Which words signaled the end of the scharnhorst

When Graf von Spee led his fleet in an attack on Port Stanley, an important coaling station for the British fleet, he realized he was sailing into a trap and tried to retreat.

But the British ships gave chase, and by early afternoon, had caught up to the German squadron. Ultimately, a total of 2, German sailors perished over the course of the clash. Three members of the Graf von Spee family—the admiral and his sons Heinrich and Otto—were among the dead. Like the thousands of other families who suffered unimaginable loss during the First World War, we remember them and must ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain. Jason Daley is a Madison, Wisconsin-based writer specializing in natural history, science, travel, and the environment.

A sonar image of the S. Scharnhorst , which sank in the south Atlantic on December 8, Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust Maritime archaeologists have located the wreck of the S. The S. Scharnhorst was the flagship of Germany's East Asia Squadron. We shall fight to the last shell'. A total of 55 torpedoes are fired at Scharnhorst , and 11 found their target. It was as good as over. The commander of Scharnhorst broadcast to his crew that 'I shake you all by the hand for the last time'.

Admiral Fraser signalled: 'Has Scharnhorst sunk? Fraser then signalled Home Fleet Headquarters ' Scharnhorst sunk'. Well done. In his official Dispatches, Admiral Fraser stated that 'no ship saw the enemy sink' but, regardless of this, he proceeded to record an official position for that sinking.

Almost 60 years later, a Norwegian underwater survey vessel searched the 25 square kilometres of the seabed surrounding that official position. However, the wreck wasn't found. However, is it any more credible than the official position? None of the logs of the other ships taking part in the battle give any positions for the sinking, but there is a unique method to check the accuracy of the log position. It is similar to an aircraft simulator, but with a warship's bridge replacing the flight deck.

In order to recreate the battle, the Bergen computers were loaded with navigational data from the log of the flagship, along with her documented performance data. A virtual Battle of North Cape could now be fought. Seven hours later, at the climax of the re-fought battle, the virtual Scharnhorst is sunk. The simulator's computers download a different area for the sinking - an area of the seabed approximately 20 sea-miles north of the position given in Fraser's official Dispatches.

However, would a search of this new area of seabed be any more fruitful? En route to its regular seabed mapping operations, Sverdrup had already surveyed the area indicated by both the simulator and the Duke of York 's logbook. Seen for the first time in almost 60 years, Scharnhorst 's hull lies upside down on the seabed.

The vessel's multibeam sonar produces an image of two objects, one m long, the other 70m long, and positioned at an angle to the first. Is it a wreck and more importantly, is it the wreck of Scharnhorst? The total dimensions are consistent with those of the battle cruiser.

However, it could be a geological feature on the seabed. It is a wreck - but is it Scharnhorst? The layout of the surviving weaponry, like torpedo launchers and gun-turrets, leaves no doubt. Her main mast and her rangefinders are the right way up on the seabed some distance away. As is her entire poop deck, with the stern anchor still in place. The hull shows extensive damage from both armour-piercing shells and torpedoes.

HMS Duke of York fired 80 broadsides; and the Allied ships fired a total of 2, shells during the engagement. Some 55 torpedoes were launched at Scharnhorst , and 11 are believed to have found their target.

There is now an explanation of why she sank so suddenly. A massive internal explosion - probably in an ammunition magazine below a forward gun turret, had blown off her bow. The entire bow section remains together as a mass of wreckage and armour, but separated from the main wreck. Of the Scharnhorst 's total crew of 1, men, only 36 survived. Many of those had been ordered to abandon ship, but were left behind in the water when the Allied ships quickly departed the area.

Remembering the incident, Rex Chard, Navigating Officer on one of the destroyers, remarked, 'in sea-warfare one is always very sorry for the sailors. It's the ships you're after - not the men.

It could have been you. We had to win. Our hearts have mellowed now, but in wartime those hearts are hardened. It was their ship, their pride and joy, and after the Home Fleet had finished with her, she was at the bottom of the Barents Sea. Although there were 38 survivors, none had been picked up by the German warships. Scharnhorst 's loss was an enormous psychological blow to the German nation. Equally important to the Allied war effort, the routes of the Murmansk convoys were now much more secure.

The loss of the Scharnhorst marked the beginning of the end for the era of the big gun.