What happened to the submarine that sank the Royal Oak?
On 14 October 1939, Royal Oak was anchored at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Scotland, when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-47….HMS Royal Oak (08)
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Identification | Pennant number: 08 |
| Nickname(s) | The Mighty Oak |
| Fate | Sunk by U-47, 14 October 1939 |
What German U-boat sank the most ships?
World War I
| Boat | Type | Ships sunk |
|---|---|---|
| SM U-39 | Type U 31 | 151 |
| SM U-38 | Type U 31 | 135 |
| SM U-34 | Type U 31 | 119 |
| SM U-53 | Type U 51 | 87 |
How many German U boats were there in ww2?
1,162 U-boats
In World War II Germany built 1,162 U-boats, of which 785 were destroyed and the remainder surrendered (or were scuttled to avoid surrender) at the capitulation. Of the 632 U-boats sunk at sea, Allied surface ships and shore-based aircraft accounted for the great majority (246 and 245 respectively).
What happened U-boat 47?
Disappearance. U-47 departed Lorient on her tenth and last patrol on 20 February 1941. She went missing on 7 March 1941 and was believed at the time to have been sunk by the British destroyer HMS Wolverine west of Ireland, when a submarine was attacked by Wolverine and HMS Verity.
What wrecks are at Scapa Flow?
SMS Dresden Wreck. The SMS Dresden was completed in 1917 and commissioned into the High Seas Fleet in 1918.
Is Scapa Flow still used?
Thus, the water of Scapa Flow is now a historic wreck site as it has played a significant role in both the world wars which also remain as a unique underwater environment with its rich wildlife.
Who was the most successful U-boat captain in WW2?
Kretschmer
Kretschmer (1912–1998) was the most successful of the World War II Aces of the Deep. As commander of U-35, U-23 and U-99 he sank 47 merchant ships in a remarkably short period of time, before being captured in March 1941 and spending the rest of the war in the Bowmanville POW camp, Canada.
Who was the most successful U-boat captain?
Otto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany’s highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking 47 ships totaling 274,333 tons.
How many ships were sunk by German U-boats in ww2?
During the war the U-boats sank about 2,779 ships for a total of 14.1 million tons GRT. This figure is roughly 70\% of all allied shipping losses in all theatres of the war and to all hostile action.
How many ships did British submarines sunk in ww2?
Royal Navy submarine losses in World War II were 79. These were conventional vessels and do not include seven X craft, 18 chariots and 5 Welman craft. The first RN loss was HMS Oxley (formerly HMAS Oxley), which was accidentally sunk in a collision with the submarine Triton off Stavanger on 10th September 1939.
How many U-boats are still missing?
According to my compilation of U-boat fates by cause some 46 U-boats are now being listed as missing in action during the war. Some were no doubt lost to operational accidents (such as Schorchel failures or hull failure while deep diving) while others were most probably lost to yet-unidentified enemy action. U-1.
How did U47 get into Scapa Flow?
When the Royal Oak was torpedoed in the early hours of 14 October most of the 1,200 crew were asleep below deck. Under the command of Günther Prien, the submarine U47 had slipped undetected into Scapa Flow, an area of sheltered water. A first salvo of three torpedoes was fired from the U-boat.
What was the name of the ship that was sunk?
On 14 October 1939, Prien’s boat penetrated the Royal Navy’s primary base, Scapa Flow and sank the battleship Royal Oak. He returned to Germany to instant fame.
Was the Royal Oak the only British ship sunk by Germany?
The sinking of HMS Royal Oak was a notable German propaganda coup. However, there is conjecture that she may not have been the only British ship struck by the German forces that night. Prien’s account stated that he hit another ship – the battlecruiser HMS Repulse.
What was the role of the Royal Oak at Scapa Flow?
HMS Royal Oak had returned early from the Home Fleet sweep and took up its role as anti-aircraft defence for the Scapa Flow anchorage and the Radio Direction Finding station at Netherbutton. The German submarine U-47, under the command of Prien, approached Scapa Flow through the narrow approaches at Kirk Sound with surprising ease.
Who was the first U-boat to sink a battleship?
On 14 October 1939, Prien’s boat penetrated the Royal Navy ‘s primary base, Scapa Flow and sank the battleship Royal Oak. He returned to Germany to instant fame. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, personally by Adolf Hitler, the first sailor of the U-boat service and the second member…