Gneisenau knocked out

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More than 100 seamen were killed in the attack. I don't know how much, if any of the loaded (but unfused) ammunition was cooked off as a result of the hit.


The ship was repairable after the raid. the Germans should have retained the 11in armament instead of shooting for the 15in upgrade.
 
Hello
according to Garzke & Dulin none of the shells exploded but the 230 burning powder cartridges and the fuel fire destroyed large part of the bow. The damage was so bad that Germans estimated that the repairs would take 2 years to complete, that's why they decided to reconstruct the ship with 15" guns.
 
I believe that apart from U-boat production vast numbers of dockyard workers had been redployed to the uboat program in 1939-40. More than 60000 workers were so moved. They were not replaced. Basically DKM surface fleet by 1942 was being supported by only a skeleton dockyard force
 
From "The Bomber Command War Diaries - an Operational Reference Book 1939 - 1945" by Martin Middlebrook & Chris Everitt



As always, I don't know the accuracy of the books, I leave that to you guys. I just posts 'em

EDIT: had the wrong bloody file attached...OK fine now
 
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