It is hard to reconcile Captain Fegen VC, SGM with today’s England or Ireland whose prime ministers would now respond by creating a committee to investigate Germaniphobia or just blame the Jews.
Thanks for sharing this. A great leader totally committed to the mission. But let's not forget the ordinary sailors and ratings (many who I assume were civilians) who followed orders that they knew were almost certainly a death sentence. Without flinching. Best we can do is salute and remember. Which this post helps us do.
Brave man the CO of that outgunned cruiser. I've read a lot about WW2 but wasn't aware of that battle. In looking at the next most likely naval flashpoint, the SCS and Taiwan, our navy is going to have a very rough time. I don't doubt the ability or bravery of our Navy, but our amply demonstrated inability to build and maintain warships, much less quickly repair battle damage, is going to prove very costly. The Pentagon now believes the Chicoms will build 9 carriers. And many wonder why. Not me. It's pretty clear. When your adversary has clearly demonstrated they can't do what was formerly a core competence (build large numbers of warships) and you have surpassed them, it's time to prepare the felling blow. When they finally go for Taiwan there are many scenarios that could play out. In any of them our naval forces in theater will have a very rough time. We've lost deterrence.
FULLBORE to the nth degree. good to read a second time around.
"awe" is word that has become......common; but that word is the only word that fits to even try to express the......wonder, shock,......reverence that this story engenders.
Awe..........for the captain who knew he was certainly outgunned; and a ships crew that felt it but continued on to the fight.
( Note:.........of the 39 ships in the convoy......34 eventually made it through)
Fullbore. Midshipman Scoobs was on an arduous summer cruise to Bermuda back in the day and was walking the strip when he came across a memorial tablet in her honor. Somewhere around Casa de Scoobs I have the USNI book on the subject...
A year or two back the Commandant of the Marines told Congress that the Marines were unable to carry out it's roles of (among other things) embassy defense because the Navy has a shortage of amphibs.....
Totally agree. After multiple failures building warships, and I include the Ford Class as a failure as years after being commissioned it STILL has the same unresolved problems, the Navy not only doesn't hold anyone accountable, it promotes them. Not one gating issue has been addressed. Yes Congress, idiots that they are, year after year, allocates yet larger sums towards the DOD. Aggressively expanding our shipbuilding capacity is something that should have started many years ago. The total absence of accountability in our military and outsourcing our manufacturing prowess will be our undoing.
To be fair to Congress (which I hate doing), the only real power they have is the purse strings and confirmations. And very few of them want to campaign on cutting defense spending, especially if it impacts jobs in their district.
Congress has the power of oversight and can, through "managing" funding, influence greatly what the military does or doesn't do. Congress, through its robotic approval of greater & greater sums of money is incentivizing the failed status quo, for many years now. IMO corruption in the system is the problem. "Political donations" from defense contractors and allowing senior officers to retire & then immediately go to work for said contractors stinks to high heaven. You cant measure military power by the amount spent because for a very long time we've been getting ripped off. And Congress will not vote against its own interests, case in point, term limits. Something the electorate very clearly wants, but never gets. The massive reforms needed at the federal level will not come via the ballot box.
I love reading WWII history to honor my father, my uncle, my mother, grandmother, my aunt … my Jewish, and Catholic family!
I’ve asked my USAF son, to please keep his eyes on Maine’s Shipbuilding.
The “Plus One” didn’t happen yesterday! Mary Marburg Hoffman Habig and Robert Clifford Habig did not want me anywhere near Robert Hoffman’s Annapolis, Maryland home for Christmas dinner. Hence, I practiced my Spanish in Western Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Just now, I learned Russia and Mexico are working together, shipping food elsewhere in our World! Tensions between Mexico and USA are on the rise!
Did anyone see the Dark Red Nuclear Submarine under construction in North Korea?
Did anyone read China’s warning to USA about continued weapons shipping to Taiwan?
