Скачать или смотреть The British Destroyer That 'Rammed' A Ship 10X Its Size—German Captain Recommended VC

April 8, 1940. Norwegian Sea. HMS Glowworm faced Admiral Hipper. 1,350 tons versus 14,000 tons. Ten to one size disadvantage.

Lieutenant Commander Gerard Roope had three options: run and be sunk, surrender and let the invasion fleet proceed, or attack with zero chance of survival. He chose attack.

When guns couldn't penetrate and torpedoes missed, Roope ordered one final move: ram the German cruiser at full speed.
09:52 hours. Impact. The destroyer's bow tore 130 feet of armor from Admiral Hipper's side. 500 tons of seawater flooded the cruiser. The German ship limped home for two weeks of repairs.
Glowworm sank four minutes later. 31 of 149 crew survived. Roope drowned during rescue.

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THE MISMATCH:
HMS Glowworm: 1,350 tons, four 4.7-inch guns, 36 knots
Admiral Hipper: 14,000 tons, eight 8-inch guns, 32 knots, 3.1-inch armor belt

THE BATTLE:
08:00 - Spotted German destroyers, opened fire
09:30 - Admiral Hipper emerged from fog
09:35 - Gunfire engagement, British shells couldn't penetrate armor
09:45 - Launched eight torpedoes, all missed
09:48 - Hipper's shells crippled Glowworm, speed dropped to 15 knots
09:52 - Rammed Hipper at 45-degree angle
10:00 - Glowworm sank

THE DAMAGE:
130 feet of armor belt ripped away
500 tons flooding
4-degree list
Torpedo armament destroyed
Speed reduced to 20 knots
Two weeks dockyard repairs required

THE UNPRECEDENTED HONOR:
German Captain Helmuth Heye filed official report recommending Lieutenant Commander Roope for the Victoria Cross. Enemy commanders did not recommend opponents for medals. This was unprecedented.
Report forwarded through Kriegsmarine, neutral diplomatic channels, International Red Cross to British authorities.

July 2, 1945 - King George VI approved the Victoria Cross for Gerard Roope.
First Victoria Cross of World War Two.
One of only three VCs in entire war recommended by enemy commanders.
All three were Royal Navy.

STRATEGIC IMPACT:
Admiral Hipper out of action for two weeks during critical Norwegian campaign. Three days later, British destroyed 10 German destroyers at Narvik. One destroyer's ramming removed a heavy cruiser at the decisive moment.

WHY IT WORKED:
British destroyer doctrine emphasized aggressive action and close-range fighting. Roope used every weapon before ramming. His reinforced bow, designed for North Atlantic seas, penetrated cruiser armor at close range. Hit exactly amidships where armor belt met hull frames. Tactical precision under fire.

THE RESPECT:
Captain Heye recognized Roope's courage represented the highest naval traditions. Exceptional courage transcends nationality. The German captain ensured his enemy received appropriate honor.

Gerard Roope faced a ship ten times his size with guns he couldn't match and armor he couldn't penetrate. He attacked anyway. When conventional weapons failed, he rammed. The impact crippled a German heavy cruiser. His enemy recommended him for Britain's highest honor.
Courage in combat is absolute, regardless of flag.

Sources: Royal Navy Battle Reports, Kriegsmarine Records, Victoria Cross Citation

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