Operation Judgement (1945)

Operation Judgement
Part of Second World War

Operation Judgement. The main targets of the attack, the depot ship Black Watch and U-711 are hidden behind water columns and smoke
Date4 May 1945
Location68°43′30″N 16°33′54″E / 68.7250°N 16.5650°E / 68.7250; 16.5650
Result British victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom  Germany
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Rhoderick McGrigor Nazi Germany Hans-Günther Lange
Strength
3 Fleet Air Arm Squadrons:
44 aircraft from 3 Escort carriers
Various anti aircraft defences, shipping, U-boats
Casualties and losses
2 aircraft
4 killed
1 U-boat sunk
2 ships sunk
150 killed or wounded
Harstad is located in Norway
Harstad
Harstad
Harstad, Norway

Operation Judgement was an operation carried out at the end of the Second World War by the Home Fleet of the British Royal Navy in Northern Norway on 4 May 1945. A force of 44 Fleet Air Arm aircraft attacked a U-boat base 5 mi (8.0 km) south of the town and port of Harstad. The attack was directed at vessels in the natural harbour at Kilbotn. It lasted seven minutes and left two ships and a U-boat sunk. No Norwegians in the village of Kilbotn were killed or injured during or after the attack. Operation Judgement was the last air raid of the war in Europe.