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Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - the Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship
A gripping account of the epic hunt for Hitler’s most terrifying battleship – the legendary Tirpitz – and the brave men who risked their lives to attack and destroy this most potent symbol of the Nazi’s fearsome war machine.
Tirpitz was the pride of Hitler’s navy. To Churchill, she was ‘the Beast’, a menace to Britain’s supply lines and a threat to the convoys sustaining Stalin’s armies. Tirpitz was said to be unsinkable, impregnable –no other target attracted so much attention.
In total 36 major Allied operations were launched against her, including desperately risky missions by human torpedoes and midget submarines and near-suicidal bombing raids. Yet Tirpitz stayed afloat. It was not until November 1944 that she was finally destroyed by RAF Lancaster Bombers flown by 617 Squadron – the Dambusters – in a gruelling mission that tested the very limits of human endurance.
The man who led the raid – Willie Tait – was one of the most remarkable figures of the war, flying missions almost continuously right from the start. Until now his deeds have been virtually unknown. With exclusive co-operation from Tait’s family, Patrick Bishop reveals the extraordinary achievement of a man who shunned the spotlight but whose name will be renowned for generations to come.
Tirpitz was the pride of Hitler’s navy. To Churchill, she was ‘the Beast’, a menace to Britain’s supply lines and a threat to the convoys sustaining Stalin’s armies. Tirpitz was said to be unsinkable, impregnable –no other target attracted so much attention.
In total 36 major Allied operations were launched against her, including desperately risky missions by human torpedoes and midget submarines and near-suicidal bombing raids. Yet Tirpitz stayed afloat. It was not until November 1944 that she was finally destroyed by RAF Lancaster Bombers flown by 617 Squadron – the Dambusters – in a gruelling mission that tested the very limits of human endurance.
The man who led the raid – Willie Tait – was one of the most remarkable figures of the war, flying missions almost continuously right from the start. Until now his deeds have been virtually unknown. With exclusive co-operation from Tait’s family, Patrick Bishop reveals the extraordinary achievement of a man who shunned the spotlight but whose name will be renowned for generations to come.
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2012
36 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Bishop
73 books66 followersPatrick Bishop was born in London in 1952 and went to Wimbledon College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Before joining the Telegraph he worked on the Evening Standard, the Observer and the Sunday Times and in television as a reporter on Channel Four News. He is the author with John Witherow of a history of the Falkands War based on their own experiences and with Eamon Mallie of The Provisional IRA which was praised as the first authoritative account of the modern IRA. He also wrote a memoir the first Gulf War, Famous Victory and a history of the Irish diaspora The Irish Empire, based on the TV series which he devised.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 10, 2017
Target Tirpitz is about multiple British attempts to sink the German battleship Tirpitz, sister ship of the Bismarck which the Royal Navy sent to the bottom in May 1941.
Tirpitz spent most of the war hiding in a Norwegian fjord and fired few shots in anger. She was very well protected and extremely difficult to get at. Many attempts to sink Tirpitz were mounted, some of them quite bizarre, and the book tells of all of them in thrilling fashion.
The author clearly spent a fantastic amount of time on research, speaking to survivors from both sides or, in some cases, to families of the deceased. It's beautifully written with a notable absence of military jargon. There's some fine illustrations as well as a number of well-drawn and helpful maps. Terrific.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.
Tirpitz spent most of the war hiding in a Norwegian fjord and fired few shots in anger. She was very well protected and extremely difficult to get at. Many attempts to sink Tirpitz were mounted, some of them quite bizarre, and the book tells of all of them in thrilling fashion.
The author clearly spent a fantastic amount of time on research, speaking to survivors from both sides or, in some cases, to families of the deceased. It's beautifully written with a notable absence of military jargon. There's some fine illustrations as well as a number of well-drawn and helpful maps. Terrific.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.
June 16, 2017
Amazingly detailed account of the varied attempts to destroy the German battleship Tirpitz that took over four years to finally succeed. Patrick Bishop also includes other WWII theatres such as the sinking of Bismark and the St. Nazaire dock raid, the arctic convoys, the sinking of Scharnhorst, all related to the threat posed by Tirpitz.
'Target Tirpitz' provides intimate particulars of most of the twenty four operations between late 1940 and November 1944 that were sent against the pride of the Kreigsmarine, that Churchill termed 'the beast'.
RAF bombers had attempted to attack Tirpitz while she was docked at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel in 1941. When she was located in the Norwegian fjords her threats to the Russian convoys or her breakout into the North Atlantic set in motion large counter measures of Royal Naval vessels and new and ingenious attempts sink the mighty warship. The author recounts the raids at Trondheim by the X-Craft submarines as well as forays by the Fleet Air Arm.
The story culminates in the RAF 'Dambuster' squadrons and Barnes Wallis' Tallboy invention that finally destroyed Tirpitz at Tromso.
I thought this book could have benefitted with the addition of photographic plates of Tirpitz and also maps of the Norwegian fjords where the ship was located, but other than that, this book contains much that will interest the WWII reader.
