The locations of the major German warships according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 18 May 1942

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, MH 71390

Anchored in the Alta Fjord, Norway between 1943-1944

Admiral Scheer

Marinmuseum

Lutzow as the Deutschland

Marinmuseum

Admiral Hipper

Werft-Reederei-Hafen 1939

An item reported that aircraft sighted on 17 May the German battleship Tirpitz (1) lying on her usual position in the Norwegian Trondheim Fjord and with the German heavy cruiser Hipper (2) replacing the Prinz Eugen.(3) In the early afternoon was the latter seen escorted by 4 destroyers nearby the Norwegian coast around 40 miles south of Bergen, Norway speeding around 29 knots. There was none new news dealing with the pocket battleships Admiral Scheer (4) and Lutzow. (5) One report mentioned that the Lutzow escorted by one destroyer was going southward off the Skaw instead of using the Kattegat, possible returning to the Baltic.

Notes

1. Laid down by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 2 November 1936, launched on 1 April 1939, commissioned on 25 February 1941 and sunk by the Royal Air Force on 12 November 1944 at Tromsø, Norway, with her wreck broken up between 1948-1957. Of the Bismarck-class as answer on the French Richelieu-class battleships.

2. Laid down by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany on 6 July 1935, launched on 6 February 1937, commissioned on 29 April 1939, scuttled at Kiel, Germany being heavy damaged during a British air attack on 3 May 1945, finally salvaged in July 1945 and broken up between 1948-1952. Of the Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers, preceded by the Deutschland-class heavy cruisers also known as pocket-battleships.

3. Of the Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers, preceded by Deutschland-class. Laid down by Germaniawerft, Kiel on 23 April 1936, launched on 22 August 1938, commissioned on 1 August 1940, decommissioned on 7 May 1945, surrendered on 8 May 1945, handed over to the USA and sunk on 22 December 1946 during nuclear tests.

3. Of the Deutschland-class panzerschiffe later classified as heavy cruisers preceded by the Admiral Hipper-class. Main armament 2x3-28cm/11”guns on fore and aft ship one turret. Laid down by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 25 June 1931, launched on 1 April 1933, commissioned on 12 November 1934, sunk during an air attack at Kiel, Germany on 9 April 1945, partly broken up and the remains used of filling up the inner part of the dockyard.

1. 5. Of the Deutschland-class panzerschiffe later classified as heavy cruisers preceded by the Admiral Hipper-class. Main armament 2x3-28cm/11”guns on fore and aft ship one turret. Laid down by Deutsche Werke, Kiel, Germany on 5 February 1929, launched on 19 May 131, commissioned on 1 April 1933, renamed Lützow in January 1940, sunk in April 194 during an British RAF air attack, salvaged by Russian forces in 1947 and sunk while used as a target on 22 July 1947.

 

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 159 dated 18 May 1942