Drobak Sound

[Drydock]

Last year one of the movies Oscar nominated for Best Foreign language film was "The Kings Decision" portraying the German invasion of Norway.  As I am fond of Norwegian rifles, I present to you here perhaps the most dramatic scene from the film, moreso as it not "dramatized" at all, but a stunning portrayal of the opening battle of the west in WW2, the sinking of the Heavy Cruiser KMS Blucher in Drobak Sound approaching Oslo.  Interesting here is that the Blucher was a brand new ship, while the 11" Fortress guns shown  (the actual guns, filmed in the actual fortifications) were made by Krupp in 1892.  The Torpedo's that finish the ship dated from 1900!  Thus all Norwegian weapons shown are GAF eligible . . .

As a further aside, the man commanding and aiming the torpedoes that night had retired 13 years before, but had been brought back by request of the Fortress Commander (himself 6 months from retirement) as the current torpedo officer was down sick.  Thus showing the respect required of old weapons in the hands of old men.  

The main battery only got off the 2 shots as shown, as the majority of the gun crews were recruits brought in only 7 days before.  Not enough practice on reloads.

[Scattered Thumbs]

 Interesting here is that the Blucher was a brand new ship, while the 11" Fortress guns shown here (the actual guns, filmed in the actual fortifications) were made by Krupp in 1892.

Kind of ironic, isn'it?

And thank you for the link.