Sinking of Bremse

7 September 1941, Off Finnmark, northern Norway

British success; Bremse sunk, but the troopships escaped

After landing troops on Spitsbergen to evacuate it in Operation Gauntlet, the cruisers Nigeria and Aurora went looking for German shipping off northern Norway. Early on 7 September 1941, in poor visibility, they came on a German convoy carrying troops to the Arctic front, escorted by the gunnery training ship Bremse. Bremse turned towards the cruisers and fought them while the troopships made for the shelter of the fjords. She was sunk with most of her crew; the troopships got away. Nigeria's bow was badly damaged, probably by a mine or wreckage.