The Fættenfjorden War Memorial

Discover the story behind the Fættenfjorden Memorial.
This monument, erected in 1985, honours the Allied forces who gave their lives in four dramatic (but unsuccessful) attacks on the feared German battleship Tirpitz.

Tirpitz was anchored in Fættenfjorden from January 1942 to October 1943. It was one of the two largest warships in the German navy during World War II. The ship was finally sunk after British forces bombed it in Tromsø in 1944.

The First Confrontation

On the night of 30 January 1942, fourteen British aircraft set out on a daring mission to bomb Tirpitz. But fate was not on their side. Fog made precision bombing impossible, and they were forced to return without success. One aircraft ran out of fuel and ditched in the sea off Aberdeen – fortunately, all on board survived.

A Blind Second Attempt

Late on 30 March, another attack was launched. Once again, fog proved a relentless enemy, and 34 aircraft had to release their bombs without visibility. Tirpitz remained untouched, while six aircraft and 42 men lost their lives – either shot down by anti-aircraft fire or forced into emergency landings in the icy sea.

Chaos Over Skatval

On 27 April, a third attempt was made with 43 aircraft. Panic spread over Skatval as bombs fell from 8,000 feet. Five planes were shot down, but one made a miraculous emergency landing on a lake, and the entire crew survived. Other aircraft crash-landed but managed to return to Scotland against all odds.

The Final Attack

The following day, 28 April, the last assault was carried out with 34 aircraft. Two planes were shot down, and four crashed. One aircraft landed in the fjord near Malvik, and four of its six crew members survived. The wreck was rediscovered by NTNU students in 2014, reminding us of the heroic efforts and sacrifices made.

The Fættenfjorden Memorial stands as an eternal tribute to the brave Allies who fought and fell during these four attacks.