Daily Event for October 14


October 14, 1939: HMS Royal Oak, a Royal Sovereign class battleship, was sunk at Scapa Flow in a daring raid by the U-47. The Royal Oak fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, however, had received no major refit between the wars. The U-47, commanded by Günther Prien found a gap in the blockade ships the British were using to protect Scapa Flow. The attack not only destroyed the ship, but also killed 833 British Sailors. U-47 also paid the ultimate price on or near March 7,1941 Prien and all hands were lost. Nobody knows exactly how or where.

© 2005 Michael W. Pocock
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