history · 08 June 1940 · 84 years ago
Captain Guy D'Oyly Huges of HMS Glorious failed to launch scouting aircraft as the carrier sailed for Britain, thus was caught unprepared when German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau (amidst Operation Juno) intercepted the group 170 miles off of the Norwegian coast. At 1630 hours, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau opened fire at the distance of 24 kilometers, scoring at least one hit at that long distance. Escoring destroyer HMS Ardent was destroyed by gunfire at 1720 hours, killing 151. Aircraft aboard Glorious could not be launched to participate in the battle due to flight deck damage, and all aircraft were lost when the carrier sank at 1910 hours; 1,162 sailors and 59 RAF personnel were killed. Escorting destroyer HMS Acasta hit Scharnhorst with one torpedo but was sunk by gunfire at 1920 hours, killing 161. German Navy Admiral Wilhelm Marschall ordered his flagship Gneisenau's flag to be lowered to half mast to honor the crew of the British destroyers who attempted to fight off the attack despite being outgunned.
More history on 08 Jun
OnThisDay.net