Sheffield's radar registered contacts at 08:58, but gun flashes seen at 09:32 were initially mistaken for antiaircraft fire. Burnett eventually turned south at 09:55 and increased speed to 31 knots. Before Sheffield and Jamaica arrived, Bramble encountered Admiral Hipper and opened fire with her two 4-inch guns. The minesweeper displaced under 1,400 tons at full load and could not survive the heavy cruiser's 8-inch fire followed by Friedrich Eckoldt's torpedo attack. She sank with all hands. At 11:35 the British cruisers opened fire, damaged two of Hipper's boiler rooms and reduced her speed to 28 knots. Once Kummetz realized that cruisers had arrived, he ordered his force to withdraw west.
Chapter · 2:45:29-2:49:37
Bramble's last stand and the arrival of Force R
A small minesweeper engaged Admiral Hipper before British cruisers arrived and damaged the German flagship with rapid six-inch fire.