Originally Posted by
Cornish Jack
PN - Just finished an account of Churchill's rise to power and the Norway campaign was a total shambles, all of it driven by Churchill against the advice of his contemporaries. A complete lack of heavy armament, forces in one ship. arms in another, no air support. - it reads like a re-run of Gallipoli. Not one of his most memorable achievements.
CJ, as already agreed, the Norway campaign was a shambles but should not be confused with the Lofotens Commando raid which was a classic small force attack requiring a totally disproportionate response by the Germans. In contrast the Tirpitz, as a force in being, required a disproportionate Allied response to contain and subsequently destroy her.
I wonder whether a containment threat would have required a greater German defensive effort to protect her?