Sherbrooke's escort faced a much stronger German force led by Admiral Kummetz, including Hipper, Lutzow, and six destroyers. Sherbrooke refused to scatter JW 51B and instead used aggressive feints, gunfire, smoke, and the credible threat of torpedoes to keep the Germans outside effective range of the convoy. Even after a serious facial wound, he retained command until another officer had taken control, matching the leadership described in his Victoria Cross citation. The destroyers did not outgun their opponent; they protected the convoy by making every German approach appear tactically dangerous.
Chapter · 2:35-8:22
How a destroyer escort fought off a superior force in the Barents Sea
A reading on the Battle of the Barents Sea shows how Captain Robert Sherbrooke's destroyers protected convoy JW 51B through smoke, torpedo threat, and aggressive manoeuvre.