Royal Oak's admiral's launch

A relic from one of the darkest moments in Scotland’s maritime history has been found after 60 years, serving as a London houseboat.

The admiral’s launch from the HMS Royal Oak - which was sunk off Scapa Flow in 1939 with the loss of over 830 lives - only survived because it had been sent for refurbishment. . .

The launch is all that remains of the 29,000 ton warship, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat in October 1939, in a daring raid on the British naval base in Orkney’s Scapa Flow.

Posted by David on January 11, 2003 9:30 PM