Beaufighter-on-tin-can violence, 74 years ago
The German Elbing-class torpedo boat T-24 (front) and Type 1936A-class Zerstörer Z-24 (rear) under attack by British RAF Beaufighters, August 24th, 1944. Both ships were crippled in this engagement and finished off by British bombers off Le Verdon the next day.
The twin-engine Bristol Beaufighter was an unsung brawler of the RAF in the war and, packing a quartet of 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannons in the nose as well as rockets, bombs or a torpedo underneath, they were hazardous to the health of Axis shipping.
The Kriegsmarine never had very good luck when it came to escorts during the war, losing most of their modern destroyers in the Norway campaign in 1940. At least 7 of the 15 Type 136As were lost during the war as were 11 of the Elbings. Air superiority has a funny way with the lifespan of small surface combatants.