In 1975 I sailed as ship's officer through these waters to the Barents and White Sea. On entering the Norwegian fjords our captain was replaced by a Norwegian pilot who navigated us past Trondheim, Tromso, Hammerfest to the North Cape. While passing Tromso the pilot pointed out where Tirpitz met her end. While sailing in the arctic circle I certainly appreciated the storm force seas, ice and frostbite that sailors in the convoys endured, without the threats of U-Boats, bombers and battleships.
'Target Tirpitz' provides intimate particulars of most of the twenty four operations between late 1940 and November 1944 that were sent against the pride of the Kreigsmarine, that Churchill termed 'the beast'.
RAF bombers had attempted to attack Tirpitz while she was docked at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel in 1941. When she was located in the Norwegian fjords her threats to the Russian convoys or her breakout into the North Atlantic set in motion large counter measures of Royal Naval vessels and new and ingenious attempts sink the mighty warship. The author recounts the raids at Trondheim by the X-Craft submarines as well as forays by the Fleet Air Arm.
The story culminates in the RAF 'Dambuster' squadrons and Barnes Wallis' Tallboy invention that finally destroyed Tirpitz at Tromso.
I thought this book could have benefitted with the addition of photographic plates of Tirpitz and also maps of the Norwegian fjords where the ship was located, but other than that, this book contains much that will interest the WWII reader.
In 1975 I sailed as ship's officer through these waters to the Barents and White Sea. On entering the Norwegian fjords our captain was replaced by a Norwegian pilot who navigated us past Trondheim, Tromso, Hammerfest to the North Cape. While passing Tromso the pilot pointed out where Tirpitz met her end. While sailing in the arctic circle I certainly appreciated the storm force seas, ice and frostbite that sailors in the convoys endured, without the threats of U-Boats, bombers and battleships.
August 8, 2016
Bishop's book is about the various attempts made against the Tirpitz, Hitler's surviving battleship, by the British Navy, the Fleet Air Arm, and the RAF. The book also serves as a history of the naval war between the British and the Germans (save for most of the war in the western approaches between u-boats and convoys, with the Tirpitz always present as a threat to the convoy runs to Russia. The various British efforts—bombing missions, naval encounters at sea, midget submarine and "chariot" attacks, and espionage—required high levels of heroism and ingenuity. Bishop's book doesn't reveal new material, being drawn from memoirs, secondary sources, and the official histories, but it is smoothly written and consistently exciting. If my rating bumps up the book's value by a half-star or so, it's in a good cause: remembering what brave men attempted.
August 30, 2015
This book focuses on the various Allied efforts to sink the battleship and is an enjoyable read, though it breaks no new ground. In his narrative Bishop effortlessly changes perspective between German, British and Norwegian protagonists, just as easily as his scope waries from close-up to widescreen. The book is more about action than analysis, and Bishop tend to portray his subjects as if they're all from the same mould; nearly all of them comes across as likeable, well-adjusted and well-balanced, despite their harrowing experiences.
March 1, 2025
I read this as an ebook checked out from the library. I was attracted to the book because I had a vague understanding of the role that the battleship Tirpitz played (or didn't play) in WW2. Also, I visited the Imperial War Museum in London in 2022 and viewed the remains of an X-craft mini-submarine they had on display, and somehow it had stuck in my memory that this sub had played a role in the Tirpitz story. The Tirpitz was the less-famous sister ship of the battleship Bismarck, which was sunk by the Royal Navy in May of 1941. Following the loss of the Bismarck, the German navy moved the Tirpitz north to a fjord in Norway in early 1942, where it was intended to form the nucleus of a battle group that would menace Allied shipping convoys being sent through the Arctic Ocean to bring military supplies to Russia. But the German high command was hesitant to risk their sole remaining battleship and the Tirpitz spent most of its time docked in the fjord. But just by existing there, it tied up British warships that had to stay in the area to counter its potential threat. Churchill was obsessed with sinking the Tirpitz and continually prodded his various military commanders to do something about it. Between early 1942 and late 1944, the British made numerous attempts to sink the Tirpitz, employing carrier-based torpedo planes and bombers, land-based heavy bombers, manned torpedoes, and mini-submarines (the aforementioned X-craft). The X-craft badly damaged the ship in a daring raid, and the various air attacks also did some damage. Finally in late 1944, when the defeat of Germany was less than 6 months away and the war situation had rendered the Tirpitz useless as an offensive weapon, RAF bombers succeeded in sending her to the bottom. This book is very detailed and quite interesting. The story of each raid is given, and the various personnel involved are discussed in detail. I could have used a little less biographical info on some of the personnel, but that is a quibble. Despite the book's length and the amount of ground covered, the story moves along briskly. If you are interested in WW2 history, this book would be a good choice. Four out of five stars.
