"While the occupation of Narvik was in progress, a sharp engagement was taking place between Admiral Whitworth's force and the two German battleships which were providing distant cover to the several groups of in the invasion operation. These ships – the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst – had detached the destroyers to Narvik (2000/8/4) and then had steered to the north-westward in order to take up their covering position in the Arctic. While on this course they ran into Admiral Whitworth in the Renown, who, with his nine destroyers, was returning to the south-eastward after spending the night to the west of the Lofoten Islands, waiting for the weather to moderate before establishing a patrol off Vestfjord."[1]
"The weather gradually improved during the night, but accurate station-keeping by the destroyers was not yet possible. Admiral Whitworth therefore decided to wait until there was enough light to enable him to turn to the south-eastward without losing touch with any of them. The turn was made at 0230, snow squalls rendering visibility variable, but with the increasing light and a following wind conditions improved. About an hour later, when some 50 miles to the westward of Skomver light, two ships were observed emerging out of a snow squall. They were thought to be a battleship and a heavy cruiser, but were in fact the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst.[a]"[1]
"The Germans were first sighted at 0337 on the 9th, when the Renown was steering 130º at 12 knots with her destroyers stationed astern. The enemy was then broad on the port bow, rather more than 10 miles away, steering an approximately opposite course. A few minutes later Renown altered course to close and increased speed, and at 0359 she hauled right round to 305º, roughly parallel with the enemy. Six minutes later fire was opened on the leading ships at a range of 18,600 yards. In the short action that ensued the Renown was hit twice, though without being seriously damaged; a hit on the foretop of the Gneisenau destroyed her main fire control equipment and temporarily disabled the main armament. At 0418, the Gneisenau turned away, being covered by a smokescreen laid by the Scharnhorst, which was then engaged by the Renown but was not hit."[1]
"Then followed a chase to windward that lasted for an hour and a half. The destroyers had joined in with their 4.7-inch guns, though at such a range their fire could hardly have been effective; but the rising wind, which had veered four points, caused a heavy swell and a high sea, and soon compelled them to drop astern out of the action. Desultory firing continued, and at 0434 the Gneisenau's A turret was put out of action by a direct hit; a third hit caused only minor damage."[1]
"Just before 0500 the German ship disappeared in a rain squall. They had the legs of the Renown, which was unable to steam at full speed in to the head sea. When the weather cleared again some 20 minutes later, the enemy was once more sighted, farther off than before, and still heading northwards. Both sides reopened an ineffective fire during the intervals between rain squalls, and at 0615 the Germans finally ran out of sight. The German battleships had attained their object of creating a diversion, though it is doubtful if they would have been able to get south again in time to interfere with our intended attack on Trondheim. The bare knowledge that the German capital ships were at sea, however, had a disturbing influence on the Admiralty, who were averse to sanctioning operations, other than air attacks, against the more southern Norwegian ports until these enemy units had bee located."[1]
"Admiral Whitworth stood on after them until shortly after 0800; he then turned to the westward, in case the enemy broke back to the southward, but no further contact was made."[1]
Notes
edita. ^ "Identification of the various classes of German ships was rendered difficult on account of the close similarity of their silhouettes."[1]