However, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy did not want his guests to leave so quickly. Four U-boats outside the harbor were under the sea, firing torpedoes to harass the British destroyers, and at the same time guiding the German destroyers to attack.
The British were stunned by the sudden attack. Under the command of Walburton Lee, one side could only respond hastily with scattered shooting, while the other side successfully withdrew outside the harbor under the cover of smoke screen. During this period, another British destroyer, the Havoc, was hit by two torpedoes in a row, ignited a raging fire, and was silent in the big explosion.
"Chase! We can't let them run away!" Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy immediately ordered the pursuit. If he hadn't received the intelligence from Admiral William Marshall, the current Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy would have been beaten. He was caught off guard and might have died for his country now, so no matter whether it was public or private, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy had no reason to let go of this British fleet.
"Wilhelm Heidkamp", together with "Roeder", "Anton Schmidt", "Lüdemann" and "Arnim", a total of five destroyers remaining in the port, this They came out in full force, apparently determined to show off their power to these uninvited guests.
However, just as Captain Walburton Lee was fighting and preparing to retreat from the battlefield, three German destroyers "Georg Thiele" and "Zenkel" came from the Hjensfjord for reinforcements. "" and "Jize" appeared. The hatred established between Britain and Germany since the last war was ignited at this time. The Germans were ready to avenge their predecessors. The British, who were tired from the long battle, fought and retreated, but when they sailed to Balangen Fjord, "Kuna "" and the "Erich Klerner" destroyer rushed out of the Balangen Fjord, just blocking the retreat of the British destroyer fleet.
At this time, the balance of power between the British and German navies here has reversed. Originally, if Captain Walburton Lee had successfully attacked Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy's five destroyers in Narvik Port, then Even if these German destroyers came to support later, the strength comparison between the two sides was still five to five. By then, the British fleet would also be able to fight to the death. However, God's will caused the sneak attack plan of Captain Walburton Lee to fail. It failed. The result is that the British fleet now has to face a German destroyer fleet twice its size.
"Tell Colonel Bey to block the escape route of the British fleet!" Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy, who commanded the destroyer "William Heidkamp" to rush out, listened to the bursts of gunfire from the distance and immediately I understood that the five destroyers that had been in the Hjensfjord and Balangen Fjord in the north came to support.
"Yes, General!" The signalman quickly sent a message to the other destroyers.
At this time, Colonel Bey of the 4th Destroyer Detachment became the temporary commander of the destroyer formations that rushed out to meet in the Hjans Fjord and Balangen Fjord. The powerful main gun on the German destroyer "Georg Thiele" aimed at the "Brave" and sprayed out tongues of fire. Captain Walburton Lee did not want to bother more, but he was killed by the German "Georg Thiele". "The destroyer held on tightly and had to fire back.
Colonel Bey immediately judged the flagship of the British fleet opposite, and immediately ordered, "Concentrate firepower to attack the British warship at an angle of 40°!" Colonel Bey's order was accurately conveyed to the main turret, and the triple 150 mm gun Three gun salvos were fired, and Captain Walburton Lee was immediately severely damaged. As the powerful main gun on the German destroyer "Georg Thiele" aimed at the "Brave" and spouted tongues of fire, the latter's ship The bridge and bow were destroyed, Captain Walburton Lee was killed immediately, and a few minutes later, the "Valiant" sank into the sea.
At this time, there were only two destroyers left in the British fleet, the "Hotspur" and the "Enemy", and they had also been damaged. The "William Heidkamp" commanded by Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy finally Arriving at the battlefield, the "Enemy" was immediately hit with a high-explosive bomb that was severely injured and almost stalled. The "Enemy" was burned into a ball of fire in the earth-shattering explosion.
Two German submarines, U-25 and U-51, tried to intercept the escaping British destroyer "Hotspur", but several torpedoes launched in succession failed to hit the nearby rocks, and the British had to watch helplessly. People leave.
The first naval battle of Narvik ended like this. On the surface, it seemed as if the German navy had won. The fledgling German navy had saved Narvik, but the prospect was obviously not good. Now in the port of Narvik Although the German fleet is intact, the accompanying transport ships have suffered heavy losses. Although the apparent naval strength has not been reduced, if another British fleet comes now, the German destroyer formation in Narvik port will face catastrophe. .
