	70% buy the item featured on this page: Nightmare at Scapa Flow: Truth About the Sinking of H. M. S. "Royal Oak" 3.0 out of 5 stars (1)
	11% buy Last Dawn: The Royal Oak Tragedy at Scapa Flow
	9% buy The Grand Scuttle: The Sinking of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919 4.5 out of 5 stars (2) �5.49
	5% buy Scapa Flow - The Story of Britain's Greatest Naval Anchorage in Two World Wars 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)

Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

1 Review

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

3.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A complete reliance on mystery and intrigue., 10 Aug 2007

By	Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

In October 1939 G�nther Prien was in command of U47 when it entered Scapa Flow and attacked and sunk the 25,000 ton Battleship HMS Royal Oak. For obvious reasons, that attack was made at night and on a night when there was no moon. Just imagine how difficult that must have been. All around Scapa Flow is land and hills. They are what made this "inland sea" an ideal anchorage for the British Fleet. Of course, there were many entrances into the "Flow" some of which had been blocked (or so the British thought!) by blockships. The main entrances for the fleet, however, were protected by booms and patrolled.

Even at night time a figure or a ship may be seen - silhouetted against the sky which is always lighter. But not in Scapa Flow where hills are always the backdrop in the distance. As the final attack was made, one torpedo was directed to miss the bows of the Royal Oak and strike the bows of another ship which Prien believed to be HMS Repulse. In the event that vessel was the old supply ship HMS Pegasus. That single torpedo, however, actually hit the anchor chains of the Royal Oak and exploded moments before the final salvo directed at the Royal Oak itself hit their target.

It is easy to understand, therefore, why Prien claimed to have also sunk the Repulse. Firstly, he genuinely thought he was attacking two capital ships. Secondly, he genuinely thought his torpedo had struck that other ship in the distance. So where's the mystery?

Then there is this event where Prien thought he had been seen by the driver of a car as the vehicle executed a U-turn on a road as Prien was making good his escape. Think about it. If you were driving on a lonely road making a U-turn next to a river, stream, dockside, Scapa Flow or wherever, where would you be looking as your headlights swept across that water during that turn? Not out to sea that's for sure. So where's the mystery?

Yes, in the immediate aftermath of the attack, there was much speculation about whether it was a bomb or a torpedo and whether that device had been delivered by aircraft or by submarine. Sabotage was also considered. But, within two days of the loss of the Royal Oak Winston Churchill informed the House of Commons; "this entry by a U-Boat must be considered as a remarkable exploit of professional skill and daring" - and so it was.

This author is wholly reliant on creating mystery and intrigue in order to paint a very different picture of the events in question. It's a pity, because his research appears to be most thorough.

NM

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Listmania!

Greatest war movies, in no real order: A list by Richard Hart "spiro_sea"
Some films everyone should own (in no order): A list by "humbeetle"
"Dive, dive, dive" - some great submarine films: A list by Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen"

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > History > Maritime History
Books > Reference > Transport > Ships > Maritime Reference

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

Your Recent History

(What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

› Visit the Page You Made

Get to Know Us

Make Money with Us

Let Us Help You

Conditions of Use & Sale | Privacy Notice � 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Nightmare at Scapa Flow: Truth About the Sinking of H. M. S. "Royal Oak" (Hardcover)

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?