BBC2 tonight Clarkson on Convoy PQ17

4 July 1942 - contact with PQ17 re-established.............



https://archive.org/stream/wardiarygermann351942germ#page/56/mode/2up



http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geleitzug_PQ_17

 

Looks like it's going to be good.

 

For all the criticism he receives, that garrulous northerner has presented some excellent items. Damned annoying that I have to use various subterfuges to view it from outside the UK.

 

Cannot say I am enarmoured of Clarkson's qualities as a history presenter...he's in the Dan Snow league.

Some might remember David Irving's account of the incident which was proved to be inaccurate in his Convoy PQ17 assumptions regarding the professional performance of Captain J E Broome,the Convoy Escort Commander.

Irving was nailed in a libel action by Broome on account of his published assertions. From the libel action,his errors were forced to be changed in reprints of of his publication.

 

Whilst Clarkson may not be everyone's cup of tea, I suspect that his presentation may result in the programme being watched by more viewers than might otherwise be.

Roxy

 

His progs on greatest raid...Campbelltown and Major Cain Vc, were more than watchable also found them informative and Clarkson for all his faults did a good job,i look forward to watching this effort.

 

Blutto

Have you tried http://www.filmon.com/tv/guido for watching online. There is a minimal time lag which won't affect your viewing, we use it sometimes here in Brittany when the winds become very strong and rattles the antenna dish such that the box does not know if it is coming or going and reception is disrupted.

TD

 

The story of the convoys is an important one that is largely overlooked by many people looking at the history of WW2. So this is a noteworthy story and is the type for which Jeremy Clarkson tends to do well with.

 

I thought this documentary was thoroughly researched, well written and presented. The fellows interviewed who were involved in the convoys brought a personal viewpoint to the story. Nor did it gloss over or glorify things that went wrong.

Overall, this was an excellent programme.

 

German Air Operations Against Convoy PQ17 (From the diaries of Luftflotte 5)

From the beginning of June (1942) a PQ convoy was reported by agents to be assembling on the west coast of Iceland but the actual sailing was not observed. It was, however, inferred from the location at 1640 hours on the 30 June of the westbound QP convoy in a position 180 miles north of the North Cape that the PQ was also at sea. Extra air reconnaissance was then laid on in the Jan Mayen area. At 1401 hours on the 2 July the PQ 17 convoy was sighted east of the island and was reported to consist of 38 merchant ships escorted by 10-15 naval craft. In the vicinity was a covering force of two battleships, one or two aircraft carriers, four cruisers and about 12 destroyers.
Air attacks on the convoy were launched on the 2 July by Ju.88 bomber air­craft and on the 4th by He.111ts carrying torpedoes. Four merchant ships were claimed as sunk by the latter. On the 5 July it was reported by reconnaissance aircraft that the convoy had dispersed and in the opinion of the German War Staff this was considered to have been caused by the operations of the torpedo carrying aircraft. During the afternoon, torpedo and bomber attacks were sent into the general area of scattered merchant ships. Seven were claimed as sunk with seven more seriously damaged. Attacks oontinued to be directed on isolated ships as reported by reconnaissance between the 6 and 10 July. Five more ships were claimed as sunk and two damaged.

In all the "Luftflotte 5" claimed to have sunk one cruisers, one destroyer, two escort vessels and twenty-two merchant ships (1) against the loss of five torpedo carriers and two reconnaissance aircraft. The total number of attacking aircraft was 130-Ju.88's, 43-He.111's and 29-He.115's. In the course of the attacks 212,500 kgs. of bombs were dropped and 61 torpedoes released.

(1)
This compares with the actual British loss of six merchant ships and damage to three others by air action.

 

Very good and informative

 

No that's a new one for me. Thanks, I'll give it a go.

Thanks Theobob, I have this aversion to paying, but when needs must.

 

I was just glad they got to Cdr Ed Grenfell in time. I think Clarkson did an excellent job in the scene setting and visuals. Slight punch pulling on the order to scatter - it has been suggested to me that even at this point Pound's health was degrading his judgement. No mention of Jack Broome as escort c ommander. But I was stunned and moved by the Admiral. A good watch . My partner's father was in a corvette escorting PQ18 - which was no barrel of fun either.

 

Magnificent example of a tv documentary programme.
What a pity that the review in The Guardian is nothing but facetious sneering.

 

That will learn you to read the Gruaniad.

;-)

Roxy

 

Excellent programme.

First read about this as a teenager. I found the story online and here is a link to the book written in 1968 by David Irving.

http://www.fpp.co.uk/books/PQ17/1968edition.pdf

 

Excellent documentary, well researched and presented. Churchill was right it was the worst journey in the world. Respect to all those who had to go on it and those who never came home - lest we forget.

Regards
Hugh