Det som går ned må komme opp-An Alternate Royal Norwegian Navy TL
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Been keeping up with this timeline for awhile and it's definitely an interesting and seemingly well researched/plausible one. The Invasion of Norway IRL is basically ASB if anybody tried to actually write it and seeing the Germans get a good what for is definitely satisfying.
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
Exactly, and even when you're Bismarck, a 15in shell is still a 15in shell. These things hurts.
Far from impossible, just let her close the range and the Germans are not going away without a bloody nose -at least.
She was having her condensers refitted and retubed, which took until mid-May
Chapter XXIV
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Chapter XXIV: Narvik
Outside of a couple of patrol vessels and the new coastal guns, Narvik hadn’t had a large military presence until late 1939, when the iron shipped from the port to Germany became a major factor in Allied and German planning. The destroyers Aeger and Heimdal, converted minelayer Kvernaas, and two submarines were sent north to the strategic location, as were the seaplane tender Loki, her role being to support a squadron of seaplanes, and the MTB Carrier Navarra, four boats aboard. The guns guarding the Ofotfjord and Narvik were a battery of two 21cm guns, two of two 12cm guns and one of three 7.6cm were positioned on the north side of the fjord, west of Tarsad, known as Ramnes Fortress, while a battery of two 21cm guns, one of two 12cm, one of three 7.6cm, and a battery of four above water tubes firing 45cm torpedoes from old torpedo boats were positioned on the south side of the fjord, known as Haakon Fortress. Worry over either side seizing the port had caused Oslo to order the mining of the entrance to the fjord, though a sizable channel was left for the iron ore ships that regularly traversed the waters. The Germans had obtained the location of the channel from some of their own merchantmen traveling the fjord, and so the 10 destroyers assigned to Narvik knew how to avoid the mines, although they would have to enter in single file right in front of the Norwegian fortresses to do so.
Kommandørkaptein Per Askim, who was acting commander Ofotfjord because Kontreadmiral Hagerup was on leave, was fairly certain that one side or the other would eventually bring Norway into the war, but at Narvik, chances of an Allied intervention were higher than the chances of a German intervention. Seaplanes from Loki were keeping track of the British destroyers laying mines in the area, though they returned before night and therefore were never close enough to sight the incoming German destroyers, while Aeger, the flagship, and Heimdal had telephone cables ashore. Despite news of the British destroyers at the minefields withdrawing, Askim kept his vessels on high alert, with all men on shore called aboard, and the ships ready to leave. The two submarines were sent to Liland, twenty kilometers closer to the exit of Ofotfjord, on the north shore, to intercept any attack. At 19:30 on 8 April, Askim received a telegram from the Norwegian Embassy in London, warning that a German attack on Narvik was likely imminent. Though he was told by the Norwegian Admiralty later that day that this was considered unlikely, Askim was also authorized to use force to repel an attack on Narvik. The two destroyers and four torpedo boats moved out of Narvik Harbor, to be ready to head off hostile naval forces. Two auxiliaries, Kelt and Michael Sars, were patrolling off Barøya island, while the 21cm, 12cm, and torpedo batteries at the two forts were fully manned.
Between 01:00 and 03:00, reports were forwarded from Trondheim, consisting of news of attacks on Bergen, Trondheim, and Oslo, as well as orders to fire on German ships, not British, a copy of which was forwarded to Generalmajor Fleischer, commander of all ground forces near Finland, and Oberst Suodl, commander of Norwegian ground forces in Narvik, the main force being the 15th Regiment. Despite the snowstorm in the area, Kelt and Michael Sars had eyes on the three kilometer wide narrow they were patrolling, and didn’t fail to spot and report the ten German destroyers going by at 27 knots. They were Z2, Z9, Z11, Z12, Z13, Z17, Z18, Z19, Z21, and Z22.
The ten destroyers came under fire from Ramnes and Haakon fortresses as soon as they were in sight. Knowing where the minefield was, the ships sped through the channel before the Norwegian guns had time to fire at any one ship thrice, though the long line of destroyers meant that the guns fired at nearly every one of them. Most ships were hit with varying degrees of severity, but Z2, Z12, and Z22 got the worst of the damage, but were still operational, while Z11 took a torpedo and would require major repairs to be an effective combat vessel again. The four most damaged ships, along with Z17, split off to land their Jäegers and take the forts, while Z9, Z13, Z18, Z19, and Z21 proceeded to Narvik. The problem for Z2, Z12, Z22, Z11, and Z17 was that C5 and C6, the two Norwegian submarines, had submerged and headed for the narrows as soon as the reports from Kelt and Michael Sars were received. As the five destroyers sped towards Narvik, the other five were stopped, unloading their troops behind the guns of the fortresses, Z2, Z12, and Z11 on the north side, and Z22 and Z17 on the south side.
