The five volumes that constitute arthur marders from the dreadnought to scapa flow represented arguably the finest contribution to the literature of naval history since alfred mahan. The grand scuttle became a folk legend in both germany and britain. History beneath the waves scapa flow is a body of water about 120 square miles in area and with an average depth of 30 to 40 metres. U47 in scapa flow by angus konstam overdrive rakuten. Scapa flow in the orkneys would be the forbidding destination for many thousands of service personnel and civilians in both world wars and the location of dramatic incidents such as the loss of the hampshire with kitchener on board in 1916, the scuttling of the german high seas fleet in 1919 and the sinking of the royal oak at anchor by uboat u47 at the beginning of the second.
How british got back at germany for raid on scapa flow. The sinking of hms royal oak 1939 ebook written by angus konstam. Defending scapa flowvolume 1 tells the story of world war i, and how a remote group of islands off the north of scotland became the principal maritime centre of a world in conflict and one of the most strongly fortified and most heavily controlled areas in the country. The military base at scapa flow remained in use until 1956. Such was the case in the scuttling of the german ships in scapa flow, scotland, one of the most extraordinary sagas in the history of naval warfare. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
On 14 october 1939, royal oak was anchored at scapa flow in orkney, scotland, when she was torpedoed by the german submarine u47. Buy scapa flow the story of britains greatest naval anchorage in two world wars reprint. The defences of britain s great fleet anchorage 191445 fortress first edition, second impression by angus konstam, peter dennis isbn. Scapa flow, one of the popular diving destinations in the world, is a natural harbour located off the coast of scotland, united kingdom. A j p taylor wrote of marder that his naval history has a unique fascination.
In 1939, hitler symbolically promoted the 70yearold to full admiral. In 1914 and again in 1939, the british began building a comprehensive defensive network by fortifying the entrances to scapa flow, and then extended these defenses to cover most of orkney. To the astonishment of those who witnessed it, one of the most powerful navies in history began to sink, and by late morning, ten battleships, six. The german navy covertly scuttled their own boats under the noses of their captors, rendering the fleet useless, until one firm set out on a massive salvage operation to recover usable material from. At the outset of world war ii, scapa flow was supposed to be the safe home base of the british navy nothing could penetrate the defences of this bastion. These new editions of the series are published with a new introduction by barry gough, distinguished canadian maritime and naval historian, that provide an assessment of the. Nothing and nobody could penetrate the defences of this bastion, which was built up to formidable levels in world war i and symbolized the faith placed.
Scapa flow is a natural harbour which has been used over many centuries, from the viking fleet of king haokon in the th century, to the present day. These new editions of the series are published with a new introduction by barry gough, distinguished canadian maritime and naval historian, that provide an assessment. It was a reprisal raid for the luftwaffe bombardment on the naval base in scapa flow at the orkney islands and was ordered by the british government. So how, in the dead of night, was gunther priens u47 able to slip through the line of protective warships to sink the mighty royal oak. Jutland and after may to december 1916 ebook written by arthur j. This book provides the answer with an account of one of the most daring naval raids in history.
Scapa flow to many, just a name in the history books, but it was during ww1 and ww2 the british navys major anchorage. Reuters pluck and audacity would later be celebrated by the nazis. It was my privilege to be in administrative charge of the naval base at scapa from august, 1914, to may, 1916, until relieved by rearadmiral prendergast. He later penned a book about his experiences in britain.
From the dreadnought to scapa flow new books in politics. Cox raised 26 destroyers, 1 light cruiser, 4 battlecruisers and 2 battleships between 1924 and 1931. At the end of world war one, the allies seized the german fleet and held it at scapa flow, in orkney, until the terms of the treaty of versailles were announced. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read from the dreadnought to scapa flow. Instead, he moved to brandenburg and became a public servant. By 1940, it had become an island fortress, the largest. Of royal oak s complement of 1,234 men and boys, 835 were killed that night or died later of their wounds. Everything you ever wanted to know about scapa flow. William l shirer, journalist, 18 october 1939 sinking the b. Drawing on the latest underwater archaeological research, this study explains how prien and his crew navigated the north sea and kirk sound to land a devastating blow to the british. So how, in the dead of night, was gunther priens u47 able to slip through the line of pro. Not until march 1940 did bomber command launch an assault on a german land target.
