, assisted by another 400 fighters, flying boats, bombers engaged in diversionary raids, photographic and meteorological reconnaissance aircraft.
Based on research of British and German records, plus interviews and correspondence with a wide range of participants and relevant authorities, Hunting the Beast is the most comprehensive account of the air attacks on the Tirpitz yet to be published. John Sweetman's narrative of the many attempts to sink the 'beast' is supported by a selection of archive photographs and explanatory maps.

Genres: History

180 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2002

Reviews

[Manray9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Sweetman's Tirpitz: Hunting the Beast recounts British attempts to neutralize the German battleship TIRPITZ during World War II. TIRPITZ spent most of the war in Norwegian waters threatening Allied convoys to Murmansk, as well as creating the potential to breakout into the Atlantic like her sister ship, BISMARCK. The British perception of the threat posed by TIRPITZ arguably exceeded its reality. But as a “fleet in being,” the German battleship required the Royal Navy to keep one modern dreadnought and one fleet carrier, plus consorts, in home waters during times when such vessels were sorely needed in the Mediterranean and later in the Far East.

Winston Churchill was consumed with sinking TIRPITZ and it was he who dubbed her “the beast.” Churchill badgered the Royal Navy, RAF, and the Chiefs of Staff for plans to destroy TIRPITZ. He wouldn't let the matter rest. The British attempted all conceivable means of attack: human torpedoes (called “chariots”), midget subs (designated “X-craft”), multiple raids by carrier-based Fleet Air Arm (FAA) squadrons, and land-based bomber attacks from Scotland and by units deployed to the USSR. The RAF and FAA staged 33 attacks on TIRPITZ between 1940 and 1944 using bombs, torpedoes, and mines. Finally, specially-equipped Avro Lancaster bombers finished the job in November 1944 with 12,000 lb “Tall Boy” bombs designed by “Dambusters” engineering genius, Neville Barnes Wallis.

Sweetman's book left me underwhelmed. He was no storyteller. The book lacked an overarching perspective, a strong narrative thread, and the necessary context. He produced a simple chronological account of British efforts containing long passages reading as if extracted from log books -- this happened, that happened, then this and then that. Tirpitz: Hunting the Beast needed fleshing out. It lacked depth as much as did TIRPITZ's last mooring berth. While informative, it's not worth more than Two Stars on my shelf.

[Barry Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the air campaign against the Tirpitz. The last third of the book deals with the RAF Bommer command rades that ultimately lead to its sinking.

[Roderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great tale of military misadventure and blunder. The sheer amount of resources the British wasted trying to sink this ONE ship was staggering. And probably worth more than Tirpitz cost to build. It is a good read.