Allied order of battle for Operation Tungsten

This article provides an order of battle for the Allied forces involved in the Operation Tungsten attack on the German battleship Tirpitz on 3 April 1944.

Hellcat pilots assigned to 800 Naval Air Squadron studying a model of Tirpitz's anchorage ahead of the Operation Tungsten attack

Home Fleet forces dispatched

The Home Fleet had responsibility for conducting the attack. The ships involved sailed from the Home Fleet's base at Scapa Flow in two groups on 30 March 1944.

Force One[1][2]

Force Two[1][2]

Composition of strike forces

On 1 April Admiral Fraser decided to conduct the strike on 3 April rather than 4 April as originally planned. This led to the following organisational changes:[3]

  • HMS Duke of York escorted by HMS Matchless and Marne detached from Force One and cruised to the west
  • The remainder of Force One sailed to join Force Two, with the two forces combining on the afternoon of 2 April
  • The Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers Blue Ranger and Brown Ranger, escorted by the destroyers HMS Javelin and ORP Piorun, were detached from Force Two on 1 April

The attack on Tirpitz and the anti-aircraft batteries and ships located near her mooring at Kaafjord on 3 April involved two strike forces:[2][4][5][6]

1st strike

  • No. 8 Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Wing
    • 827 Naval Air Squadron
    • 830 Naval Air Squadron
  • Fighter escorts
    • Elements, 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons
    • 800 Naval Air Squadron
    • 881 Naval Air Squadron
    • 882 Naval Air Squadron

2nd strike

  • No. 52 Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Wing
    • 829 Naval Air Squadron
    • 831 Naval Air Squadron
  • Fighter escorts
    • Elements, 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons
    • 804 Naval Air Squadron
    • 896 Naval Air Squadron
    • 898 Naval Air Squadron

References
Citations
  1. Tactical, Torpedo and Staff Duties Division (Historical Section) (2012), p. 139
  2. Brown (1968), p. 40
  3. Tactical, Torpedo and Staff Duties Division (Historical Section) (2012), p. 140
  4. Tactical, Torpedo and Staff Duties Division (Historical Section) (2012), pp. 158–162
  5. Brown (1977), pp. 34–35
  6. Tillman (1996), p. 74
Works consulted
  • Brown, J.D. (1968). Carrier Operations in World War II : Volume One - The Royal Navy. London: Ian Allan.
  • Brown, David (1977). Tirpitz: The Floating Fortress. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0853683417.
  • Tactical, Torpedo and Staff Duties Division (Historical Section) (2012) [1944]. "Naval Aircraft Attack on the Tirpitz (Operation 'Tungsten') 3 April 1944". In Bennett, G.H. (ed.). Hunting Tirpitz: Naval Operations Against Bismarck's Sister Ship. Plymouth, United Kingdom: University of Plymouth Press. pp. 133–177. ISBN 9781841023106.
  • Tillman, Barrett (1996). Hellcat Aces of World War 2. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855325969.
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