C5 fired a six torpedo spread at the first three destroyers, while C6 fired her salvo at Z22 and Z17. Z2 was hit by a torpedo next to her bridge, Z12 took one under her aft funnel, and Z11, already damaged, was hit near her No.3 mount. On the south side, Z22 was hit on her bow and near her aft torpedo bank, while Z17 was struck adjacent to her foremast. The damage to the destroyers was considerable, and the Captains of Z11 and Z17, which still had somewhat functional engines, beached their ships, allowing most of their passengers and cargo to still achieve their objectives of attacking the two forts. Meanwhile, due to a loss of power, Z2, Z12, and Z22 weren’t beached, and sank close to shore, but far enough out that their crews and the Army passengers had to swim a decent distance, the less intelligent of the latter trying to bring their rifles and supplies with them. Upon realizing that enemy soldiers were landing behind their guns, both fortress commanders hurriedly sent whatever men they could spare armed with machine guns, what could be found for small arms, and supported by 4cm guns originally meant for AA defense. The two submarines reloaded their torpedo tubes, and C5 put another torpedo into Z12, knocking out power, and the destroyer capsized half an hour later.
Z9, Z13, Z18, Z19, and Z21 were met off Vidrek by the Norwegian destroyers Aeger and Heimdal, along with the MTB’s MTB-37, MTB-38, MTB-39, and MTB-40. Visibility was terrible in the snow, which worked in favor of the Norwegians, who were outnumbered and outgunned, but still dangerous.
Z21, the flagship of Kommodore Bonte, led the flotilla of German destroyers, aware that there were two Norwegian destroyers and some MTB’s present, but not aware of their location. Askim, on the other hand, had received a report of ten destroyers, then a report that five were attacking the forts. Estimating their speeds at thirty knots, he knew roughly where he would meet them, and wasn’t far off. His plans for fighting any ships his ships encountered, as he and Odd Willoch, Captain of Heimdal, knew, were to fire a half salvo of torpedoes to scatter the intruders and engage with guns, holding the other half salvo for when the Norwegians had a better idea of what targets they should attack, while the MTB’s pressed home their attacks. The Norwegians did exactly this.
Aeger and Z21 were the first ships to sight each other, and while Bonte was going to attempt to negotiate, he quickly reconsidered when Aeger, followed by Heimdal, fired her main guns and launched torpedoes, as four small boats approached his ships at high speed. The Germans scattered while avoiding the eight torpedoes, and the MTB’s compounded the issue, allowing the two Norwegian destroyers to choose their target. They chose Z21, which was hammered by 12cm shells before Aeger and Heimdal switched to Z13, their attack on the former killing Bonte when a high-explosive shell exploded next to him. Without their commander, the Captains of the German destroyers took their own initiatives, which didn’t work out, and the German force didn’t try to regroup and use its advantage in numbers over the Norwegians, who were now at 3:2 odds after Z18 was torpedoed by one of the MTB’s, as was Z19, taking them out of the fight, while Z21 was reeling from the Norwegians teaming up on her. Z13 was torpedoed by Heimdal when the Norwegians attacked her, and Z9, seeing the deteriorating situation, raced back to the other five destroyers, trying to salvage the situation, only to find them sinking or beached, the work of the two Norwegian submarines. Z21 limped west, while Aeger and Heimdal finished off the three torpedoed destroyers, then overtook the German flagship and subdued her. Z9, with no place to go after being warned off by the torpedoed destroyers, attacked the Norwegians, trying one last time to reach Narvik, succeeding in damaging Heimdal, but was overwhelmed by the now numerically superior Norwegian destroyers.
The forts guarding the entrance to Narvik were still holding off the attacking Germans with their hurriedly put together land defenses when Heimdal and Aeger arrived, escorting Kvernaas, Navarra, Loki, and a few of the larger Norwegian vessels in the harbor, which were loaded with a battalion plus a company of Norwegian infantry and its equipment. Aware that the beached destroyers could likely still operate their guns, Askim bombarded the vessels, using his ability to bring all guns to bear to destroy the remaining 12.8cm guns. The Army landed two companies on each side of the fjord a quarter kilometer from the beached ships so that the Army wouldn’t be disembarking under fire, forcing the infantry to march to reach the Germans, but there was no rush. The forts were holding up alright, with the gunners joining the other defenders, and the Germans were stranded far from home, attacking a force that was holding, with another force coming up on its other flank. The Norwegians were careful not to lose their forces, though Oberst Suodl, their commander, has been criticized for a lack of aggressiveness. The fact that many of the Germans were suffering from seasickness and weren’t in optimal condition further weakened the invaders’ position. Three hours later, the Germans surrendered. Narvik was firmly in Norwegian hands, successfully defended by a small, ably led and well coordinated force.
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Chapter XXIV: Narvik
Outside of a couple of patrol vessels and the new coastal guns, Narvik hadn’t had a large military presence until late 1939, when the iron shipped from the port to Germany became a major factor in Allied and German planning. The destroyers Aeger and Heimdal, converted minelayer Kvernaas, and two submarines were sent north to the strategic location, as were the seaplane tender Loki, her role being to support a squadron of seaplanes, and the MTB Carrier Navarra, four boats aboard. The guns guarding the Ofotfjord and Narvik were a battery of two 21cm guns, two of two 12cm guns and one of three 7.6cm were positioned on the north side of the fjord, west of Tarsad, known as Ramnes Fortress, while a battery of two 21cm guns, one of two 12cm, one of three 7.6cm, and a battery of four above water tubes firing 45cm torpedoes from old torpedo boats were positioned on the south side of the fjord, known as Haakon Fortress. Worry over either side seizing the port had caused Oslo to order the mining of the entrance to the fjord, though a sizable channel was left for the iron ore ships that regularly traversed the waters. The Germans had obtained the location of the channel from some of their own merchantmen traveling the fjord, and so the 10 destroyers assigned to Narvik knew how to avoid the mines, although they would have to enter in single file right in front of the Norwegian fortresses to do so.
Kommandørkaptein Per Askim, who was acting commander Ofotfjord because Kontreadmiral Hagerup was on leave, was fairly certain that one side or the other would eventually bring Norway into the war, but at Narvik, chances of an Allied intervention were higher than the chances of a German intervention. Seaplanes from Loki were keeping track of the British destroyers laying mines in the area, though they returned before night and therefore were never close enough to sight the incoming German destroyers, while Aeger, the flagship, and Heimdal had telephone cables ashore. Despite news of the British destroyers at the minefields withdrawing, Askim kept his vessels on high alert, with all men on shore called aboard, and the ships ready to leave. The two submarines were sent to Liland, twenty kilometers closer to the exit of Ofotfjord, on the north shore, to intercept any attack. At 19:30 on 8 April, Askim received a telegram from the Norwegian Embassy in London, warning that a German attack on Narvik was likely imminent. Though he was told by the Norwegian Admiralty later that day that this was considered unlikely, Askim was also authorized to use force to repel an attack on Narvik. The two destroyers and four torpedo boats moved out of Narvik Harbor, to be ready to head off hostile naval forces. Two auxiliaries, Kelt and Michael Sars, were patrolling off Barøya island, while the 21cm, 12cm, and torpedo batteries at the two forts were fully manned.
Between 01:00 and 03:00, reports were forwarded from Trondheim, consisting of news of attacks on Bergen, Trondheim, and Oslo, as well as orders to fire on German ships, not British, a copy of which was forwarded to Generalmajor Fleischer, commander of all ground forces near Finland, and Oberst Suodl, commander of Norwegian ground forces in Narvik, the main force being the 15th Regiment. Despite the snowstorm in the area, Kelt and Michael Sars had eyes on the three kilometer wide narrow they were patrolling, and didn’t fail to spot and report the ten German destroyers going by at 27 knots. They were Z2, Z9, Z11, Z12, Z13, Z17, Z18, Z19, Z21, and Z22.
The ten destroyers came under fire from Ramnes and Haakon fortresses as soon as they were in sight. Knowing where the minefield was, the ships sped through the channel before the Norwegian guns had time to fire at any one ship thrice, though the long line of destroyers meant that the guns fired at nearly every one of them. Most ships were hit with varying degrees of severity, but Z2, Z12, and Z22 got the worst of the damage, but were still operational, while Z11 took a torpedo and would require major repairs to be an effective combat vessel again. The four most damaged ships, along with Z17, split off to land their Jäegers and take the forts, while Z9, Z13, Z18, Z19, and Z21 proceeded to Narvik. The problem for Z2, Z12, Z22, Z11, and Z17 was that C5 and C6, the two Norwegian submarines, had submerged and headed for the narrows as soon as the reports from Kelt and Michael Sars were received. As the five destroyers sped towards Narvik, the other five were stopped, unloading their troops behind the guns of the fortresses, Z2, Z12, and Z11 on the north side, and Z22 and Z17 on the south side.
