Gerard Roope and HMS Glowworm's last fight

Roope correctly recognized that two German destroyers were drawing Glowworm toward a heavier force during the invasion of Norway. Once Admiral Hipper appeared, heavy weather made shadowing impractical, so Roope reported the cruiser and chose to attack. Glowworm fired both sets of five torpedoes, and at least one passed close along Hipper's side. She continued with three working guns after taking heavy damage, rammed the German cruiser, and scored again at point-blank range. Only 31 of roughly 149 crew survived, while Hipper remained to rescue men from the water. The Victoria Cross case depended heavily on the German commander's detailed account, which he forwarded despite the political risk of praising an enemy officer.