"On Christmas Day, 1943, the Nazi Germany Battleship Scharnhorst, under Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) Erich Bey, put to sea with the purpose of attack the Russian bound Arctic convoys JW-55B and RA-55A north of Norway. Unfortunately, British code breakers had deciphered the orders and the British Admiralty were able to direct their forces to intercept. The next day, unable to detect the convoy, Admiral Bey detached the destroyers, sending them south and leaving Scharnhorst alone.

Less than two hours later, the Scharnhorst encountered the convoys escort force of cruisers (the HMS Belfast, HMS Norfolk, and HMS Sheffield). Under cover of snow, the British cruisers opened fire. Attempting to get around the cruisers and, consequently, to the convoy, Bey ordered Scharnhorst to take a southeast course away from the cruisers. In the late afternoon, the convoys covering force, including the HMS Duke of York, made contact and opened fire.

Throughout the engagement, the HMS Duke of York continued to fire and pursue the Scharnhorst, shots from the convoy covering force leading to the detonation of charges in A magazine, which detonated B magazine. At 1800 hours, Scharnhorsts main battery went silent; at 1820, HMS Duke of York destroyed a boiler room, leaving Scharnhorst open to attack. HMS Duke of York fired her 77th salvo at 1928.

Although battered and crippled by the force, Scharnhorst secondary armament continued firing wildly as the cruiser HMS Jamaica and the destroyers Musketeer, Matchless, Opportune, and Virago closed and launched torpedoes at 1932. At 1937, the HMS Jamaica fired three torpedoes, the last shots, and Scharnhorst sanke at 1945.

A total of 55 torpedoes and 2195 shells had been fired at Scharnhorst.

Of the complement of 1968 officers and crew, only 36 crew survived. None of them were officers."

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