C5 fired a six torpedo spread at the first three destroyers, while C6 fired her salvo at Z22 and Z17. Z2 was hit by a torpedo next to her bridge, Z12 took one under her aft funnel, and Z11, already damaged, was hit near her No.3 mount. On the south side, Z22 was hit on her bow and near her aft torpedo bank, while Z17 was struck adjacent to her foremast. The damage to the destroyers was considerable, and the Captains of Z11 and Z17, which still had somewhat functional engines, beached their ships, allowing most of their passengers and cargo to still achieve their objectives of attacking the two forts. Meanwhile, due to a loss of power, Z2, Z12, and Z22 weren’t beached, and sank close to shore, but far enough out that their crews and the Army passengers had to swim a decent distance, the less intelligent of the latter trying to bring their rifles and supplies with them. Upon realizing that enemy soldiers were landing behind their guns, both fortress commanders hurriedly sent whatever men they could spare armed with machine guns, what could be found for small arms, and supported by 4cm guns originally meant for AA defense. The two submarines reloaded their torpedo tubes, and C5 put another torpedo into Z12, knocking out power, and the destroyer capsized half an hour later.
Z9, Z13, Z18, Z19, and Z21 were met off Vidrek by the Norwegian destroyers Aeger and Heimdal, along with the MTB’s MTB-37, MTB-38, MTB-39, and MTB-40. Visibility was terrible in the snow, which worked in favor of the Norwegians, who were outnumbered and outgunned, but still dangerous.
Z21, the flagship of Kommodore Bonte, led the flotilla of German destroyers, aware that there were two Norwegian destroyers and some MTB’s present, but not aware of their location. Askim, on the other hand, had received a report of ten destroyers, then a report that five were attacking the forts. Estimating their speeds at thirty knots, he knew roughly where he would meet them, and wasn’t far off. His plans for fighting any ships his ships encountered, as he and Odd Willoch, Captain of Heimdal, knew, were to fire a half salvo of torpedoes to scatter the intruders and engage with guns, holding the other half salvo for when the Norwegians had a better idea of what targets they should attack, while the MTB’s pressed home their attacks. The Norwegians did exactly this.
Aeger and Z21 were the first ships to sight each other, and while Bonte was going to attempt to negotiate, he quickly reconsidered when Aeger, followed by Heimdal, fired her main guns and launched torpedoes, as four small boats approached his ships at high speed. The Germans scattered while avoiding the eight torpedoes, and the MTB’s compounded the issue, allowing the two Norwegian destroyers to choose their target. They chose Z21, which was hammered by 12cm shells before Aeger and Heimdal switched to Z13, their attack on the former killing Bonte when a high-explosive shell exploded next to him. Without their commander, the Captains of the German destroyers took their own initiatives, which didn’t work out, and the German force didn’t try to regroup and use its advantage in numbers over the Norwegians, who were now at 3:2 odds after Z18 was torpedoed by one of the MTB’s, as was Z19, taking them out of the fight, while Z21 was reeling from the Norwegians teaming up on her. Z13 was torpedoed by Heimdal when the Norwegians attacked her, and Z9, seeing the deteriorating situation, raced back to the other five destroyers, trying to salvage the situation, only to find them sinking or beached, the work of the two Norwegian submarines. Z21 limped west, while Aeger and Heimdal finished off the three torpedoed destroyers, then overtook the German flagship and subdued her. Z9, with no place to go after being warned off by the torpedoed destroyers, attacked the Norwegians, trying one last time to reach Narvik, succeeding in damaging Heimdal, but was overwhelmed by the now numerically superior Norwegian destroyers.
