German Navy

The heavy cruiser Blucher

Bundesarchiv

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.