Prinz Eugen in May 1945

[NASAAN101]

When Prinz Eugen Surrendered to Britain in May 1945, she was then brought back to wilhelmshaven to be turned over the US as a War prize, she was Escorted by light Cruiser Dido and Heavy cruiser Devonshire? Was Devonshire behind Prinz Eugen or where was she? And Did Prinz Eugen have a Change to Escape in to open water or were there British Sailors on board her to mak sure she didn't make a run for it? but here is the twist here, Her Ammunition was offloaded under British orders, so she did't have her 8" shells. My question here is could she have gotten away or would she have been sank right off the bat? and why!
Nikki

[JägerMarty]

Theoretically she could have got a way I suppose, the allies probably would have shaddowed her for a good while, after VE day they may have been less willing to risk more lives to take her down...

[hucks216]

I don't think the British would of allowed her to escape and would of sent her to the bottom if she had of tried to run. Hostile feelings towards an enemy wouldn't of disappeared just like that and I don't think the British would of allowed a 1945 version of the 1918 Scapa Flow episode, albeit a ship escaping rather then being scuttled by her own crew under the very noses of the British. After all, U-Boats were still being attacked and sunk right up to the end of hostilities (3 U-Boats sunk with all hands on the 6th May and 2 more destroyed on the 8th). If they had no intention of sinking her if she of tried to run then they wouldn't of provided such a strong escort for an unarmed and partly manned ship.

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
there's an add on to this also: What If" light cruiser Nürnberg can draw off Dido and one Distroyer (Savage). Could PE draw off Devonshire and the other Distroyer (Iroquois). what were the odds on them getting away, i know PE didn't have any shells, but did she have her torpedoes or no? Kind of what i told my two other friends don't sink PE just corner her and force her to back down and give herself up, then if she dosen't pop off a few rounds at again see if she's back down, then if she dosen't, then sink her, but don't sink her off the bat. But what do you guys think or are they both dogmeat any way??
Nikki

[jerijerod]

I think the PE and the Lutzow would still have been sunk and or heavilly damaged.

And to what purpose would they escape? There was no where to run. The crews had had enough of war and wanted to go home, fleeing to a neutral port in Sweden or southamerica would have ultimatly proved pointless.

If the RN had been bloodied and the KM vessels escaped the RAF and FAA would have gone after them. Another torpedo run by swordfish and thats the end of that chapter...

[NASAAN101]

well, guys.
Like i've been tell everyone. DON'T SINK, JUST FORCE HER IN TO A CORNER, but don't sink her off the bat ok? Here My thinking let Britains for big gun battleships KGV, DOY, Nelson and Rondey trap her in a Fjord, then signal her, telling her crew they have five minutes to come out or the DD's come in after her.. But what do you think? or would they keep her from getting in a fjord in the first place??
NIKKI

[jerijerod]

I would have thought if they could bottle her in a fjord, rob her of her speed and manouvrability and then send in the RAF. High level bombers can do damage with less losses.

Once she'd been crippled either signal her and tell her its over or just wait for the inevitable surrender. If the war was over the crew would soon give up after an impromptu air raid from heavy hitting Halifaxs...

[NASAAN101]

jerijerod
let Britains for big gun battleships KGV, DOY, Nelson and Rondey trap her in a Fjord. could they do it and in drag her ot tow her out, then take her back without her crew on board?
NIKKKI

[jerijerod]

Its possible I guess. Not ideal for the big battleships to go in and manouevre around to tow her but its do-able.

The other thing is the RN would probably send a prize crew aboard to sail her out under her own steam, it makes it easier to stear her if there is a crew on her.

[NASAAN101]

jerijerod,
but anyway, let the four battlesips trap her then let the destroyer go in and get a tow line on her then one of the destroyers, can bring her out then pass the tow line to one of the battleships, then let other three BB keep in then the group by have two on each beam of her then one behind her.. that just what i'm trying to day. but what do you thing.

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
If PG was able to escape from Dido, Devonshire, Iroqoois, Savage? How would she fair again the 10 heavy weight of the US Navy: North Carolina, Washington, South Dakota, Indiana, Massachusetts, Alabama, Iowa, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Missouri! That's only if she had the legs to get out to Japan? What you guys thing and explain it to me ok..
Nikki

[hubertus]

It's rare to have a cruiser have battle with 2 battleships and live to tell the tale.

[hubertus]

Some say it was a shell from Prinz Eugen that sunk the Hood.
She was a mighty ship.

[panzermahn]

Why not the crew of Prinz Eugen set charges and hide it inside the cruiser and then rammed the cruiser Devonshire (just like Campbelltown tactics), this would ensured both would go down with all flags flying with such a dramatic but glorious ending...

[lwd]

Why not the crew of Prinz Eugen set charges and hide it inside the cruiser and then rammed the cruiser Devonshire (just like Campbelltown tactics), this would ensured both would go down with all flags flying with such a dramatic but glorious ending...

Or not. Since the war was over that would leave the crew liabel to criminal charges including murder and piracy I suspect. I simply don't see the "Glory" in completely senseless destruction and loss of life.