The forts guarding the entrance to Narvik were still holding off the attacking Germans with their hurriedly put together land defenses when Heimdal and Aeger arrived, escorting Kvernaas, Navarra, Loki, and a few of the larger Norwegian vessels in the harbor, which were loaded with a battalion plus a company of Norwegian infantry and its equipment. Aware that the beached destroyers could likely still operate their guns, Askim bombarded the vessels, using his ability to bring all guns to bear to destroy the remaining 12.8cm guns. The Army landed two companies on each side of the fjord a quarter kilometer from the beached ships so that the Army wouldn’t be disembarking under fire, forcing the infantry to march to reach the Germans, but there was no rush. The forts were holding up alright, with the gunners joining the other defenders, and the Germans were stranded far from home, attacking a force that was holding, with another force coming up on its other flank. The Norwegians were careful not to lose their forces, though Oberst Suodl, their commander, has been criticized for a lack of aggressiveness. The fact that many of the Germans were suffering from seasickness and weren’t in optimal condition further weakened the invaders’ position. Three hours later, the Germans surrendered. Narvik was firmly in Norwegian hands, successfully defended by a small, ably led and well coordinated force.
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And there goes half the German DD fleet without a single scratch to the Royal Navy nor a shot fired by it. Also it means one of the UK's most promising DD Flotilla commanders won't die at Narvik
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Driftless
Donor
Given that the port of Narvik remains in Norwegian hands and most/all of the German soldiers are captured or casualties, what do the surviving German destroyers do? I'm guessing they head southwest towards Trondheim, at least till further orders come through.
The Norwegian navy ships in Narvik, I would assume, hold their stations for now. They don't know if the Germans intend to come back for another round, or what? Plus, they're all probably in need of varying levels of repair after that shootout. And access to a suitable repair facility is questionable on that day.
The Norwegian navy ships in Narvik, I would assume, hold their stations for now. They don't know if the Germans intend to come back for another round, or what? Plus, they're all probably in need of varying levels of repair after that shootout. And access to a suitable repair facility is questionable on that day.
Z2: sunk by C5
Z9: sunk by HNOMS Aeger in last ditch attempt to reach Narvik
Z11: beached following fatal damage from C5, destroyed by bombardment from HNOMS Heimdal
Z12: sunk by C5
Z13: torpedoed by HNOMS Heimdal, foundered within an hour
Z17: beached following fatal damage from C6, destroyed by bombardment from HNOMS Aeger
Z18: crippled by MTB's, finished off by HNOMS Aeger
Z19: crippled by MTB's, finished off by HNOMS Heimdal
Z21(f): sunk by HNOMS Aeger and HNOMS Heimdal after they teamed up and crippled her
Z22: sunk by C6
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Could we get a status of the KM and Norwegian Navy update soon?
This is thoroughly enjoyable.
Glad you're enjoying it! While I probably won't do another OOB, there will be some summing up of losses in the next few chapters.
Still given the reality of the situation I'm sure the Norwegians will be very happy when the 5 H-class destroyers of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla show up
Driftless
Donor
Woof! I thought a couple had gotten away, but what a wipe-out!
I could forsee a later Len Deighton popular history "Narvik: Thor's Hammer"
And yeah Adolf's gonna be in a rage. The Kriegsmarine's suffered significant losses to what Hitler will no doubt see as a 'bunch of poorly prepared weaklings' And the RN and MN have not even weighed into the fight yet. But, despite these losses and gains by the Norwegians. This isn't a campaign that is going to be won at sea.
It depends if the Germans can expand their holdings and press north, they have several ports in their hands and now its a case of supplying troops. The Norwegian army is brave, but its outclassed in terms of manpower, equipment and tactical capabilities.As is the British and French, but if the Anglo/French forces can get enough troops ashore as quickly as they can, then that could help a great deal.
OTL the Germans held the ground at Narvik but not the sea and the RN had to get men ashore to liberate the town, here the Norwegians have scored a HUGE victory, one that will no doubt go down in their history books, as its a real David vs Goliath match up.
By bloodying the Germans as they have, the Norwegians have won that most precious of commodities in a crisis like this. Time. Time to mobilize men, to get them into position, to dig defences and man them, for the French and British to get troops and equipment over as fast as they can and to reinforce 'Plucky Norway'.
It depends if the Germans can expand their holdings and press north, they have several ports in their hands and now its a case of supplying troops. The Norwegian army is brave, but its outclassed in terms of manpower, equipment and tactical capabilities.As is the British and French, but if the Anglo/French forces can get enough troops ashore as quickly as they can, then that could help a great deal.
OTL the Germans held the ground at Narvik but not the sea and the RN had to get men ashore to liberate the town, here the Norwegians have scored a HUGE victory, one that will no doubt go down in their history books, as its a real David vs Goliath match up.
By bloodying the Germans as they have, the Norwegians have won that most precious of commodities in a crisis like this. Time. Time to mobilize men, to get them into position, to dig defences and man them, for the French and British to get troops and equipment over as fast as they can and to reinforce 'Plucky Norway'.
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