The animation of the 1919 german fleet scuttle in scapa flow. Scapa flow by angus konstam overdrive rakuten overdrive. To unrivalled mastery of sources he adds a gift of simple narrative. This book is recommended to those with a wide range of interests, from coastal dfense to naval history, to the world wars in general. These books, which address the naval affairs in world war i, were first published in the.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read u47 in scapa flow. Both the official history of the ran in world war ii and the more recent volume by the naval historical society on the history of the five n class destroyers in ran service from 1941 to 1945 describe nepal as having conducted only a. The loss of the outdated shipthe first of five royal navy battleships and battlecruisers sunk in the second world wardid little to affect. Just after midnight on the 14 of october, he noted in his war diary at 0027 wir sindin scapa flow we are in scapa flow for the royal navy it was fortunate that the major units of the home fleet had not yet returned to scapa flow after chasing a strong german naval force, led by the battle cruiser gneisenau, which had. These five books, which address world war i from the royal navy perspective, were first. The book presents the detailed history of the naval base during world war ii. Sinking of hms royal oak at scapa flow by u47 naval.
For the war, scapa flow remained a very busy naval base, with it serving as a staging point for arctic convoys to northern russia, for example. Navy, will be drawn to this memoir by his late father, a u. A strategically important natural harbor in the orkney islands, scapa flow served as britains main fleet anchorage during world wars i and ii. Following the wwi armistice in november, 1918, a large number of ships in the german high seas fleet were interned in a sheltered bay the scots called the flow. The place where the german uboat sank the british battleship royal oak was none other than the middle of scapa flow, britains greatest naval base. In 1914 and again in 1939, the british began building a comprehensive defensive network by fortifying the entrances to scapa flow, and then extended these defenses to cover. Scapa flow archives naval historical society of australia.
Navy captain, who was a popular novelist of his era. The story of britains greatest naval anchorage in two world wars. Accompanying two books the the last days of the high seas fleet and the story of the scuttle in photos, a full account of the scuttling of the german fleet in scapa flow narrated by admiral. The scuttling of the german fleet took place at the royal navys base at scapa flow. Konstams scapa flow lays out these oftignored details in clinical detail in the volume, which is one of the better additions to the fortress series. Known for its archaeological significance, scapa flow holds a unique place in the maritime history as it preserves many fascinating war stories underneath. Now it is fairly empty and the navy has gone,but there was still plenty to see when i visited the orkneys last month.
A j p taylor wrote that his naval history has a unique fascination. History military nonfiction a strategically important natural harbor in the orkney islands, scapa flow served as britains main fleet anchorage during world wars i and ii. It reveals the level of disrepair that scapa flow had fallen. Germanys high seas fleet rests in scapa flow national. It formed an important northern base for the british fleets in both world wars. Arthur marders critically acclaimed five volume series, from the dreadnought to scapa flow, represents one of the finest contributions to the literature of naval history since the work of alfred mahan. The orkney mainland and south isles encircle scapa flow, making it a sheltered harbour with easy access to both the north sea and atlantic ocean. First off was the old naval base on hoy, but unfortunately while i was there the scapa flow visitor centre. Even with germany in the ascendency at the beginning of world war ii, scapa flow was supposed to be the safe home base of the british navy. While many readers are aware of the importance of scapa flow to the british fleet, few know the actual details about how the british admiralty established defenses on these remote islands. Scuttle and salvage, the demise of the german high seas fleet in scapa flow is a concise, story of two monumental events in global history told through photographs. U47 in scapa flow the sinking of hms royal oak 1939 book. Burrows, assumed duty as cashier of the dockyard section at the base in may, 1915, and was so employed until march, 1920, and thus had a long and intimate knowledge of local doings and surroundings.
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