The U-47 and the Sinking of HMS Royal Oak: A Tale of Boldness and Triumph in the Atlantic, October 1939

In the early days of World War II, the Atlantic Ocean became a battleground where the British Royal Navy sought to protect vital maritime routes, and the German Kriegsmarine sought to disrupt them. One of the most daring and successful actions during this early phase of the war was carried out by the German U-boat U-47, which executed a bold and significant attack on the British battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow, Scotland, in October 1939. This attack, followed by a dramatic return to port where the U-47 passed the mighty German battleship Scharnhorst, marked a moment of both triumph and audacity for the German submarine fleet.

The sinking of the Royal Oak by U-47 is a significant event in naval history. The attack showcased the skill and audacity of Captain Günther Prien, whose name would go down in history as one of the most famous U-boat commanders. But the story also encompasses the strategic importance of Scapa Flow, the British naval base in the Orkney Islands, and the broader context of the naval war between Germany and Great Britain.

Scapa Flow: The Strategic Heart of the British Navy

Scapa Flow, located in the Orkney Islands to the north of Scotland, was the main base of the British Royal Navy’s Home Fleet. It was a strategically vital location, as it allowed the fleet to control access to the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. During World War I, Scapa Flow had been a hub for naval operations, and the British had taken great pains to defend it from potential attacks.

However, in the early days of World War II, Scapa Flow’s defenses were not as strong as they had been during the First World War. With the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, the Germans knew that attacking Scapa Flow could severely disrupt British naval operations. In particular, if a major warship could be sunk or crippled while docked in the bay, it would have a dramatic impact on the British fleet’s ability to maintain its dominance in the region.

The HMS Royal Oak was a Revenge-class battleship that had been commissioned in the 1910s and was stationed at Scapa Flow when World War II began. Although it was an older vessel, it was still a formidable part of the British fleet, capable of both engaging enemy ships and providing support for other Royal Navy vessels in the North Sea.

U-47 and the Raid on Scapa Flow

The daring raid that resulted in the sinking of the Royal Oak was carried out by the German U-boat U-47, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien. Prien was an experienced and highly capable U-boat commander, having previously served aboard various submarines. By October 1939, Prien and his crew aboard U-47 had become one of the most successful and feared units in the German Navy.

In the early days of the war, Germany had a relatively small number of U-boats, but they were highly effective when used strategically. Prien’s mission was to break into the heavily defended waters of Scapa Flow, find a target, and strike quickly. The operation was perilous, as the British had set up numerous defenses around Scapa Flow, including submarine nets, patrol boats, and minefields designed to keep enemy ships and submarines out. Yet Prien and his crew devised a daring plan to infiltrate these defenses and strike at the heart of the British fleet.

On the night of October 13, 1939, U-47 navigated its way into Scapa Flow through a narrow gap between the islands, avoiding the British defenses. It was a remarkable feat of navigation, requiring precision, patience, and nerves of steel. Once inside, Prien spotted the Royal Oak, which was anchored in a relatively calm part of the harbor.

At approximately 12:30 AM, U-47 fired a series of torpedoes at the Royal Oak. Four of these torpedoes hit the battleship, causing catastrophic damage. The Royal Oak was unable to defend itself against the submarine’s attack, as it had no air cover or adequate protection from U-boats in the area. The ship was hit amidships, and the damage caused a massive explosion that rocked the vessel.

Within minutes, the Royal Oak began to sink. The battleship was listing heavily, and it soon capsized, taking with it 833 of the 1,400 men aboard. The suddenness and success of the attack were a huge blow to the Royal Navy, which had considered Scapa Flow to be relatively safe from submarine attacks.

The Aftermath of the Attack

The sinking of the Royal Oak was a huge blow to British morale. It was one of the first major naval losses of World War II for the Royal Navy and highlighted the vulnerability of even the most powerful ships when faced with the stealth and precision of a well-executed submarine attack. For the Germans, it was a resounding victory, showing that their U-boats could strike at the heart of the British fleet, even in their own home waters.

After sinking the Royal Oak, U-47 faced the daunting task of returning to port. The U-boat had successfully carried out a historic raid, but the journey back was fraught with danger. The waters around Scapa Flow were heavily patrolled by British forces, and U-boats had to navigate carefully to avoid detection.

As U-47 made its way back to Germany, it had to pass through the waters where British ships were active, including the formidable German battleship Scharnhorst, which was making its way to sea. The sight of U-47 passing by Scharnhorst was a dramatic and symbolic moment. U-47 had completed its daring mission and was now returning to port as a hero, having sunk one of the Royal Navy’s prized ships. The juxtaposition of the small, stealthy U-boat passing by the massive Scharnhorst was a striking image of the contrast between these two vessels, one built for power and the other for stealth.

The Legacy of the U-47 Raid

The raid on Scapa Flow was a turning point in the early stages of World War II. It showed the vulnerability of the British fleet to submarine attacks and marked the beginning of a new phase of warfare in the Atlantic. The success of U-47, under the command of Günther Prien, would go down in history as one of the most audacious and successful submarine raids ever carried out. It made Prien an instant celebrity in Nazi Germany, and his success earned him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

For the Royal Navy, the sinking of the Royal Oak was a wake-up call. The British quickly realized that their naval base at Scapa Flow was no longer safe, and they began to strengthen their defenses. Despite this, the raid continued to haunt the British throughout the war, and it was a constant reminder of the deadly effectiveness of U-boats in the Atlantic theater.

Prien and U-47 would continue to carry out successful missions, but the raid on Scapa Flow remained his most famous achievement. By the end of the war, Prien’s actions would be remembered as a symbol of German naval prowess, even though the U-boat campaign would ultimately falter as the war progressed. Nevertheless, the raid on Scapa Flow remains one of the most iconic and audacious actions in naval warfare, demonstrating the power of stealth and the vulnerability of even the mightiest ships.

Conclusion

The sinking of HMS Royal Oak by the German U-boat U-47, under the command of Günther Prien, is an iconic moment in World War II naval history. It represented a devastating blow to the Royal Navy and highlighted the effectiveness of German submarine warfare. As U-47 passed the mighty Scharnhorst on its return to port, the symbolism of the small U-boat’s success contrasted with the grandeur of the battleship captured the essence of naval warfare during the war—where stealth, strategy, and boldness could overcome even the most powerful adversaries. The legacy of this raid continues to echo through naval history, marking it as one of the most remarkable and daring attacks of the early years of World War II.