May 6, 2022
Something of a mixed bag, this. Patrick Bishop writes with a journalist's focus - a quick flick through the notes reveals an emphasis on interviews, memoirs and published sources. This gives his writing an immediacy and a focus on personal experience that helps propel the tale along. Chapters on Bismarck, the Arctic convoys, and Scharnhorst help to place it in context.
When it comes to the actual history though, the feeling of writing to deadline begins to creep in. For example, this if anywhere would surely have been the place to highlight Admiral Godfrey's then-revolutionary idea which he described as follows:
'In a recent memorandum I invited "every member of the N.I.D. or I.S.T.D. staff (male or female)" to take a hand in solving a specific Naval problem (i.e. the destruction of the TIRPITZ; a copy of the memo is attached): [this offer] produced a strong response and a large number of suggestive ideas. There were no conditions and no formalities but there was an implied promise that every proposal would be seen and weighed by the competent Directors. The individual's urge to contribute his own military notions simply and freely was recognised and the assurance given that they would receive attention.' (ADM 223/473, March 1942).
In the chapter on North Cape he claims the 36 Scharnhorst survivors were picked up from a life raft, which I don't believe was the case. This and the Denmark Strait chapter, which also has weaknesses, are arguably tangential to the main story but undermine confidence in the whole.
Bishop occasionally falls into the trap of pontificating about what the commander on the spot should have done - dangerous territory even with the benefit of safety, comfort and hindsight.
Enough of my whinges. The book is a pacey, well-written and well-produced review of the short life of a ship whose mere existence tied down disproportionate forces and constrained Allied options. The unsupported fear of a Tirpitz sortie led directly to the PQ17 catastrophe. As such this volume, though imperfect, deserves its place on the shelf.
When it comes to the actual history though, the feeling of writing to deadline begins to creep in. For example, this if anywhere would surely have been the place to highlight Admiral Godfrey's then-revolutionary idea which he described as follows:
'In a recent memorandum I invited "every member of the N.I.D. or I.S.T.D. staff (male or female)" to take a hand in solving a specific Naval problem (i.e. the destruction of the TIRPITZ; a copy of the memo is attached): [this offer] produced a strong response and a large number of suggestive ideas. There were no conditions and no formalities but there was an implied promise that every proposal would be seen and weighed by the competent Directors. The individual's urge to contribute his own military notions simply and freely was recognised and the assurance given that they would receive attention.' (ADM 223/473, March 1942).
In the chapter on North Cape he claims the 36 Scharnhorst survivors were picked up from a life raft, which I don't believe was the case. This and the Denmark Strait chapter, which also has weaknesses, are arguably tangential to the main story but undermine confidence in the whole.
Bishop occasionally falls into the trap of pontificating about what the commander on the spot should have done - dangerous territory even with the benefit of safety, comfort and hindsight.
Enough of my whinges. The book is a pacey, well-written and well-produced review of the short life of a ship whose mere existence tied down disproportionate forces and constrained Allied options. The unsupported fear of a Tirpitz sortie led directly to the PQ17 catastrophe. As such this volume, though imperfect, deserves its place on the shelf.
February 21, 2024
4.5 stars. This is very well-researched, comprehensive military history, giving as much detail as any reasonable reader could want about the determined and sometimes desperate Allied attempts to sink the German battleship Tirpitz.
Each of the missions (24 according to the cover - I lost count) is described meticulously with a wealth of biographical and technical detail. Generally there is a good balance between the "human" stories and the nuts-and-bolts history. The maps are helpful (though very small print for this reader) and there are plentiful illustrations, both integrated into the text and in separate plate sections. The writing is generally lucid and literate with only occasional over-use of adjectives and questionable word choices.
Faults ? This may be a matter of taste, but protagonists' early lives and education were sometimes described at tedious length, reminding me of Victorian history where "character" and "background" were felt to be as important in determining the outcome of a battle as weaponry and skilled use thereof.
And I would have liked the author to commit himself a little more on the historical analysis rather than just describing events (which he does very well). How real a threat WAS Tirpitz ? Was the ship, in the end, as much of a distraction and waste of resources for the Germans as the Allies ? Were the repeated attempts to sink her, especially the later ones when it had become clear that the German high command was reluctant to risk her on an actual operation of war, worthwhile ? These issues are touched on briefly in the last chapter but a military historian, having immersed himself in research sufficiently to write a book of nearly 400 pages about a single warship, should perhaps have felt entitled to offer a bit more in the way of opinion.
But if you want the facts, well-researched and well-presented, they are here.
Each of the missions (24 according to the cover - I lost count) is described meticulously with a wealth of biographical and technical detail. Generally there is a good balance between the "human" stories and the nuts-and-bolts history. The maps are helpful (though very small print for this reader) and there are plentiful illustrations, both integrated into the text and in separate plate sections. The writing is generally lucid and literate with only occasional over-use of adjectives and questionable word choices.
Faults ? This may be a matter of taste, but protagonists' early lives and education were sometimes described at tedious length, reminding me of Victorian history where "character" and "background" were felt to be as important in determining the outcome of a battle as weaponry and skilled use thereof.