Did anyone read the news between Poland and Russia? Over the Baltic Sea was where the Polish/Russian intervention happened in the past twenty-four (24) hours.
EU spokesman warns “WAR” is imminent on the Continent.
Is anyone asking about our bombing of North Western Nigeria?
I’m very curious. Are we safe in Maryland?
Very respectfully yours, Lieutenant Commander “Retired” Nurse Jane
Brave Search Summary: In the past twenty-four hours, Poland intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea, with Polish fighter jets visually identifying and escorting the plane away from the area.
Additionally, dozens of objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus, with four identified as likely smuggling balloons.
The Polish National Security Bureau suggested the mass nature of the incursions, occurring during the holiday season and alongside similar recent incidents in Lithuania, may indicate a provocation disguised as a smuggling operation.
These events follow heightened tensions since September 2025, when over 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, marking the first time NATO forces shot down Russian drones over a member state's territory.
Churchill: “Victory is the beautiful, bright-coloured flower. Transport is the stem without which it could never have blossomed. Yet even the military student, in his zeal to master the fascinating combinations of the actual conflict, often forgets the far more intricate complications of supply.”
Also
"The first year of a war you have nothing that you need, the second year you have half of what you need and the third you have all that you need, you just can't use it."
A bit of human interest (Boys from Bedford flavor)
"Among those on the ship, which sunk, were 18 Royal Naval Reservists from Wick and Caithness villages, making the Second World War tragedy off the coast of Reykjavik a personal loss for those in the north of Scotland."
Excellent historical account. However, a few observations. While your focus is on the heroic achievements of the Captain and crew of the ship I have to examine the engineering aspects of the engagement. The German 'pocket' battleship had been built during the Naval Treaty era which limited tonnage of the largest ships of every country. Notice that the 11 inch guns didn't sink the merchant ship without enormous expenditure of ordance on target. Yes, a lot of topside damage, but it did not sink. A single direct hit from a 16 inch shell from an Iowa class battleship would probably have sunk that merchant ship. This leads me to the present. The 'Trump' class BB touted as new main battleship is a non-starter. Why? the 35,000 ton draft does not permit enough leeway to install an armor belt below the waterline nor provide enough flexibility to install 'blister' armor topside to deflect incoming. My reserach into WWII engineering of the heaviest battleships point to the trade off ability to install a heavy armor belt below the waterline (to deflect incoming torpedos) and heavy blister armor topside to defend against incoming aeriel attack vs. the weight of the ordnance systems. But that installation is a trade off of weight vs. the weight of installed ordnance systems. The new (post Vietnam) Naval ships had virtually no armor defense to permit maximum tonnage to be devoted to ordnance systems. That trend continues to this day. The maximum tonnage of the new 'Trump' class BB also does not permit any armor shielding in order to allow maximum ordinance installation. I expect this program to be cancelled the minute that Trump is out of office. It is just a media excercise. And an effort by the business man SECNAV to focus Trump on reenergizing the ship building industry (to get his battleship). And a marketing tool to hype the administration's efforts to recapitalize the shipbuilding industry. r/Karl
Trump announces new battleships and he has no lack of experts telling him it can’t be done. No wonder our country seems to be incapable of building anything anymore. Hard to believe this is the country of Edison Ford the Weight Brothers etc
Canadian sailor tells the story of his ship encountering Von Scheer a few hours before the Convoy was attacked. This is why lookouts and Mk1 eyeballs matter.
It is hard to reconcile Captain Fegen VC, SGM with today’s England or Ireland whose prime ministers would now respond by creating a committee to investigate Germaniphobia or just blame the Jews.
As Gen. MacArthur said, “Duty, Honor, Country”.
Real ships, real guns and real men.
Hold fast.
Thanks for sharing this. A great leader totally committed to the mission. But let's not forget the ordinary sailors and ratings (many who I assume were civilians) who followed orders that they knew were almost certainly a death sentence. Without flinching. Best we can do is salute and remember. Which this post helps us do.
