SUNK IN NORTH SEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 7

SUNK IN NORTH SEA

NEW TYPE OF TORPEDO

HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE OVER SEVEN HUNDRED

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 14. The Admiralty announced that the* battleship Royal Oak was sunk, apparently by submarine, action, in the North Sea. She carried a complement of 1200. A detailed list of the names of the survivors, issued by the Admiralty, shows a total of 463, including Captain W, G. Benn, the former captain of the aircraft carrier Argus and former Director of Navigation, Commander R. F. Nicholls, and four lieutenant-com-manders. All the above have been landed, though the locality has not been stated. The list of survivors is unlikely to contain the names of any Australians or New Zealanders. It is quite possible that further names will be available in the morning. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press states that naval circles claim that the sinking of the Royal Oak brought the total British warship tonnage sunk to 86,000. They also announced that the Hood was so severely damaged as to be out of action for several months. No Admiralty comment is so far available on this. Germany says she henceforward will employ destroyers and not submarines for, the prosecution of “ economical warfare.” There seems to be every indication that the Germans have developed a new type of torpedo, capable of penetrating the heaviest armour plating on the modern warship. The Germans assert that the Royal Oak was provided with special anti-torpedo protective armour, which apparently failed. ;v.c: ; The-Berlin Correspondent of the Associated Press says special editions announce the sinking of the Royal Oak. The newspapers praise the prowess of submarines and ask whether Mr Churchill is yet ready to disclose the whereabouts of the Ark Royal. They also emphasise the bitterness 'of the lesson to those who believe that Germany can be starved out without risk. The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that naval experts viewed the sinking of the Royal Oak as having more serious implications in future than at present. If German submarines are able thus to trim further the British and French naval, margin, the sea blockade might be threatened. Naval authorities are concerned over the manner of the sinking. Normally, battleships at sea are safeguarded by a screen of light cruisers and destroyers, in addition to their own armour. Whether torpedoes were fired when the Royal Oak was anchored at sea is a question of'importance to the United States and common to all navies which consider the battleship the backbone of the fleet. There are 12 United States battleships in the Pacific, a little more modern in design than the Royal Oak, although probably better protected. The sinking bore out Admiral testimony before the Congress last year that a battleship can be sunk by torpedoes, shells and aerial bombs under conditions favourable to an attack. The Royal Oak was the seventh ship of her name in the Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1914 at the Devonport Yard and her cost of £2,468,269 —rather below the average for her class —was included in the 1913-14 Naval Estimates, She was one of the Royal Sovereign Class, though her actual sister ships are the: Ramillies and Resolution. They are described as a class of fine ships, though they suffer rather from reduced free-board. The Royal Oak was refitted as recently as 1934-36, and I'jke other of her class was meant to serve as a flagship. She was of 29,150 tons displacement and her complement varied from 1009-1146 officers and men. Her over all length was 620£ feet, her beam about feet, and she drew 28£ feet of water. Her armament included eight 15-inch guns mounted in turrets two fore and two aft. On the upper rear turret she carried a catapault and seaplane. Her lesser ordnance was as follows: —Twelve 6-inch guns, eight 4-inch anti-aicraft guns, four 3-pounders, One 12-pounder field gun, five machine guns, and 10 Lewis guns besides a multi-machine gun. In addition, she had four submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes compared with the two of her sister ships. As -a special protection against submarines she had 1-1 J inch armour plating and “bulges” extending almost up to the battery, which brought her speed down to 22 knots. The newly commissioned Royal Oak came through the Battle of Jutland unscathed, her only engagement during the war being in the action in the Heligoland Bight on November 16-17, 1917.