And I would have liked the author to commit himself a little more on the historical analysis rather than just describing events (which he does very well). How real a threat WAS Tirpitz ? Was the ship, in the end, as much of a distraction and waste of resources for the Germans as the Allies ? Were the repeated attempts to sink her, especially the later ones when it had become clear that the German high command was reluctant to risk her on an actual operation of war, worthwhile ? These issues are touched on briefly in the last chapter but a military historian, having immersed himself in research sufficiently to write a book of nearly 400 pages about a single warship, should perhaps have felt entitled to offer a bit more in the way of opinion.
But if you want the facts, well-researched and well-presented, they are here.
March 28, 2023
Тирпиц е боен кораб от времето на Втората световна война. Кръстен е на основателя на германския военноморски флот и е гордостта на Кригсмарине. Чърчил е обсебен от идеята да унищожи Тирпиц, защото го възприема като постоянна заплаха за арктическите конвои към Архангелск и Мурманск. Британците организират 24 специални операции за потопяването на кораба - от рутинни бомбардировки до специални агенти, човешки торпеда и миниатюрни подводници. С неуспеха на всяка следваща мисия се затвърждава легендата, че Тирпиц е неразрушим.
Тирпиц прекарва почти цялата война около норвежките фиорди, но почти не участва в бойни действия. След потопяването на сестринския кораб Бисмарк нацисткият флот не иска повече да рискува. Но Тирпиц влияе върху войната, дори без да влиза в директни битки. Самото му присъствие в непосредствена близост е достатъчно да ангажираща огромни ресурси на противника, които иначе биха били използвани за други цели. Страхът от намесата на Тирпиц води до пагубното решение за разпръскване на конвоя PQ-17. Разделените и напълно незащитени британски товарни кораби стават лесни мишени за ловуващите подводници и бомбардировачи.
През ноември 1944 г. Тирпиц е потопен в близост до Тромсьо след въздушна атака със специални земетръсни бомби (Tallboy), създадени от известния изобретател Барнс Уолис именно за целта. Краят на Типриц затвърждава факта, че значението на повърхностния флот за развоя на войната отдавна е отминало. Далеч по-големи щети са нанесени от подводниците на нацистите и от самолетоносачите на съюзниците. Морската стратегия никога няма да бъде същата.
Тирпиц прекарва почти цялата война около норвежките фиорди, но почти не участва в бойни действия. След потопяването на сестринския кораб Бисмарк нацисткият флот не иска повече да рискува. Но Тирпиц влияе върху войната, дори без да влиза в директни битки. Самото му присъствие в непосредствена близост е достатъчно да ангажираща огромни ресурси на противника, които иначе биха били използвани за други цели. Страхът от намесата на Тирпиц води до пагубното решение за разпръскване на конвоя PQ-17. Разделените и напълно незащитени британски товарни кораби стават лесни мишени за ловуващите подводници и бомбардировачи.
През ноември 1944 г. Тирпиц е потопен в близост до Тромсьо след въздушна атака със специални земетръсни бомби (Tallboy), създадени от известния изобретател Барнс Уолис именно за целта. Краят на Типриц затвърждава факта, че значението на повърхностния флот за развоя на войната отдавна е отминало. Далеч по-големи щети са нанесени от подводниците на нацистите и от самолетоносачите на съюзниците. Морската стратегия никога няма да бъде същата.
August 21, 2013
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
John’s quick take: A fascinating book for anyone interested in World War II or military history; but also a terrific read for anyone who likes a good adventure story. This history book is full of both intriguing historical details and breathtakingly dangerous human exploits.
John’s description: As Hitler’s Germany prepared for war, it was determined to match the might of the British Navy. One result of this was the building of a huge battleship that was bigger, faster, better armed and more advanced than anything the world had seen. The Tirpitz, named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz who was the architect of the German Imperial Navy, was supposedly unsinkable.
As the war developed, the main role of the ship was to cause havoc with the Atlantic convoys that were both the lifeline of besieged Britain and an important source of allied arms being supplied to Russia. The Germans based Tirpitz on the Norwegian coast, so it could also serve as a deterrent to a possible allied invasion of that country. Hitler had something close to paranoia about the threat of the allies rescuing Norway from its German occupiers.
As it turned out, by far the biggest impact that the Tirpitz had on the war was the threat of what it might do, rather than anything it actually did do. The allied forces were terrified of the ship’s capabilities and went to enormous lengths to protect their convoys and to avoid a direct confrontation, thereby tying up enormous amounts of military assets; meanwhile the Germans, and Hitler in particular, were terrified of losing the ship and were amazingly cautious about using it in anger, despite its reputed invincibility. But Hitler was not the only wartime leader who played a major personal role in the Tirpitz story; Churchill was almost obsessed with the Tirpitz, and relentlessly pushed his forces to attack the ship, even after it should have become obvious that its threat was overstated.
