Admiral Hipper and three destroyers approached from the north while Lutzow and the other destroyer group came from the south, intending to trap JW 51B. By the time they found the convoy, both German groups were largely approaching from astern instead of closing cleanly from opposite sides. Obdurate sighted the German destroyers, and Onslow spotted Admiral Hipper behind the convoy. The Halcyon-class minesweeper HMS Bramble then encountered Hipper. Bramble's small guns could not seriously threaten a heavy cruiser, but she fought anyway and forced the German force to spend time destroying her. Those minutes reduced the time available to reach the merchant ships before Burnett's cruisers arrived.
Chapter · 20:49-24:05
The German pincer and HMS Bramble's delaying fight
The German force approached from the wrong position for its intended pincer, while the small minesweeper HMS Bramble fought Admiral Hipper and consumed precious raiding time.