It happened on this day in 1939....

[harryt8]

In case it had passed you by, October 14th 1939 is when Gunther Prien on U47 sank the elderly battleship Royal Oak in Scapa Flow.

I tried the re-enactment on SH3 Single Missions, but got "zapped" very early in my approach.

For more detail of Herr Prien's and U47's career see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-47_(1938 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-47_%281938)) :yep:

[nikimcbee]

In case it had passed you by, October 14th 1939 is when Gunther Prien on U47 sank the elderly battleship Royal Oak in Scapa Flow.

I tried the re-enactment on SH3 Single Missions, but got "zapped" very early in my approach.

For more detail of Herr Prien's and U47's career see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-47_(1938 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-47_%281938)) :yep:

I used to post "Gunther Prien Day" years back. Good memory though, I totally forgot about this.

For more info:
http://www.u47.org/english/index.asp

:salute:

[K-61]

What Prien accomplished was a terrific feat of daring, especially when you take into account the torpedo difficulties he encountered. That he lived to return to base is partly fortune, partly the skill of a courageous Kaleun and partly due to British laxity early war with respect to their security measures. Sadly, the game makes port raiding too easy, wherea feats like Prien were very few and far between. I am not aware if any U-boats ever repeated Prien's success.

[krashkart]

Just read on uboat.net today that the sinking of Royal Oak motivated the RN to abandon Scapa Flow as a naval base.

[desirableroasted]

Just read on uboat.net today that the sinking of Royal Oak motivated the RN to abandon Scapa Flow as a naval base.

Link? Coz I have always wondered if they decided Scapa was fundamentally unsecure.

When it was pretty clear the German battle fleet really couldn't get out, or have a role to play, I would suspect Scapa became far less important, and many capital ships could be employed elsewhere.

But Churchill certainly used resources to block the Scapa entrances, and put in a pretty difficult minefield up the coast.

The base itself was closed in 1956.

[krashkart]

Link? Coz I have always wondered if they decided Scapa was fundamentally unsecure.

When it was pretty clear the German battle fleet really couldn't get out, or have a role to play, I would suspect Scapa became far less important, and many capital ships could be employed elsewhere.

But Churchill certainly used resources to block the Scapa entrances, and put in a pretty difficult minefield up the coast.

The base itself was closed in 1956.

Not finding the one I read at uboat.net earlier :-? -- it was much more concise than the article The Bull of Scapa Flow (http://uboat.net/ops/scapa_flow.htm). However, this page sums it up:

http://www.u47.org/english/u47_sca.asp?page=7


Looking over that section I don't come away with the same impression I had earlier.

[Sailor Steve]

That he lived to return to base is partly fortune, partly the skill of a courageous Kaleun and partly due to British laxity early war with respect to their security measures.
And partly because Admiral Doenitz carefully planned the mission based on photo reconnaissance, and hand-picked Prien for the job, and they discussed and planned carefully before actually doing it.

[VONHARRIS]

I am not aware if any U-boats ever repeated Prien's success.
As far as I know this was never done again. It was one hell of an attack (if you pardon the expression)
But in SH3 we can do it again , though with GWX3.0 it must be very hard. I have never tried it. But even if I did dare to do it , how can an IXB sneak in there?
And yes , I have forgoten it as well. Thank you harryt8

[sharkbit]

Another pretty good link:
http://www.secondworldwar.org.uk/royaloak.html

:)

[Jimbuna]

IIRC two more blockade ships were enroute to Kirk Sound because the Admiralty knew it was not impenetrable.

Sadly, they arrived a day after Priens successful attack.

[krashkart]

But even if I did dare to do it , how can an IXB sneak in there?

With great skill and cunning. Alternatively, if we tied it to a sparrow you could just fly the IXB into the harbor. :know:

[K-61]

And partly because Admiral Doenitz carefully planned the mission based on photo reconnaissance, and hand-picked Prien for the job, and they discussed and planned carefully before actually doing it.

Of course. Silly of me to omit that. Thanks for the input.

[VONHARRIS]

With great skill and cunning. Alternatively, if we tied it to a sparrow you could just fly the IXB into the harbor. :know:

I haven't thought of that.!!!
But isn't the sparrow a little small for that? A sea gull may be?

[Sailor Steve]

Albatross?

[krashkart]

Budgie?

[Sailor Steve]

Swallow! :D

[OSU]

As far as I know this was never done again. It was one hell of an attack (if you pardon the expression)
But in SH3 we can do it again , though with GWX3.0 it must be very hard. I have never tried it. But even if I did dare to do it , how can an IXB sneak in there?
And yes , I have forgoten it as well. Thank you harryt8

I've done it before. Its actually pretty easy. I haven't been able to get out, but that was due to a CTD. Getting in is the easy part, geting out, after they know that you are there is a bit tougher. ;)

Here is a link that gives you the best chance of sneaking in. You can sail right in under their noses, but the one thing you need is absolutely terrible, horrible, God-awful weather. Rain, waves, wind and in the dead of night too!
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=167025

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I've made it into Scapa Flow one more than once, and I know of a really good way in too. And I have found it just as easy in SH5 as in SH3.

[sharkbit]

Swallow! :D

Laden or unladen?

:)

[Draka]

An African or European swallow?

[Sailor Steve]

It's about time.

[Madox58]

But...................
time keeps on tickin', tickin' away.

[krashkart]

into the future.

[VONHARRIS]

Hey guys.
Have you decided on the bird to fly my IXB? I really want to get in there!

Edit : With the stock game I have managed tosneak in there and sink a Carrier and 2 Aux cruisers.
I have also entered Loch ewe and sunk the HMS Nelson not only once.
I will not try this with GWX as it will be impossible and totally unrealistic. I play all my patrols with the DiD rule and 95% realism.
I will never come out of there alive!
OSU :thank you for your tip.

[Tessa]

What Prien accomplished was a terrific feat of daring, especially when you take into account the torpedo difficulties he encountered. That he lived to return to base is partly fortune, partly the skill of a courageous Kaleun and partly due to British laxity early war with respect to their security measures. Sadly, the game makes port raiding too easy, wherea feats like Prien were very few and far between. I am not aware if any U-boats ever repeated Prien's success.

Donitz did try another similar mission in 40' to get into Gibraltor (remember reading about it few weeks ago in the CB Books) put the mission failed. A destroyer out in the channel got lucky and caught the boat early (can't recall which one, its life was ill fated) before it could even get to within long range of and kind of chance of attacking. While the channel itself is pretty deep the waters get really shallow about 2km outside the enterance.

The British were really lucky that all that was lost was the Royal Oak, just a few days earlier a good chunk of the main fleet was moored there. Had the raid gone down on the 8th Prien would have had the Hood, Nelson, Rodney, Repulse, and Furious as targets instead of just the Royal Oak and Pegasus being the only large ships there. Even though, he still got to sail back home with one badass pennant flying from his scope:

http://pelsia.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/u-47_forum.jpg