Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse (hour by hour)
WW2/Battles of WW2/Hour-by-Hour • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Hour-by-hour account of the sinking of Force Z's two capital ships by Japanese land-based aircraft — the first time capital ships underway were sunk solely by air power. (10 December 1941)
Chronological Storyline (18 Milestones)
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Japanese submarine spots Force Z
Japanese submarine I-58 reports sighting the British ships, alerting Japanese naval forces in the area and setting the stage for aerial interception. ) · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-58
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Japanese reconnaissance aircraft launched
The 22nd Air Flotilla based in Indochina launches reconnaissance aircraft to locate and shadow the British force after receiving the submarine contact report. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22nd_Air_Flotilla
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach lost
Admiral Sir Tom Phillips and Captain John Leach go down with HMS Prince of Wales as the battleship capsizes, taking 327 crew members with her including the entire command of Force Z. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Phillips_(Royal_Navy_officer)
Acting-Admiral Sir Tom Phillips KCB 1888-1941 KIA By Bassano Ltd (active 1901-1962) - NPG x85377, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=330134
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Force Z reverses course to Singapore
After detecting Japanese air activity and realizing surprise is lost, Admiral Phillips abandons the mission and turns Force Z southward back toward Singapore. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse
A heavily retouched Japanese photograph of HMS PRINCE OF WALES (lower) and REPULSE (upper) after being hit by Japanese torpedoes on 10 December 1941, off Malaya. A British destroyer can also be seen in the foreground. The sinkings were an appalling blow to British prestige. By Photograph by Underwood & Underwood - This photograph HU 2762 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2261354
Dec 10, 1941 CE
First wave attacks HMS Repulse
Eight high-level bombers from the Mihoro Air Group attack HMS Repulse, scoring one hit that causes minor damage but fails to slow the ship. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Repulse_(1916)
The battlecruiser HMS Repulse leading other Royal Navy capital ships during maneuvers, circa the late 1920s. The next ship astern is HMS Renown. The extensive external side armor of Repulse and the larger "bulge" of Renown allow these ships to be readily differentiated. By Underwood & Underwood - Official U.S. Navy photo NH 57183 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=293501
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Winston Churchill receives the news
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is informed of the sinking, later writing it was the worst shock of the war and that over the entire war he never received a more direct blow. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse
A heavily retouched Japanese photograph of HMS PRINCE OF WALES (lower) and REPULSE (upper) after being hit by Japanese torpedoes on 10 December 1941, off Malaya. A British destroyer can also be seen in the foreground. The sinkings were an appalling blow to British prestige. By Photograph by Underwood & Underwood - This photograph HU 2762 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2261354
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Japanese aircraft shadow Force Z
A Japanese reconnaissance aircraft from the Genzan Air Group locates Force Z and begins shadowing the ships, relaying position updates for the incoming strike groups. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genzan_Air_Group
A6M fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Genzan Air Group at Genzan (now called Wonsan), Korea in 1940 or 1941. These are Reisen 21s constructed by the Nakajima company. By Shigeru Nohara - LRA, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7030047
Dec 10, 1941 CE
First Japanese air strike launches
The 22nd Air Flotilla launches 34 bombers and 51 torpedo bombers from bases around Saigon to attack the British ships. ) · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22nd_Air_Flotilla
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Repulse evades multiple torpedo attacks
HMS Repulse skillfully combs the tracks of 17 torpedoes launched by the Kanoya Air Group, avoiding all hits in a remarkable display of ship handling by Captain William Tennant. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Repulse_(1916)
The battlecruiser HMS Repulse leading other Royal Navy capital ships during maneuvers, circa the late 1920s. The next ship astern is HMS Renown. The extensive external side armor of Repulse and the larger "bulge" of Renown allow these ships to be readily differentiated. By Underwood & Underwood - Official U.S. Navy photo NH 57183 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=293501
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Prince of Wales capsizes and sinks
HMS Prince of Wales rolls over and sinks, marking the first time capital ships were sunk by air power alone while underway in open sea. Destroyers HMS Electra, Express, and Vampire rescue 2,081 survivors. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(53)
The Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales coming in to moor at Singapore. By Abrahams, H J (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph A 6786 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=361891
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Strategic consequences become clear
With both capital ships lost, the eastern Indian Ocean lies open to Japanese naval operations, and the defense of Malaya and Singapore is fatally compromised without Allied naval power. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Campaign
JAPANESE TROOPS CROUCH LOW IN THE STREET DURING THE FINAL STAGES OF THEIR INVASION OF THE MALAYAN PENINSULA WHICH CULMINATED IN THE SURRENDER OF ALL BRITISH FORCES, AND THE OCCUPATION OF THE BRITISH NAVAL BASE ON SINGAPORE ISLAND. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41319221
Dec 10, 1941 CE
HMS Repulse capsizes and sinks
HMS Repulse rolls over and sinks approximately 58 miles off Kuantan, taking 513 crew members down with her. Captain Tennant and most survivors are rescued by escorting destroyers. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Repulse_(1916)
The battlecruiser HMS Repulse leading other Royal Navy capital ships during maneuvers, circa the late 1920s. The next ship astern is HMS Renown. The extensive external side armor of Repulse and the larger "bulge" of Renown allow these ships to be readily differentiated. By Underwood & Underwood - Official U.S. Navy photo NH 57183 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=293501
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Torpedo bombers strike Prince of Wales
Torpedo bombers from the Genzan Air Group attack HMS Prince of Wales, scoring a critical hit that damages the propeller shaft and causes severe flooding, crippling the ship's steering and speed. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(53)
The Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales coming in to moor at Singapore. By Abrahams, H J (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph A 6786 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=361891
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Second wave targets Prince of Wales
Japanese aircraft concentrate their remaining attacks on the already crippled HMS Prince of Wales, which is listing heavily and struggling to maintain steerage. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(53)
The Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales coming in to moor at Singapore. By Abrahams, H J (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph A 6786 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=361891
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Phillips alters course toward Singora
Admiral Phillips, believing he remains undetected, continues northward toward the Singora landing area, intending to strike Japanese transports at dawn on the 11th. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Z
Loss of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, 10 December 1941: Photograph taken from a Japanese aircraft during the initial high-level bombing attack. The battlecruiser Repulse, near the bottom of the view, has just been hit by one bomb and near-missed by several more. The battleship Prince of Wales is near the top of the image, generating a considerable amount of smoke. The Japanese writing in the lower right states that the photograph was reproduced by authorization of the Navy Ministry. By Unknown author - U.S. Navy photo NH 60566, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1702828
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Repulse hit by multiple torpedoes
A coordinated Japanese torpedo attack finally overwhelms HMS Repulse's evasive maneuvers, with four torpedo hits in rapid succession sealing the battlecruiser's fate. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Repulse_(1916)
The battlecruiser HMS Repulse leading other Royal Navy capital ships during maneuvers, circa the late 1920s. The next ship astern is HMS Renown. The extensive external side armor of Repulse and the larger "bulge" of Renown allow these ships to be readily differentiated. By Underwood & Underwood - Official U.S. Navy photo NH 57183 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=293501
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Prince of Wales takes more torpedo hits
HMS Prince of Wales absorbs additional torpedo and bomb hits as Japanese bombers from the Kanoya Air Group press home their attacks on the stricken battleship. ) · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanoya_Air_Group
Prince of Wales takes more torpedo hits By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=848864
Dec 10, 1941 CE
Force Z sails to intercept landings
Admiral Sir Tom Phillips sorties from Singapore with HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, and four destroyers to attack Japanese landings at Kota Bharu and Singora, operating without carrier air cover. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse
A heavily retouched Japanese photograph of HMS PRINCE OF WALES (lower) and REPULSE (upper) after being hit by Japanese torpedoes on 10 December 1941, off Malaya. A British destroyer can also be seen in the foreground. The sinkings were an appalling blow to British prestige. By Photograph by Underwood & Underwood - This photograph HU 2762 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2261354Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse: End of Battleship Dominance