The result was that over a three-year period the British launched no less than 36 operations designed specifically to sink the ship. As Tirpitz was moored in well-protected Norwegian fjords, beyond the range of traditional British-based bombers, many of the British operations were innovative or desperately risky, bordering on suicidal. Among other things the British tried to use human torpedoes, midget submarines, aircraft carrier-based dive bombers, and specially designed mines. Some of the operations used special services groups, supported by undercover agents in Norway, and much of the intelligence about the ship’s movements and plans was the result of the British decrypting top-secret German Enigma communications.
The operation involving newly designed midget submarines was particularly unusual and daring. After perilous training and a fraught journey across the North Sea, just three of the ten craft made it beyond the ship’s defenses, one of which was then sunk by gunfire and depth charges. But two of the tiny submarines did manage to lay mines which did quite a bit of damage to Tirpitz, and put it out of action for almost six months. However, the ship was repaired and once again became a thorn in the sides of the British.
Eventually the job of sinking Tirpitz was handed over to the Royal Air Force, which now had access to Lancaster bombers which had just about enough range to reach the Tirpitz. The attacks by the bombers stretched the limits of both human endurance and available technology, and the losses were high. But using highly innovative and terrifying new “earthquake bombs”, the RAF finally scored two direct hits on the ship causing it to capsize within minutes; of the 1,700 sailors on board at the time of the bombing, it is estimated that almost 1,000 died as a result of the attack.
John’s thoughts: I found this a tremendously interesting read. It could have been just a dry, historical account of events, but throughout the book, Bishop uses personal diaries, memoirs and interviews with families of survivors to bring the history to life. In large parts the story is told through the eyes of people who were involved.
And what a story this is. If a Hollywood movie had used a plot like this, many would accuse it of being far-fetched and unbelievable. In here we have arms races, technology being pushed to the absolute limits, powerful nations battling for survival, spies, decrypted secret messages, audacious plans and quite stunning acts of bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. It is the latter which I found most amazing. Throughout the book there are seemingly normal people that are willing to volunteer for missions or to do things which are absurdly dangerous. Heroes indeed.
Apart from all of that, I also found it an educational book. I’m old enough that World War II was very real to my parents and grandparents, and I’ve always been fascinated by the period. I learnt a lot from this read and it wasn’t just about the facts and the stories immediately surrounding the Tirpitz. It was also an education to find out more about the people – from how the personalities of Hitler and Churchill had a direct impact on events, to the stories of the daring pilots and sailors who undertook the raids, to the impact of German occupation on Norwegians, to the lives of the sailors on board the Tirpitz. Something else gave me great pause for thought. The Tirpitz never did attack allied ships and essentially the only time it caused any damage was when it was defending itself against attack; yet it had a major influence on events during the war. The threat of a weapon turned out to be much more damaging than the weapon itself. Intriguing, and you can’t help but draw some parallels with the cold war that followed World War II.
I’d rate this book four stars and thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in World War II or military history; but also to anyone who enjoys reading about real-life adventure.
John’s quick take: A fascinating book for anyone interested in World War II or military history; but also a terrific read for anyone who likes a good adventure story. This history book is full of both intriguing historical details and breathtakingly dangerous human exploits.
John’s description: As Hitler’s Germany prepared for war, it was determined to match the might of the British Navy. One result of this was the building of a huge battleship that was bigger, faster, better armed and more advanced than anything the world had seen. The Tirpitz, named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz who was the architect of the German Imperial Navy, was supposedly unsinkable.
As the war developed, the main role of the ship was to cause havoc with the Atlantic convoys that were both the lifeline of besieged Britain and an important source of allied arms being supplied to Russia. The Germans based Tirpitz on the Norwegian coast, so it could also serve as a deterrent to a possible allied invasion of that country. Hitler had something close to paranoia about the threat of the allies rescuing Norway from its German occupiers.
As it turned out, by far the biggest impact that the Tirpitz had on the war was the threat of what it might do, rather than anything it actually did do. The allied forces were terrified of the ship’s capabilities and went to enormous lengths to protect their convoys and to avoid a direct confrontation, thereby tying up enormous amounts of military assets; meanwhile the Germans, and Hitler in particular, were terrified of losing the ship and were amazingly cautious about using it in anger, despite its reputed invincibility. But Hitler was not the only wartime leader who played a major personal role in the Tirpitz story; Churchill was almost obsessed with the Tirpitz, and relentlessly pushed his forces to attack the ship, even after it should have become obvious that its threat was overstated.
The result was that over a three-year period the British launched no less than 36 operations designed specifically to sink the ship. As Tirpitz was moored in well-protected Norwegian fjords, beyond the range of traditional British-based bombers, many of the British operations were innovative or desperately risky, bordering on suicidal. Among other things the British tried to use human torpedoes, midget submarines, aircraft carrier-based dive bombers, and specially designed mines. Some of the operations used special services groups, supported by undercover agents in Norway, and much of the intelligence about the ship’s movements and plans was the result of the British decrypting top-secret German Enigma communications.
