On this day 69 Years Ago

[buffnut453]

HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales were sunk by Japanese torpedo bombers off the coast of Malaya. Many sailors lost their lives and the action effectively ceded the entire maritime battle to the IJN. Just taking a moment today to remember those who lost their lives.

 

[TheMustangRider]

May the souls of those brave men rest in peace.

 

[timshatz]

That was really begining of the end for the Battleship. Took a while for them to actually leave the scene, but after that, they worked with the consideration of Aircraft and their affect. No longer could they go where they wanted, when they wanted.

Odd thing is, the aircraft that sank them were not the first line birds. The Betty bomber wasn't the primary killer. I'm pretty sure it was the older Nells that did the job.

 

[mikewint]

like the Bismark being at least "wounded" by those British biplanes
and may God rest their souls

 

[Shinpachi]

R.I.P.

 

[evangilder]

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

 

[Gnomey]

 

[michaelmaltby]

Inexcusable that that happened, THAT WAY - after Pearl. Same for Clarke Field in the Philippians.

MM

 

[buffnut453]

It was a real confluence of events - miscommunication, faulty intelligence, stubborn pig-headedness by certain RN officers, sheer dumb bad luck and a very well executed attack by the IJN torpedo bombers.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

 

[Gixxerman]

It was a real confluence of events - miscommunication, faulty intelligence, stubborn pig-headedness by certain RN officers, sheer dumb bad luck and a very well executed attack by the IJN torpedo bombers.

Yes all of that......and lets not forget the unlying absurdly dangerous smug and wholly unjustified arrogant, condescending and racist attitudes which 'informed' the entire first half of 'the pacific war'
(and, oddly, reflected in the German fascist state's attitude to Russians etc).

It's a repeated theme in so many conflicts and it is amazing it just keeps on coming back and doing so much damage to life property.

RIP those poor sods on the Repulse Prince of Wales.

 

[P40NUT]

R.I.P.