XPost: aalt.war.world-war-two

Michael Hirst
Emeritus Professor of Criminal JusticeUpdated 3y
Which are WWII’s best ‘David and Goliath’ military engagements and why? Why not a tale of one David vs two Goliaths?


As the Norwegian campaign started to go the way of the Germans, the
aircraft carrier HMS Glorious was caught and sunk, with no aircraft in
the air, by the two fast German battleships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.
Her two little escorting destroyers tried to protect her with
smokescreens, and with their little 4.7″ guns, but to no avail. HMS
Ardent was soon sunk too. That left HMS Acasta, still intact and dodging
the shells. As she worked up to full speed, her captain, commander
Glasfurd, told the crew, “Our chummy ship [Ardent] is sunk and the
Glorious is sinking. You may think we are running away. We are not. The
least we can do now is put on a show.” And with that, the Acasta charged through her own smokescreen to launch repeated torpedo attacks on the
two enemy battleships. Despite a deluge of 11′ and 5.9″ gunfire, a
torpedo struck Scharnhorst below her aft 11″ turret, causing enormous
damage and loss of life. Both battleships were hit, but hardly damaged,
by Acasta’s little 4.7″ shells. But eventually, German shells struck
home, again and again.

As Acasta finally started to sink, aboard the German flagship Gneisenau
the order was given for all men to stand to attention, as the war flag
was lowered in tribute to “the brave crew of the enemy destroyer, now sinking”.

Only one man survived from the Acasta - a torpedo man who claimed to
have fired the one that hit Scharnhorst. But his story was not believed,
until it was shown to be true by German reports that became available
after the war.

Commander Glasfurd ought to have been a sure bet for a posthumous
Victoria Cross, but without the full story being known, he was awarded
only a mention in dispatches. Even after the war, there was confusion as
to which destroyer had hit the Scharnhorst. The Germans did not know
which was which, and the mystery was only finally resolved when
survivors from HMS Ardent spoke out and said it could not have been
them. Nobody had asked them before.

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John Glossop
· 3y
You forgot about the Glowworm incident from the same battle, where a
single destroyer took on a the Admiral Hipper during the same campaign.

Also, consider the human torpedo attacks of WWII, which were TRULY David
and Goliath stuff.

Human torpedo - Wikipedia

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Michael Hirst
· 3y
I read about the Glowworm long before I ever heard of the Acasta, but in
the David v Goliath stakes fighting two battleships trumps fighting one cruiser, doesn't it?

David Rhys Price
· 3y
I would suggest reading the book

‘Battle of the April.Storm’

This was an event during the Norwegian campain in the spring of 1940
following the German 8nvasion of that country

The event thay took place responding to the question was when the
British 1800 ton dedtroyer the Gloworm took on the 10000 ton German
heavy cruiser Admirak Hipper single handed.

During this unequal struggle with the Gloworm suffering multiple hits
from its much more powerful opponent the captain realising it was almost
game over for his crippled ship gave the order to ram thw Hipper
admidships which it did causing severe damage.

The Glowarm sank some of the crew were picked up by the Germans but
dadly the brave captain did not make ir.

For me this has to be among the top of the list in the annals of
outstanding bravery and saccrifice made by any navy

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Michael Hirst
· 3y
I have seen it asserted that HMS Glowworm was no longer under control
when she rammed the Admiral Hipper. Little damage was caused to the
Hipper, despite the valour of the Glowworm’s captain and crew.

There is also a book (long out of print) about HMS Acasta’s last stand,
and the story of her lone survivor and his fight to have to try story
believed. I think to be honest that it could have been better written,
but it is still of interest.

From the German perspective, this account is notable: Scharnhorst - The History - Operation "Juno"


David Rhys Price
Thats as maybe But it does not detract from the superb bravery and
saccrifice of the ships crew To think otherwise is totally disengenerouse Profile photo for Wil Manric
Wil Manric
· 3y
HMS Acasta and HMS Gloworm are two reasons why Operation Seelowe never
had a chance. The Royal Navy would have, despite losses, interdicted all supplies going by sea and what German troops managed to get ashore would
have no supplies and no reinforcements.

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Rory O'Brien
Can't say how true that would have been but the Royal Navy showed it was
a force to be reckoned with. Even with inferior ships. Respect.
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Michael Coburn
· 3y
What a great story! Thank you for sharing this Michael. I was only aware
of the Glorious sinking but knew nothing of the destroyers until now.
Hope to hear more from you!

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