First Battle of Narvik

10 April 1940, Narvik harbour and the Ofotfjord

Indecisive; two destroyers lost on each side, the Germans trapped in Narvik

Told the Germans held Narvik with perhaps one ship, Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee signalled "Intend attacking at dawn high water" and took five H-class destroyers up the fjord in falling snow. They caught five German destroyers in the harbour refuelling. Torpedoes sank Wilhelm Heidkamp, killing Commodore Bonte, and broke Anton Schmitt in two, damaged Diether von Roeder and Hans Lüdemann, and sank merchant ships. But the other five German destroyers were in the side fjords. As the British withdrew, three came out of the Herjangsfjord and two from Ballangen to catch them between. A shell burst on Hardy's bridge; she was run ashore and Warburton-Lee died. Hunter was hit and then rammed by Hotspur and sank. Havock, Hostile and the damaged Hotspur got out, sinking the German ammunition ship Rauenfels on the way. Warburton-Lee was given the Victoria Cross. The German destroyers, short of fuel and ammunition, could not leave.