The North Sea, February 1940. World War 2 is only five months in.

Under a bright moon, six powerful Kriegsmarine destroyers slice through the icy waters, engines humming with purpose. They navigate towards the Dogger Bank, an area teeming with enemy fishing trawlers, some suspected of being spies.

The sea is eerily calm, but the crews are tense, especially since they’re flying without air cover, not by their own decision.

Suddenly, barely louder than the ships’ engines, a twoengine aircraft hums in the background. It's night, and no one can see it. Maybe it’s a British reconnaissance model shadowing their formation, ready to direct other ships or aircraft toward the Kriegsmarine flotilla. Perhaps it’s an actual bomber waiting on final orders to attack.

With no time to lose, the destroyers prep their guns, the tension mounting with every second.

Operation Wikinger was supposed to be simple. Instead, it became one of the worst military operations of the entire war.