The operation involving newly designed midget submarines was particularly unusual and daring. After perilous training and a fraught journey across the North Sea, just three of the ten craft made it beyond the ship’s defenses, one of which was then sunk by gunfire and depth charges. But two of the tiny submarines did manage to lay mines which did quite a bit of damage to Tirpitz, and put it out of action for almost six months. However, the ship was repaired and once again became a thorn in the sides of the British.
Eventually the job of sinking Tirpitz was handed over to the Royal Air Force, which now had access to Lancaster bombers which had just about enough range to reach the Tirpitz. The attacks by the bombers stretched the limits of both human endurance and available technology, and the losses were high. But using highly innovative and terrifying new “earthquake bombs”, the RAF finally scored two direct hits on the ship causing it to capsize within minutes; of the 1,700 sailors on board at the time of the bombing, it is estimated that almost 1,000 died as a result of the attack.
John’s thoughts: I found this a tremendously interesting read. It could have been just a dry, historical account of events, but throughout the book, Bishop uses personal diaries, memoirs and interviews with families of survivors to bring the history to life. In large parts the story is told through the eyes of people who were involved.
And what a story this is. If a Hollywood movie had used a plot like this, many would accuse it of being far-fetched and unbelievable. In here we have arms races, technology being pushed to the absolute limits, powerful nations battling for survival, spies, decrypted secret messages, audacious plans and quite stunning acts of bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. It is the latter which I found most amazing. Throughout the book there are seemingly normal people that are willing to volunteer for missions or to do things which are absurdly dangerous. Heroes indeed.
Apart from all of that, I also found it an educational book. I’m old enough that World War II was very real to my parents and grandparents, and I’ve always been fascinated by the period. I learnt a lot from this read and it wasn’t just about the facts and the stories immediately surrounding the Tirpitz. It was also an education to find out more about the people – from how the personalities of Hitler and Churchill had a direct impact on events, to the stories of the daring pilots and sailors who undertook the raids, to the impact of German occupation on Norwegians, to the lives of the sailors on board the Tirpitz. Something else gave me great pause for thought. The Tirpitz never did attack allied ships and essentially the only time it caused any damage was when it was defending itself against attack; yet it had a major influence on events during the war. The threat of a weapon turned out to be much more damaging than the weapon itself. Intriguing, and you can’t help but draw some parallels with the cold war that followed World War II.
I’d rate this book four stars and thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in World War II or military history; but also to anyone who enjoys reading about real-life adventure.
August 10, 2018
Published in 2012, Target Tirpitz looks at the numerous attempts by Britain to sink or disable the German battleship Tirpitz. Some of the book is devoted to the disastrous foray by the sister ship of the Tirpitz, the Bismark as well as other major German vessels such as the Scharnhorst. This is not a technical book - whilst some technical details of the Tirpitz are provided, these are really just there to give some basic impression of just how powerful a warship the Tirpitz was. Some detail is given of the lifestyle of the crew of the Tirpitz, but not surprisingly the strongest chapters deal with the preparation and execution of the various attacks on the Tirpitz by the RN, FAA and RAF. A lot of info to be crammed into the book, and so it benefits by being concisely written and quick to read.
July 21, 2021
A book detailing a lesser known chapter of history without claiming to be more than it is. Frankly, both sides fought incredibly hard over the TIRPITZ, but, as Bishop writes, the outcome was rather inconsequential. In no way does that detract from this book. A sharply written narrative about a huge but rarely discussed conflict spanning the entire war. Made me think a lot more about the vastness of war strategy, the impossibility of knowing outcomes, the need to assume the worst and fight for the best, and the immense courage of the men who fought and died in the North Atlantic.
July 24, 2021
The Second World War marked the end of the era of the Battleships.Notwithstanding their vulnerability they could still cause concern to the opposition, as in the case of the Tidbits.
This excellently written book highlights the incredible bravery of the men charged with destroying this menacing ship.They all deserved a medal.
This excellently written book highlights the incredible bravery of the men charged with destroying this menacing ship.They all deserved a medal.
June 17, 2024
The resources that were tied up during World War II by this ship's potential destructive power and all the effort, material and lives that were expended to render it useless make for fascinating reading. Once I started it I had to have it with me everywhere (and I got hold of a first edition hardback).
February 16, 2023
a fantastic read
I chose this book as I knew little about the attempts made on the Tirpitz. It was fascinating, inspiring and respectful to all those involved, whether allie or axis.
I chose this book as I knew little about the attempts made on the Tirpitz. It was fascinating, inspiring and respectful to all those involved, whether allie or axis.
August 13, 2023
Excellent detail on this most powerful ship of the German Navy, whose mere presence was a thorn in the Admiralty's side whilst stationed in Norway. Some superb back ground stories and descriptions of the attacks made on her.
