Though not yet ready to start a build of DKM Tirpitz, my research for upcoming Lancaster/TallBoy and Halifax builds have of course encountered much history and references on this epic ship, whose simple existence "in being" was - much like the Italian fleet, in the Mediterranean - a sufficient threat to force the British to waste substantial naval reserves - waiting, on constant alert - to counter whatever move she might decide to make. A fact of which the British were keenly aware - and itching to eliminate - and would accordingly attack her by practically every means imagineable, until finally effecting her destruction.
But not before the Germans, equally aware of Tirpitz' value and efficacy, would cunningly protect and maintain her, in Norwegian fjord lairs, during WWII for years:
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I even found an exceedingly rare color reference:
Enlarged and sharpened as much as I could, this pic shows Tirpitz on May 25, 1943, locating her in Norway's "AltaFjord". Note again the simple disruptive scheme, including prominent false bow - the whole forward third of the ship creating the distinct illusion of a trawler, IMHO - painted over what is clearly a white hull. Note the upperworks blend almost perfectly into the shoreline background, due to shadowing on their apparently all-gray surfaces - just as seen in the prior pics, above - and that the hull camo ends in a white fantail - again, as in the prior pic of the stern, which may well date from precisely this same circa-1943 time period.
Indeed, Tirpitz' camouflage appears to have changed at least annually during WWII:
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So it would appear her camo was evolving over time, from simpler to more complex:
Accordingly, we could very reasonably conclude that this undated pic of a disruptive scheme - the "classic" Tirpitz camo, and that in which she is most beautifully modelled, IMHO - must date from rather later than the mid-'43 pic, shown earlier. Note the pattern has elaborated not only more shapes, but into a bona-fide, dazzle pattern extending over all of the superstructure - and quite possibly the decks as well. Indeed it is hard to imagine how Tirpitz' camo could have become any more complex than this, before her final ordeal at the hands of Lancasters, and their gigantic TallBoy bombs, from 9/15/44 to 11/12/44.
On which latter date Tirpitz was finally destroyed off Tromso:
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Apparently, this same crater has since been preserved - undoubtedly as part of a war memorial - right up to this day:
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Indeed. Tirpitz was a historic ship - magnificent in appearance, particularly in her final, dazzle-camo - with a truly epic story, encompassing her life and constant tribulations through to her spectacular, final end.
A build of Tirpitz really should accompany any build of the TallBoy Lancaster(s) - not to mention any of the numerous prior RAF aircraft, RN aircraft, their carriers and/or even the secret mini-subs - all ranged against Tirpitz, The Lone Queen, before her time was up.
Cheers,
-Matty
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