PQ 17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster - Jeremy Clarkson

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January 2nd BBC2 9pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2013/53/...

He always does these well.

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Dark black line, Home Fleet (inc HMS Duke of York, USS Washington and HMS Victorious)

Thinner black solid line are the cruisers



Doesn't look as if the Home Fleet was ever meant to go the full distance, just part of the way there for PQ-17 and then pick up QP-13 on the way back.

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Not sure how you can tell a true story a different way to other people when you have interviewed the people who were there, the survivors will always tell the same story using the same words to everyone who interviews them. Historical quotes are always the same.

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It's been proven from deep sea sub dives on the wreck that Bismark sank because the crew opened water tight doors and set charges to scuttle it. Also confirming survivors own experiences of the day. They didn't want it falling into allied hands.

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Riley Blue said:

I scuttled, why the high loss of life? Of nearly 2,200 men on board the Bismark, just 115 survived. Surely the crew would have attempted to save itself? How many were killed/wounded due to British shell fire and torpedoes - over 2000?

For those that weren't killed on board of those that went into the sea only some were picked up by RN ships because a U-boats in the area warning caused them to break off and head home leaving many still in the water.

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This is the pre-Christmas review I read - http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts/television/9096362...

Cancels out any Guardian negativity.

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Although this was PQ18, this photo shows the force and dangers they faced.

Ammunition ship SS Mary Luckenbach's 1,000 tons of TNT explodes after being hit by an aerial torpedo dropped by attacking German aircraft. The ship was completely destroyed and all 41 merchant sailors and 24 US guardsmen on board were killed.

It wasn't a big ship either, same size as those around.

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Just started on Yesterday channel (Sky 537), will be on +1 later.