U - Boat Pens

Assigned to Naval Group 5 during the invasion of Norway, the Blucher led the flotilla into the Oslofjord to capture Oslo the capitol of Norway.  Two old 11in. coastal guns from the Oscarsborg Fortress scored two close range hits on the cruiser and two torpedoes fired from a shore based battery also struck the ship causing serious damage.  A fire broke out which could not be controlled and a magazine then exploded which sank the ship causing a major loss of life.

The heavy cruiser Blucher

View of one of the four battery turrets of the Bismark-class German Battleship Tirpitz with 381-mm guns, followed by escort support ships. In September - October 1941, the battleship was part of the Baltic Fleet (Baltenflotte) Kriegsmarine (Navy) created to prevent a possible breakout attempt by the Soviet Baltic Fleet. On 12 November 1944, British Lancaster bombers equipped with 12,000-pound (5,400 kg) "Tallboy" bombs scored two direct hits and a near miss which caused the ship to capsize rapidly. A deck fire spread to the ammunition magazine for one of the main battery turrets, which caused a large explosion. 