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Honour - 'Admiral Sheer' 1940


Date - 05-November
Type - Single Ship or Boat Service Actions
Conflict - World War 2; 1939-45

 
Description The action took place in the North Atlantic, about 755nm (1,318km) south south-west of Reykjavik, Iceland.

The German battleship Admiral Scheer (6 x 11" guns and sister ship to the Admiral Graf Spee), encountered convoy HX84 from Halifax to the UK, comprising 37 merchant ships. Their sole escort was the armed merchant cruiser Jervis Bay.

Despite being totally outgunned and outranged, she engaged the battleship until she was sunk with heavy loss of life. The time bought allowed the merchant ships to begin scattering and Admiral Scheer only managed to sink five of the merchantmen, the others escaped.

Only 65 of those aboard Jervis Bay survived, being picked up by the neutral Swedish ship Sturholm.

 

 
 
HM Ships
Jervis Bay         
         
 
This page last edited - 26 July, 2012.

Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.