To Captain Fegen: Well done, sir and RIP. Hand Salute................Two.
Brave man the CO of that outgunned cruiser. I've read a lot about WW2 but wasn't aware of that battle. In looking at the next most likely naval flashpoint, the SCS and Taiwan, our navy is going to have a very rough time. I don't doubt the ability or bravery of our Navy, but our amply demonstrated inability to build and maintain warships, much less quickly repair battle damage, is going to prove very costly. The Pentagon now believes the Chicoms will build 9 carriers. And many wonder why. Not me. It's pretty clear. When your adversary has clearly demonstrated they can't do what was formerly a core competence (build large numbers of warships) and you have surpassed them, it's time to prepare the felling blow. When they finally go for Taiwan there are many scenarios that could play out. In any of them our naval forces in theater will have a very rough time. We've lost deterrence.
FULLBORE to the nth degree. good to read a second time around.
"awe" is word that has become......common; but that word is the only word that fits to even try to express the......wonder, shock,......reverence that this story engenders.
Awe..........for the captain who knew he was certainly outgunned; and a ships crew that felt it but continued on to the fight.
( Note:.........of the 39 ships in the convoy......34 eventually made it through)
Fullbore. Midshipman Scoobs was on an arduous summer cruise to Bermuda back in the day and was walking the strip when he came across a memorial tablet in her honor. Somewhere around Casa de Scoobs I have the USNI book on the subject...
A few years ago didn't the USN tell the merchant marine industry not to expect escorts in time of war? Talk about a shocking dereliction of duty...
Escort, with what?
No Corvettes
No Frigates
Damned few Destroyers, and those allocated to ASW and fleet defense
No Cruisers or anything bigger for surface / ASW / AAW
Exactly. When an organization identifies a critical deficiency, it should take steps to remedy it and not stick its head in the sand.
A year or two back the Commandant of the Marines told Congress that the Marines were unable to carry out it's roles of (among other things) embassy defense because the Navy has a shortage of amphibs.....
That's sticking ones entire branch into the sand
Totally agree. After multiple failures building warships, and I include the Ford Class as a failure as years after being commissioned it STILL has the same unresolved problems, the Navy not only doesn't hold anyone accountable, it promotes them. Not one gating issue has been addressed. Yes Congress, idiots that they are, year after year, allocates yet larger sums towards the DOD. Aggressively expanding our shipbuilding capacity is something that should have started many years ago. The total absence of accountability in our military and outsourcing our manufacturing prowess will be our undoing.
To be fair to Congress (which I hate doing), the only real power they have is the purse strings and confirmations. And very few of them want to campaign on cutting defense spending, especially if it impacts jobs in their district.
Congress has the power of oversight and can, through "managing" funding, influence greatly what the military does or doesn't do. Congress, through its robotic approval of greater & greater sums of money is incentivizing the failed status quo, for many years now. IMO corruption in the system is the problem. "Political donations" from defense contractors and allowing senior officers to retire & then immediately go to work for said contractors stinks to high heaven. You cant measure military power by the amount spent because for a very long time we've been getting ripped off. And Congress will not vote against its own interests, case in point, term limits. Something the electorate very clearly wants, but never gets. The massive reforms needed at the federal level will not come via the ballot box.
Not a problem. There are so few American flag commercial vessels that there is nothing to guard.
Good Morning Shipmates!
Today is “Boxing Day” 2025!
I love reading WWII history to honor my father, my uncle, my mother, grandmother, my aunt … my Jewish, and Catholic family!
I’ve asked my USAF son, to please keep his eyes on Maine’s Shipbuilding.
The “Plus One” didn’t happen yesterday! Mary Marburg Hoffman Habig and Robert Clifford Habig did not want me anywhere near Robert Hoffman’s Annapolis, Maryland home for Christmas dinner. Hence, I practiced my Spanish in Western Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Just now, I learned Russia and Mexico are working together, shipping food elsewhere in our World! Tensions between Mexico and USA are on the rise!
