The Tribals needed a strong visual presence if they were to stand in for cruisers. HMS Eskimo's appearance introduces the point before the account turns to the Second Battle of Narvik. A German torpedo destroyed everything forward of B mount and inflicted severe casualties, yet the surviving gun kept firing. Eskimo launched her own torpedoes and then advanced stern-first, bringing the after mounts to bear as she covered destroyers following around the fjord. The ship retained enough combat power to support the attack despite losing her bow.
Notable Point · 27:19-29:13
HMS Eskimo’s resilience at Narvik
The Tribal's imposing appearance supported cruiser duties, while Eskimo's survival after losing her bow at Narvik showed how much combat power the class could retain.