Sunk While At Anchor
THE ROYAL OAK U-Boat Penetrated The Scapa Flow Defences AMAZING EXPLOIT (United Press Association.—Copyright.— Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 1 7. The 29,000-ton battleship Royal Oak was sunk by a German submarine while she was at anchor at Scapa Flow at 1.30 a.m. on Saturday. In making this announcement in the House of Commons, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. AVinston Churchill, said it was still a matter for conjecture how the submarine penetrated the harbour s defences. This anchorage in the last war was found to be immune from such attacks, therefore the entry must be considered a remarkable exploit of professional skill and daring. A Board of Inquiry was now sitting at Scapa Flow.
It appeared the U-boat fired her two starboard torpedoes, one of which hit the Royal Oak s bow. The muffled explosion was attributed to internal causes, and the ship's store of inflammables was flooded.
"Twenty minutes later the U-boat fired three or four torpedoes. These, striking in quick succession, caused the ship to capsize and sink."
The Royal Oak was lying at the extreme end of the harbour, and therefore many officers and men were drowned before their rescue could be organised. About 800 lost their lives.
Serious as it is, it does not affect the margin of security in heavy vessels, which remains ample," said Mr. Churchill. "An intensive search of the anchorage has not yet yielded results, but it is c l e 3r that after a certain time the harbour will be pronounced clear. All the necessary measures are being taken to increase the protection which proved effectual during the last war."
_ commander of the submarine which sank the Royal Oak flew to see Hitler after the arrival of the submarine at its • J"? German radio announces he has been promoted to rear " ac ® inira '* Broadcasting, the commander said that "after delicate manoeuvring into Scapa Flow I saw two battleships, one of which was the Royal Oak. i launched torpedoes and' saw great columns of water and then flames. 1 launched more torpedoes at a second ship and saw more columns of water. Depth charges exploded around us, but we got out safely."
Sunk While At Anchor
Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 246, 18 October 1939, Page 7
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