Did anyone see the Dark Red Nuclear Submarine under construction in North Korea?
Did anyone read China’s warning to USA about continued weapons shipping to Taiwan?
Did anyone read the news between Poland and Russia? Over the Baltic Sea was where the Polish/Russian intervention happened in the past twenty-four (24) hours.
EU spokesman warns “WAR” is imminent on the Continent.
Is anyone asking about our bombing of North Western Nigeria?
I’m very curious. Are we safe in Maryland?
Very respectfully yours, Lieutenant Commander “Retired” Nurse Jane
Brave Search Summary: In the past twenty-four hours, Poland intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea, with Polish fighter jets visually identifying and escorting the plane away from the area.
Additionally, dozens of objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus, with four identified as likely smuggling balloons.
The Polish National Security Bureau suggested the mass nature of the incursions, occurring during the holiday season and alongside similar recent incidents in Lithuania, may indicate a provocation disguised as a smuggling operation.
These events follow heightened tensions since September 2025, when over 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, marking the first time NATO forces shot down Russian drones over a member state's territory.
Iron Men.
No DEI
Churchill: “Victory is the beautiful, bright-coloured flower. Transport is the stem without which it could never have blossomed. Yet even the military student, in his zeal to master the fascinating combinations of the actual conflict, often forgets the far more intricate complications of supply.”
Also
"The first year of a war you have nothing that you need, the second year you have half of what you need and the third you have all that you need, you just can't use it."
Great deeds of great men. Thank you for remiding about this story!
I am always amazed by men who surely know the outcome but proceed anyway.
Fullbore.
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/if-it-had-not-been-for-hms-jervis-bay-everyone-would-have-been-wiped-out-b28l56sl5mw
A bit of human interest (Boys from Bedford flavor)
"Among those on the ship, which sunk, were 18 Royal Naval Reservists from Wick and Caithness villages, making the Second World War tragedy off the coast of Reykjavik a personal loss for those in the north of Scotland."
Excellent historical account. However, a few observations. While your focus is on the heroic achievements of the Captain and crew of the ship I have to examine the engineering aspects of the engagement. The German 'pocket' battleship had been built during the Naval Treaty era which limited tonnage of the largest ships of every country. Notice that the 11 inch guns didn't sink the merchant ship without enormous expenditure of ordance on target. Yes, a lot of topside damage, but it did not sink. A single direct hit from a 16 inch shell from an Iowa class battleship would probably have sunk that merchant ship. This leads me to the present. The 'Trump' class BB touted as new main battleship is a non-starter. Why? the 35,000 ton draft does not permit enough leeway to install an armor belt below the waterline nor provide enough flexibility to install 'blister' armor topside to deflect incoming. My reserach into WWII engineering of the heaviest battleships point to the trade off ability to install a heavy armor belt below the waterline (to deflect incoming torpedos) and heavy blister armor topside to defend against incoming aeriel attack vs. the weight of the ordnance systems. But that installation is a trade off of weight vs. the weight of installed ordnance systems. The new (post Vietnam) Naval ships had virtually no armor defense to permit maximum tonnage to be devoted to ordnance systems. That trend continues to this day. The maximum tonnage of the new 'Trump' class BB also does not permit any armor shielding in order to allow maximum ordinance installation. I expect this program to be cancelled the minute that Trump is out of office. It is just a media excercise. And an effort by the business man SECNAV to focus Trump on reenergizing the ship building industry (to get his battleship). And a marketing tool to hype the administration's efforts to recapitalize the shipbuilding industry. r/Karl
Trump announces new battleships and he has no lack of experts telling him it can’t be done. No wonder our country seems to be incapable of building anything anymore. Hard to believe this is the country of Edison Ford the Weight Brothers etc
Canadian sailor tells the story of his ship encountering Von Scheer a few hours before the Convoy was attacked. This is why lookouts and Mk1 eyeballs matter.
Spared by the Admiral von Scheer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3kR0ou5w30