October 28, 2025
Fascinating insight into the battle against the Tirpitz. Just amazing how much effort was put into her destruction given her limited service career. Strongly recommended for anyone interested in WW2 military history
November 16, 2019
An interesting read even if you already know the subject.
July 6, 2020
Couldn’t put it down
A wonderful account of an exciting and and influential episode in the second world
war ,which never must be forgotten.
A wonderful account of an exciting and and influential episode in the second world
war ,which never must be forgotten.
October 5, 2023
A gifted author, who is not afraid to go on wide but interesting detours in order to tell tales related to a basically very interesting subject. Somewhat superficial in stringent analysis, but a captivating read .
March 11, 2017
A somewhat dry read, which almost stopped me proceeding as I got thirty or forty pages in and then didn't pick it up for a week or so. But in fact the plain prose style is a good choice - the story itself is interesting enough to drive the reader's interest, once you get going.
One of the most startling insights is how little the Tirpitz actually did in WWII. A mere handful of missions once based in Norway, its significance was more in its potential, and the fact the Navy had to commit its own ships to that area to protect convoys from a theoretical threat rarely realised due to the fact the Germans couldn't afford to risk their prize ship unless certain of victory. Too valuable to put into action then, and instead the missions against it detailed here, and the lives lost by brave men, all down to its mere existence rather than its actions. Just one of the insanities of war.
The details of those missions though are fascinating, and the memories of those men worth preserving. A word of caution though, more than once a picture or diagram is inserted halfway through an episode, with a caption that gives away events you've yet to read about. Tread carefully around these.
But all in all, an interesting insight into a less talked about episode in WWII history.
One of the most startling insights is how little the Tirpitz actually did in WWII. A mere handful of missions once based in Norway, its significance was more in its potential, and the fact the Navy had to commit its own ships to that area to protect convoys from a theoretical threat rarely realised due to the fact the Germans couldn't afford to risk their prize ship unless certain of victory. Too valuable to put into action then, and instead the missions against it detailed here, and the lives lost by brave men, all down to its mere existence rather than its actions. Just one of the insanities of war.
The details of those missions though are fascinating, and the memories of those men worth preserving. A word of caution though, more than once a picture or diagram is inserted halfway through an episode, with a caption that gives away events you've yet to read about. Tread carefully around these.
But all in all, an interesting insight into a less talked about episode in WWII history.
August 30, 2013
The Hunt for Hitler’s Warship by Patrick Bishop is a non-fiction book about the attempts of the allies to sink the German battleship Tirpitz during World War II. This is a great book for World War II buffs, naval historians or those interested in naval technical developments.
Patrick Bishop wrote an interesting book about the allies’ obsession with sinking the Tirpitz even though she was mostly inactive during the war. It seemed to me the Tirpitz’s greatest contribution during the war was to divert huge amounts of allied resources.
Mr. Bishop’s book is also a fascinating look at the naval history of the North Sea during World War II. This is a dense and detailed book on a subject I knew very little about and found the dynamics and war politics within the British Navy fascinating.
The author did a great job explaining how the Nimitz frightened the allies with her size and firepower, but was also a liability for the Germans with the resources she demanded to operate. A fascinating section of the book discusses the new weapons and training (such as human torpedoes and small submarines) which the allies invented. Men have struggled and even died during those missions and sometimes didn’t even know if they succeeded.
I did feel the book could have used a bit of spacing between paragraphs to create a physical separation of sections. For example, several pages could talk about Churchill or the allies, while the next paragraph talks about the captain of the Tirpitz without the usual 1” space. It’s a small complaint but I had to go and re-read several paragraphs to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
The book does an excellent job capturing the mood and history of the time, complete with maps showing movements of troops and ships. Churchill’s consuming infatuation of the Tirpitz is what put the ship in the history books; otherwise she might have been a footnote as she spent most of the war anchored.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Patrick Bishop wrote an interesting book about the allies’ obsession with sinking the Tirpitz even though she was mostly inactive during the war. It seemed to me the Tirpitz’s greatest contribution during the war was to divert huge amounts of allied resources.
Mr. Bishop’s book is also a fascinating look at the naval history of the North Sea during World War II. This is a dense and detailed book on a subject I knew very little about and found the dynamics and war politics within the British Navy fascinating.
The author did a great job explaining how the Nimitz frightened the allies with her size and firepower, but was also a liability for the Germans with the resources she demanded to operate. A fascinating section of the book discusses the new weapons and training (such as human torpedoes and small submarines) which the allies invented. Men have struggled and even died during those missions and sometimes didn’t even know if they succeeded.
