Liveblogging World War II, by Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill
70 years ago:
An account... by a German report... may be recorded:
At 01:30 on October 14, 1939, H.M.A. Royal Oak lying at anchor in Scapa Flow was torpedoed by U-47 (Lieutenant Prien). The operation had been carefully planned by Admiral Doenitz himself, the Flag Officer (Submarines). Prien left Kiel on October 8, a clear, bright autumn day, and passed through Kiel Canal--course N.N.W., Scapa Flow. On October 13, at 4 AM, the boat was lying off the Orkneys. At 7 PM--surface; a fresh breeze blowing, nothing in sight; looming in the half-darkness the line of the distant coast; long streamers of northern lights flashing blue wisps across the sky. Course west. The boat crept steadily closer to Holm Sound, the eastern approach to Scapa Flow. Unfortunate it was taht these channels had not been completely blocked. A narrow passage lay open between two sunken ships. With grteat skill Prien steered through the swirling waters. The shore was close. A man on a bicycle could be seen going home along the coast road. Then suddenly tehwhole bay opened out. Kirk Sound was passed. They were in. There under the land to the north could be seen the great shadow of a battleship lying on the water, with the great mast rising above it like a piece of filligree on a black cloth. Near, nearer--all tubes clear--no alarm, no sound but the lay of the water, the low hiss of air pressure and the sharp click of a tube lever. Fire!--five seconds--ten seconds--twenty seconds. Then came a shattering explosion, and a great pillar of water rose in the darkness. Prien waited some minutes to fire another salvo. Tubes ready. Fire! The torpedoes hit amidshipsi, and there followed a series of crashing explosions. H.M.S. Royal Oak sank, with the loss of 786 officers and men, including Rear Admiral H.E.C. Blagrove (Second Battle Squadron). U-47 crept quietly away back through the gap. A blockship arrived twenty-four hours later.
This episode, which must be regarded as a feat of arms on teh part of the German U-boat commander, gave a shock to public opinion...
From The Gathering Storm...
