"New images reveal dramatic damage inflicted on HMS" Topic

….Royal Oak

"New images have revealed the extent of the damage to HMS Royal Oak after it was sunk during the Second World War.

The findings have been released as part of the commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the ship's sinking. Gathered by divers, the images have been collated to create striking 3D models of the wreck.

The HMS Royal Oak was attacked by a German submarine in Orkney's Scapa Flow on 14 October 1939, killing 835 people on board. One of the first major incidents of the war, the ship sank just 13 minutes after it was struck by a salvo of three torpedoes…."

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Amicalement
Armand

Thanks, another good find.

"The most striking finding of the new images is the extreme damage inflicted on the ship's bows, which goes some way to explaining why she sunk so rapidly and left little time for her crew to escape."

So…. why isn't there a photo of the ship's bows?

Quoted from CB4273(52) "H. M. Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action: 3rd. Sept. 1939 to 2nd. Sept 1945" dated 1952 -

"ROYAL OAK was anchored at Scapa Flow when an explosion occurred well forward; this was followed 12 minutes later by three other explosions, all to starboard, abreast the engine room, forward boiler room and "A" and "B" magazines. The ship heeled quickly to about 45 degrees, remaining there for about 2 to 3 minutes, and then sank 13 minutes later in 15 fathoms."

With the forward boiler room, B magazine, A magazine and the bow forward all breached (pretty much the entire forward part of the ship), the interesting question is what occurred in the ten minute period between hanging up at a 45deg list and then finally sinking. Was it a steady progressive sinking process or was it a sudden disappearance beneath the surface after 10 minutes of relative stasis?

B

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand