Operation Rösselsprung (1942)

Unternehmen Rösselsprung (Operation Knight's Move) was a plan by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) to intercept an Arctic convoy in mid-1942. It was the largest operation of its type mounted by the Kriegsmarine and resulted in the near-destruction of Convoy PQ 17. The success of the operation was indirect in that none of the ships engaged the convoy, its losses being inflicted by U-boat and aircraft attacks. Despite not making contact with the convoy a number of the ships of Unternehmen Rösselsprung were damaged and the heavy cruiser Lützow, ran aground in thick fog, needing three months of repairs.