After the naval battle, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy redeployed the fleet and ordered the "Kuna" and "Erich Klerner" to sail to the entrance of the Westfjord for patrol, " Wilhelm Heidkamp", together with "Roedel", "Anton Schmidt", "Lüdemann", "Arnim", "Georg Thiele", "Cen" The eight destroyers "Kerr" and "Gize" were waiting in hiding in the harbor.
Although Narvik is only a small city with only about 10,000 people, it is an ice-free port due to the passage of the warm North Atlantic current. Moreover, because the fishing industry here in Narvik is very developed, the German Navy does not have to worry about having no source of food. The soldiers of the German Navy destroyer formation, who have washed away their lead, immediately began to worry about their stomachs like ordinary people. For your own sake.
However, as the commander of the fleet, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy, he was obviously not in the mood to eat. After doing all this, in the town hall of the small town of Narvik, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy and Admiral Bey Proofread the situation within a certain period of time in the future and start research immediately.
"The situation is not good. The fleet's fuel has basically been exhausted. It is impossible for us to return to Germany now!" Colonel Bey said, "The ammunition base consumption is also very large. If the British organize a second fleet, we can That’s it!”
"The British will definitely organize a second fleet!" Rear Admiral Fritz Bondi affirmed, "The British have the strength to do this, and the British destroyer that escaped will definitely report to the British, saying There are no large German warships in Narvik! Our strength has been discovered by the British, and now we can only wait for them to come again!"
"Is there no other way? I don't want to sit still and wait for death!" Colonel Bey is obviously not someone who is willing to surrender.
"Usually the only way is to rely on shore artillery for defense!" Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy said with a wry smile, "But the shore artillery at Narvik Port has been killed by our air force brothers. Yesterday the British shelled The shore artillery position is just a fake I made in one day! The only hope now is that the battlecruiser "Gneisenau" and "Scharnhorst" will come to support us quickly, so that we still have a chance to A chance to win!"
The news that the German Army occupied Narvik and other Norwegian ports under the cover of the navy and air force reached Britain, and the British government and the public were shocked. But immediately a bigger bomb exploded in the hearts of the British. The British Admiralty ordered the 2nd Destroyer Group to immediately destroy the German fleet and recapture Narvik. However, the news that came was so depressing. The five destroyers of the 2nd Destroyer Group returned only one "Hotspur", four destroyers were sunk, and the German Navy undoubtedly suffered losses. This was undoubtedly a loss for the rampant sea. A resounding slap in the face to the centuries-old British Empire Navy.
"Action must be taken immediately. Suppress the German offensive momentum. Once Norway falls, the German fleet will be able to freely enter and exit the North Sea!"
Admiralty Minister Churchill took the lead in calling out that under such current circumstances, even people who have always held a conservative attitude strongly demanded that the Royal Navy send a fleet to sink all German warships that invaded Norway, cut off the supplies of the German landing troops, and then join forces with the Norwegian and French armies. Destroy these invaders on the Norwegian coast!
The British Admiralty was well aware of the important military significance of Narvik Port. After urgent discussions, they made arrangements to attack Narvik Port again, with the purpose of recapturing the port and sinking or capturing all those who had entered Narvik. German destroyer. Good to give the Germans a head-on blow! Because the surviving destroyer "Hotsper" has brought back news that there are no large German warships in Narvik Port.
At this time, 120 nautical miles northwest of Narvik, the British Home Fleet, led by Lord Pahouse himself, was following the instructions of the British Admiralty, sharpening its sword and heading towards the Port of Narvik again. Everyone in this fleet was filled with indignation. He vowed to make the Germans pay with blood. Their pride and confidence. It is built on the glory accumulated in battles that the Royal Navy has saluted for hundreds of years, and on the powerful weapons they have in their hands.
But at this time, directly south of the British Home Fleet, two large German warships were also advancing towards the port of Narvik. Originally, the battlecruiser "Gneisenau" and the "Scharnhorst" were going to to help Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy, but the poor sea conditions and the delay of the fuel transport prevented the two warships from changing their plans. Admiral William Machal and Reinhard von Royan Cram had to sigh, "The plan did not change quickly!" However, with their reminder, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy beautifully defeated the sneak attack of the British fleet, which was considered a great blessing among misfortunes.