I did feel the book could have used a bit of spacing between paragraphs to create a physical separation of sections. For example, several pages could talk about Churchill or the allies, while the next paragraph talks about the captain of the Tirpitz without the usual 1” space. It’s a small complaint but I had to go and re-read several paragraphs to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
The book does an excellent job capturing the mood and history of the time, complete with maps showing movements of troops and ships. Churchill’s consuming infatuation of the Tirpitz is what put the ship in the history books; otherwise she might have been a footnote as she spent most of the war anchored.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
August 8, 2013
This book is as much about the theater of war in the north Atlantic and Arctic as it is about the German warship, Tirpitz, especially considering how very little the vessel contributed to the war. But it was still a tremendous threat to the Allies, especially to the convoys of equipment travelling the northernmost waters of the Arctic to supply the Russians. The naval activity surrounding the northern nations is an aspect of WWII that is often overlooked, and here the significance of the area is presented in great detail. Though it is occasionally bogged down with the specifics of naval warfare and the countless names of airmen and sailors involved in these missions, this book is incredibly informative.
Though the Tirpitz spent most of the war inactive, docked in a Norwegian fjord, it was a symbol of German strength. The book documents the numerous attempts to destroy it and the extreme tactics the British used. The Allies stopped at nothing to prevent Tirpitz from becoming an active participant in Atlantic activity, interfering with the Normandy landing, or threatening Russian-bound convoys. What amazed me was how many millions of tons of munitions and supplies ended up at the bottom of the sea. This ship that was an obsession of Churchill's and an example of German might may have sat dormant, but its capabilities as the most dangerous vessel in the water was undeniable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via TLC Book Tours.
Though the Tirpitz spent most of the war inactive, docked in a Norwegian fjord, it was a symbol of German strength. The book documents the numerous attempts to destroy it and the extreme tactics the British used. The Allies stopped at nothing to prevent Tirpitz from becoming an active participant in Atlantic activity, interfering with the Normandy landing, or threatening Russian-bound convoys. What amazed me was how many millions of tons of munitions and supplies ended up at the bottom of the sea. This ship that was an obsession of Churchill's and an example of German might may have sat dormant, but its capabilities as the most dangerous vessel in the water was undeniable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via TLC Book Tours.
June 28, 2015
A very readable account of the Tirpitz and the many attempts to destroy one of Germany's capital ships in the Second World War. Tirpitz represented a permanent threat, particularly to the Arctic convoys. Moored for most of its life in a Norwegian fjord the Titpitz rarely ventured far, but when it did allied warships and merchant shipping were at a considerable disadvantage. Having sunk the pocket battleship Bismark shortly after it sank HMS Hood and then broke out into the Atlantic, the allies needed to rid themselves of Tirpitz and the very real danger it presented. From bombing raids by the RAF to underwater 'chariots' and later X-craft midget submarines, this book provides great insight into the race to sink the Tirpitz. A fascinating book which, for me, falls into the unputdownable category.
December 8, 2013
Solid historical war novel. I love ships and airplanes; in a way it was very educative reading this book. Well written, I nonetheless sometimes struggled a bit to follow the chronology. But then, war is not chronological, it is chaotic and it happens somewat randomly in multiple theatres. It was astounding the price of war - sunken ships, dead people, collateral damage, erosion of morals and principles. Behind the scenes are politicians pulling strings - some of them severely flawed in their personalities. As always, most soldiers are arguably healthier human beings than politicians. The courage of the soldiers on both sides and the risks they were prepared to take is incredible. Mainly for people with an interest in history, military action, boats, planes.
January 31, 2015
Excellent book for those interested in the history of WWII, especially with an interest in the lives and conditions of those that fought and experienced the war. The most significant take-away for me was the sheer quantity of resources and lives dedicated to the pursuit and destruction of a ship that in fact sailed out to battle so seldom and accomplished so little. The ship's potential to influence naval activity was immeasurably greater than its actual impact, a lesson hopefully missed by few strategists.
February 26, 2013
An in-depth account covering a vast amount of action: the breakout of the Bismarck, the Arctic Convoys, the Shetland Bus...all tied up with the operations of the Third Reich's last battleship.
An excellent starting point for any reading into all of these things, and a fine book in and of itself.
Filled with quotes of people from each side where appropriate, and fortunately short on the speculation that sometimes fills such tomes.
An excellent starting point for any reading into all of these things, and a fine book in and of itself.
Filled with quotes of people from each side where appropriate, and fortunately short on the speculation that sometimes fills such tomes.
December 6, 2014
This is the story of the battleship Tirpitz, mightiest vessel in the German Navy during World War 2, and of the many and varied attempts by the Allies to sink her in the fjords of Norway. I found the book to be highly informative but fast paced and easy to read. The maps on the inside covers were particularly helpful. I liked this book!
May 28, 2016
Covers a lot of material - Tirpitz was of strategic importance (or at least considered so) so everything happening around her has to be covered as well. As often is the case, contains a few errors (the Royal Navy had 3 battlecruisers at the start of the war, not 4; Duke of York had 14 inch guns not 15 inch) - and probably a few more that I missed.
Read
June 22, 2013Very good account of an important aspect of the war at sea.
November 20, 2013
A very readable account of the amazing ingenuity and courage (over the top, in some cases) of the British airmen and sailors who were determined to destroy the Tirpitz.
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