Wednesday, October 14, 2009

HMS Royal Oak - RIP



On this day in 1939, the battleship HMS Royal Oak sunk by torpedo attack while at anchor in Scapa Flow. RIP.

From Wikipedia:

Torpedoed at anchor by the German submarine U-47 on 14 October 1939. Launched in 1914 and completed in 1916, Royal Oak first saw action at the Battle of Jutland. In peacetime, she served in the Atlantic, ...Home and Mediterranean fleets, coming under accidental attack on more than one occasion. During a twenty-five year career, attempts to modernise Royal Oak could not address her fundamental lack of speed, and by the start of the Second World War, she was no longer suited to front-line duty.Royal Oak was anchored at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Scotland when she became the first of the five Royal Navy battleships and battlecruisers sunk in the Second World War. The loss of life was heavy: of Royal Oak's complement of 1,234 men and boys, 833 were killed that night or died later of their wounds.

For more, go HERE.

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