Admiral Bruce Fraser brings Duke of York, Jamaica, and destroyers out to cover an Arctic convoy against a suspected Scharnhorst sortie. Belfast, Sheffield, Norfolk, and their destroyers make two contacts that turn the German battleship toward Fraser's approaching force. Duke of York detects her on Type 273 radar, and Jamaica joins the gun action a minute after the battleship opens fire, scoring a hit with her third broadside. Scharnhorst initially opens the range in heavy seas, but a shell from Duke of York's last volley disables No. 1 boiler room and cuts her speed. Destroyers catch up and make four torpedo hits in a pincer attack. Jamaica and Duke of York renew fire at about 10,400 yards, after which Jamaica turns to fire both torpedo broadsides before Belfast and the destroyers complete the attack. Radar, heavy gunfire, speed loss, and coordinated torpedo attacks progressively close every route of escape.
Chapter · 24:30-30:19
Jamaica closes on Scharnhorst at North Cape
Radar, a disabling boiler-room hit, destroyer torpedoes, and Jamaica's renewed gunfire combine to trap Scharnhorst.