Q&A ยท 32:15-34:02

Tracing HMS Spitfire's Jutland armor fragment

The panel considers how the German armor fragment brought home by HMS Spitfire was studied and where it may survive.

Question

What happened to the German armor fragment HMS Spitfire brought back from Jutland?

Short answer

It was likely studied, but its present location is unknown and may be in a national or regional museum collection.

Notes

The fragment was probably examined closely for what it revealed about German armor. Its current location is uncertain; the Imperial War Museum or a small regional collection near the yard that repaired Spitfire are suggested as the likeliest possibilities. The ship's post-battle movement toward Newcastle points toward a possible Tyneside connection.