warspite1ORIGINAL: warspite1
warspite1ORIGINAL: desicat
ORIGINAL: warspite1
Warspite1
Looks like a good book - I will give this a go.
You mention the JU-87 and JU-88 - but interestingly it was the ME-109 (in a fighter bomber role) that damaged HMS Warspite. Not sure whether this aircraft was responsible for other sinkings/damage off Crete.
I just did a quick scan and a ME-109 FB did hit the Warspite, but so did the DB's. A 109 also got the crippling hit on the Fiji with a 500lb near miss that ripped her open like a mine hit would, she was finished off later by the DB's as well.
The book is one of my favorites. You will enjoy the chapters that describe Luftwaffe "Air Bridge" supply attempts in Russia.
I will check that out - I was unaware of any other damage sustained off Crete other than the attack by the three ME-109's when she entered the Kithera Channel.
As I thought, I can't see any mention of other hits from dive-bombers. When she was withdrawing from the Channel she was attacked again but not hit.
She did suffer further damage from a near miss a month later while at Alexandria preparing for her journey to Bremerton, but that was a high level air raid.
The Germans may have got confused with Valiant perhaps?