Above Us the Waves

The Royal Navy is worried about convoys and the threat of German submarines, while Tirpitz occupies a fjord. After air attacks by the RAF fail to sink her, Commander Fraser resolves to prove that human torpedoes can be a practical weapon. He begins exploring this unproven method as a possible way to counter Tirpitz without committing an entire fleet.

Fraser assembles a force of British commando frogmen officers and ratings to operate Mk I Human Torpedo 'Chariots' at their Scottish base. The unit undergoes intensive training and selection for dangerous underwater strikes. This preparation marks the birth of the special weapons program.

The team attaches dummy limpet mines to the admiral's own ship, demonstrating the potential impact of their weapons. The successful demonstration convinces higher command to authorize a real attack on Tirpitz. The event shifts the program from testing to active planning.

Following the demonstration, the Royal Navy grants approval to attack Tirpitz using Chariots, reversing the earlier policy of avoiding unproven weaponry. Fraser's force moves from training to execution planning. The decision marks the first official authorization for the mission.

The first Chariot mission reaches Tirpitz but fails to sink or damage the battleship. The crew abandons their craft and lands in Norway, then makes a grueling trek to neutral Sweden before being returned to Scotland. The mission exposes the risks of using human torpedoes in a heavily defended target.

After the failure, planners pivot to using small X-Craft submarines X1, X2 and X3. The crews train intensively to operate the new craft and plan a more covert approach. The Scottish base becomes the central hub for the new program.

In the next operation, the X-Craft boats are towed over the North Sea by conventional submarines and then released to penetrate Tirpitz's fjord. They aim to place explosive side-cargoes beneath the hull. The mission emphasizes stealth and the danger of navigation under heavy guard.

X1 and X3 approach undetected and lay their two-ton side-cargoes beneath Tirpitz's hull. The operation progresses as planned, threatening a crippling blow to the battleship. The crew of the other boats keeps watch, aware that any failure could reveal the entire plan.

X2 is badly damaged and cannot resurface, but the crew decides to stay aboard to avoid giving away the mission. They resist attempts to abandon ship, accepting the risk of sinking with their craft. The incident shows the harsh realities of underwater warfare.

X1 and X3 successfully scuttle their boats; the crews are captured by Tirpitz crew and taken as prisoners of war. Some German sailors are aggressive, yet the Tirpitz captain respects their courage. The exchange ends with the British crews in German hands.

The Tirpitz captain salutes the British sailors as brave men and offers blankets and schnapps as they are held aboard the battleship. The gesture underlines a rare moment of courtesy amid wartime hostilities. The accounts highlight the tension between admiration and capture.

The side cargoes explode on schedule, inflicting serious damage to Tirpitz. The battle-worn ship lists, signaling a turning point in the conflict and the potential effectiveness of the X-Craft method. The attack demonstrates the strategic impact of the operation.

Hearing the explosions nearby, X2's crew attempt an escape but their flooded cargoes cause an internal detonation that destroys X2 and kills her crew. The tragedy underscores the perilous nature of covert warfare. The mission's success in damaging Tirpitz is tempered by the losses.