: Prien returned to Germany as a national hero, nicknamed the "Bull of Scapa Flow" . He became the first German submarine officer to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
: At 1:04 a.m., Prien fired a spread of torpedoes. One struck the bow, but the damage was so localized that the crew initially believed it was an internal explosion in the paint store or aviation fuel store. U-47 in Scapa Flow: The Sinking of HMS Royal Oa...
U-47 in Scapa Flow: The Sinking of HMS Royal Oak (1939) The sinking of in the early hours of October 14, 1939, remains one of the most audacious naval raids in history. Executed by the German submarine U-47 under the command of Günther Prien , the mission shattered the British Admiralty’s belief that their primary naval base at Scapa Flow was impregnable to submarine attack . I. The Audacious Mission : Prien returned to Germany as a national
The raid involved two distinct salvos that caught the crew of the Royal Oak completely off guard. One struck the bow, but the damage was
Just weeks into World War II, Admiral conceived "Special Project P," a daring plan to strike at the heart of the British Home Fleet. Scapa Flow, located in the Orkney Islands, was heavily defended with anti-submarine nets and blockships, yet Prien successfully navigated the narrow, shallow channels of Kirk Sound under the cover of a moonless night.
: U-47, a Type VIIB submarine capable of diving to 100 meters and armed with five torpedo tubes.