Q&A · 1:48:31-1:48:49

Narvik was deep enough for Warspite but still constrained her movement

The fjord offered enough depth for a battleship, although the restricted water still demanded caution and limited Warspite's advance.

Question

Was Narvik deep enough for HMS Warspite to operate freely?

Short answer

It was deep enough for her to enter, but still restrictive enough to require care and limit how far she went.

Notes

Narvik was deep enough for Warspite to operate, although the available water did not remove the navigational limits imposed by the fjord. Her careful movement and the point she reached reveal the difference between sufficient depth and unrestricted battleship manoeuvre. The geography imposed a practical constraint on a famous surface action.