On 12 November 1944, 29 British Lancaster bombers attacked the German battleship Tirpitz at its anchorage off the small island of Håkøya, just west of Tromsø. Two 5,400 kg Tallboy bombs hit the ship directly. The Tirpitz capsized within minutes, killing between 940 and 1,204 crew members. The British suffered no casualties.
The Tirpitz had been moved to Tromsø in October 1944 after being crippled in an earlier attack at Kåfjord near Alta. The Germans chose the Håkøya anchorage believing the water was shallow enough to prevent the ship from capsizing if attacked. They were wrong.
The wreck was scrapped between 1947 and 1955, but parts of the bow remain visible, along with a pontoon used during the demolition that can be seen at low tide. A memorial stone on Håkøya, made from salvaged steel from the Tirpitz, was erected by Tromsø municipality in 1984.
Håkøya is about 15 to 20 minutes by car from central Tromsø. The memorial is modest and the site is quiet. The Tromsø War Museum in the city centre has more detailed exhibitions about the attack.
The Tirpitz had been moved to Tromsø in October 1944 after being crippled in an earlier attack at Kåfjord near Alta. The Germans chose the Håkøya anchorage believing the water was shallow enough to prevent the ship from capsizing if attacked. They were wrong.
The wreck was scrapped between 1947 and 1955, but parts of the bow remain visible, along with a pontoon used during the demolition that can be seen at low tide. A memorial stone on Håkøya, made from salvaged steel from the Tirpitz, was erected by Tromsø municipality in 1984.
Håkøya is about 15 to 20 minutes by car from central Tromsø. The memorial is modest and the site is quiet. The Tromsø War Museum in the city centre has more detailed exhibitions about the attack.