22/11/2025
Reading about the invasion of Norway l found this heroic story of the destroyer HMS Glowworn. Separated from its main taskforce to search for a man overboard, it stumbled across part of the German invasion Fleet. The cruiser Admiral Hipper was tasked with sinking it, but not before it could relay locations. After numerous hits from the 20.3cm guns and torpedos, the Glowworm, damaged, burning and sinking defiantly passed across the AH's bow with smoke, turning back into it. It's last desperate attack was to ram into the stern of the vessel as it passed through the smoke screen sheering off 40m of its armoured belt before sinking. Only 38 men survived, being taken aboard the AH, with Lt. Cdr. Roope being posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
