U47 - October 1939

Inspired by Günter Prien raid on Scapa Flow in October 1939 with a  "U96 - Das Boot" techno touch version

On a chilling October night in 1939, under a sky heavy with storm clouds and suspense, German U-boat commander Günther Prien embarked on one of the most daring raids of World War II. His mission: to infiltrate Scapa Flow, the British Royal Navy’s fortress-like anchorage in the Orkney Islands, and strike at the heart of the British fleet. The boat carrying him and his crew was U-47, a German Type VIIB U-boat that had already seen its share of perilous missions. Yet nothing would compare to the challenge they were about to face.

The British, confident in Scapa Flow's natural protection, were certain that no enemy vessel could penetrate the complex maze of barriers, blockships, and currents that defended it. However, Prien was undeterred, his audacious mind driven by both duty and a hunger to prove the power of Germany’s U-boat force. His orders from Admiral Karl Dönitz were simple but chilling: find a way in, attack, and escape.

As U-47 approached the fringes of Scapa Flow late in the night, Prien ordered the engines to slow, minimizing noise. The crew held their breaths as they carefully navigated between the blockships – deliberately sunken vessels meant to seal off potential access points. With every meter gained, their peril increased, as the powerful searchlights on shore seemed only moments away from discovering them.

Suddenly, a jagged piece of one blockship loomed up ahead, nearly catching U-47’s conning tower. Prien ordered a delicate course correction, avoiding the wreck by mere inches. His first officer, Engelbert Endrass, glanced over, his eyes wide with a blend of respect and fear for his commander. Prien responded with a thin, determined smile. “No room for mistakes,” he whispered.

Hours later, they were inside. Scapa Flow’s still waters lay ahead, and in the ghostly moonlight, they saw it: a large silhouette. The HMS Royal Oak, a battleship with a legacy spanning decades, lay at anchor, the pride of the Royal Navy. Prien knew this was his moment. He ordered U-47’s torpedo tubes readied.

“Tube One, fire!”

The first torpedo surged through the water. The crew listened, straining to hear the telltale rumble of impact, but there was nothing. Silence. Prien clenched his jaw, realizing the first torpedo had failed. But he was undeterred.

“Tube Two, fire!”

This time, a rumble echoed across the water as the torpedo slammed into Royal Oak’s hull. Seconds later, the stillness was shattered as an explosion ripped through the ship, flames leaping skyward. Men scrambled across Royal Oak’s deck in terror, trying to contain the damage.

Prien, realizing Royal Oak was still afloat, issued one more deadly order.

“Tube Three, fire!”

The final torpedo struck with deadly precision. Royal Oak shuddered, tilted, and began to sink. The sea swallowed her stern first, leaving a trail of wreckage and survivors struggling in the cold waters.

But U-47’s mission was not over yet. The British would respond soon, and Prien knew that escape was as dangerous as entry. Without a second to spare, he ordered U-47 to dive deep and retreat, snaking their way back through the maze of blockships. The journey out was fraught with tense moments as British searchlights scanned the waters, and the crew held their breath, fearing detection at any second.

But luck was on their side. As dawn broke over the Orkneys, U-47 was clear of Scapa Flow, and Prien surfaced to signal their success back to Germany.

Upon their return, Prien and his crew were celebrated as national heroes, hailed for executing one of the boldest raids of the war. The name Günther Prien became legendary, and the sinking of the Royal Oak sent shockwaves throughout the Royal Navy, which realized that no harbor was beyond reach of the German U-boats.