HMS BRAMBLE (December 31, 1942)

Royal Navy minesweeper (850 tons) sunk by the German destroyer Friedrich Eckoldt in an action during the Battle of the Barents Sea while escorting convoy JW5-1B to Russia. Eight officers, including her captain, Cdr. H. J. Rust and 113 ratings were drowned.

FRIEDRICH ECKOLDT (December 31, 1942)

German destroyer launched in March, 1937, from the yard of Blohm & Voss, Hamburg and sunk during the Battle of the Barents Sea. After attacking the Allied Convoy JW5-1B and sinking the British minesweeper Bramble, the Eckoldt now headed towards distant gun flashes, her captain believed coming from the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. Instead he was confronted by the British cruisers HMS Jamaica and HMS Sheffield. The Sheffield opened fire at point blank range her shells hitting the aft magazine of the Eckoldt causing an explosion which sank her in seconds. She went down with all hands. The exact number of casualties varies but her wartime complement was usually around 335 men.

HMS ACHATES (December 31, 1942)

Clydebank built destroyer of 1,350 tons and part of a destroyer force escorting a North Russia bound convoy JW 51B. When off Bear Island in the Barents Sea, the Achates was attacked at 9.30 am by the German warship Lutzov. Hit forward by 8 in. shells and a direct hit on her bridge, which killed her captain, Lt. Cdr. Tyndale Johns and several others. She lost steam and slowed down only to be hit by several more salvos. Badly damaged, the gallant ship sailed on for one more hour before she floundered and within the space of three minutes the Achates turned turtle and sank, taking to the bottom seven officers and 106 crewmembers. The trawler Northern Gem was able to pick up 81 survivors.

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