Also known as: Royal Oak, HMS Royal Oak (08)
On the night of 14 October 1939, Kapitanleutnant Gunther Prien threaded U-47 through the supposedly impassable defences of Kirk Sound and put four torpedoes into a battleship at anchor. Eight hundred and thirty-five men — many of them boy sailors barely into their teens — died in the cold water of Scapa Bay. HMS Royal Oak now lies upturned in 33 metres, still weeping fuel oil after more than eight decades, marked by a green buoy bearing a simple request: respect their resting place. Every year, Royal Navy divers descend to replace the White Ensign on her hull, the only people authorised to visit a wreck protected under the highest classification of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. The sinking transformed Scapa Flow's defences: Churchill ordered permanent causeways across the eastern approaches, and Italian prisoners of war built the barriers that still carry Orkney's roads today. Royal Oak cannot be dived, but she remains the emotional centre of everything Scapa Flow means.
Revenge-class battleship. Armed with 4 twin 15-inch guns, 14 x 6-inch guns. Crew of 909. Saw combat at Battle of Jutland. On 14 October 1939, U-47 under Kapitanleutnant Gunther Prien navigated the defences of Scapa Flow through Kirk Sound and torpedoed Royal Oak at anchor. 835 crew killed, including many boy sailors. One of the first major Royal Navy losses of WWII. The attack led directly to Winston Churchill ordering construction of the Churchill Barriers.
HMS Royal Oak is a battleship wreck located off Orkney, United Kingdom at a depth of 33 metres. The vessel was lost due to torpedoed in 1939.
HMS Royal Oak lies at approximately 33 metres depth, Scapa Bay, Scapa Flow.
HMS Royal Oak was lost due to torpedoed on 14 October 1939 during World War II — U-47 attack on Scapa Flow, off Orkney, United Kingdom. 835 people lost their lives.
The best months to dive HMS Royal Oak are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 6°C in winter to 14°C in summer.
HMS Royal Oak is accessed by boat from Kirkwall, Orkney, United Kingdom. The wreck is a designated war grave.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Feb | 6.5°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Mar | 7.0°C | 6.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Apr | 8.0°C | 8.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting; seals present |
| May | 9.5°C | 10.0m | good | Moderate — seals, wrasse, lobster, soft corals |
| Jun | 11.0°C | 14.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Jul | 12.5°C | 18.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Aug | 14.0°C | 18.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Sep | 13.0°C | 14.0m | good | Good — seals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals |
| Oct | 11.0°C | 9.0m | marginal | Good — seals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals |
| Nov | 8.5°C | 6.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Dec | 7.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
3 evidence records from 3 sources.
Revenge-class battleship. 189.2m, 27m beam. 835 killed. Sinking led to construction of Churchill Barriers.
Torpedoed by U-47 on 14 October 1939. 835 killed. Lies upturned in 33m. Still leaks oil. Green buoy marks site. Royal Navy divers replace White Ensign annually.
Designated Controlled Site under Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. Diving prohibited. Exclusion zone enforced.
Scapa Bay, Scapa Flow