Unbelievably well-armoured, the "Tirpitz" survived numerous attempts by the Allies to destroy it during World War II. John Sweetman's history of Germany's incredible battleship traces these attacks that culminated in success in November 1944.

Barnes Willis, however, continued to develop a bomb capable of piercing concrete and armour, resulting in the 12,000lb "Tallboy" ballistic bomb used by Lancaster bombers in a raid on "Tirpitz" in September 1944. Following two more attacks, the solitary dinosaur was finally destroyed.