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9 Jul 1917

United Kingdom
  • The Vickers-built Dreadnought HMS Vanguard was lost through an internal explosion at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom with the loss of 804 crew. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | AC]
14 Oct 1939

United Kingdom
  • German submarine U-47 penetrated defenses and entered Scapa Flow in Scotland, United Kingdom and sank British battleship HMS Royal Oak, killing 833 out of a crew of 1,257. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | U-47 | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
17 Oct 1939

United Kingdom
  • German aircraft attacked the British naval base at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, damaging the training ship HMS Iron Duke. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
16 Mar 1940

United Kingdom
  • 32 German Ju 88 dive bombers bombed the Royal Navy Home Fleet base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. HMS Norfolk was hit with one bomb, blowing a hole below the water line and killing 6. James Isbister became the first British civilian to be killed by a German bomb when his house in the nearby village of Bridge of Waithe. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | TH]
17 Mar 1940

United Kingdom
  • In the wake of a German raid on Scapa Flow, the British Admiralty admitted that the Home Fleet base was vulnerable to air attacks. The fleet was ordered to depart Scapa Flow between 19 and 26 Mar. In anticipation of this move, German submarines U-57, U-19, U-21, and U-22 began to move toward Scapa Flow in an attempt to attack the departing warships. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
5 Apr 1940

United Kingdom
  • The United Kingdom informed Norway and Sweden of its intent to mine Norwegian waters; British warships departed Scapa Flow at 1830 hours for this operation. Force WB consisting of two minelaying destroyers sailed for the Norwegian coast between the towns of Bud and Kristiansund. Force WS, consisting of minelayer Teviot Bank and destroyers Inglefield, Ilex, Imogen and Isis sailed for waters off Stadtlandet, but this force would be recalled before laying any mines. Force WV consisting of minelaying destroyers Esk, Icarius, Impulsive and Ivanhoe, escorted by the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of 4 destroyers, set sail for waters near Bodö. The operation had a covering force under Vice-Admiral William Whitworth on battlecruiser Renown and destroyers Hyperion, Hero, Greyhound and Glowworm. Glowworm turned back in heavy weather to recover a rating that was washed overboard. ww2dbase [Invasion of Denmark and Norway | Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | TH, HM]
3 May 1940

United Kingdom
  • British and French troops evacuated from Ã…ndalsnes, Norway arrived safely at Scapa Flow, Scotland. The French troops were transferred onto French passenger ships bound for Brest. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
24 Oct 1940

United Kingdom
  • British destroyer HMS Mendip suffered an accidental depth charge detonation in Scapa Flow, Scotland at 1135 hours, ripping off her stern. She would survive the explosion and would be undergoing repairs for the next four months. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
12 Dec 1940

United Kingdom
25 Dec 1940

United Kingdom
  • Two FAA Martlet I fighters of British 804 Naval Air Squadron, on patrol over Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, intercepted and destroyed a prowling Junkers Ju 88 aircraft, the first victory for a US-built aircraft in British service. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | F4F Wildcat | Scapa Flow, Scotland | AC]
31 Dec 1940

United Kingdom
6 Jan 1941

United Kingdom
  • British destroyers HMS Mashona and HMS Sikh collided in the naval base at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
25 Jan 1941

United Kingdom
  • British Admiral Sir John Tovey departed Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom with a fleet to intercept German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau believed to be in the Iceland-Faroes passage. ww2dbase [Operation Berlin | Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
6 Feb 1941

United Kingdom
13 Apr 1941

United Kingdom
  • British battleship HMS King George V, light cruiser HMS Nigeria, and destroyers HMS Mashona, HMS Electra, and HMS Escapade departed Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0107 hours in poor weather. ww2dbase [King George V | Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
15 Apr 1941

United Kingdom
16 Apr 1941

United Kingdom
  • British destroyer HMS Achates departed Loch Alsh, Scotland, United Kingdom and arrived at Scapa Flow at 2100 hours. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
22 Apr 1941

United Kingdom
  • Light cruiser HMS Birmingham arrived at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0602 hours after completing escort duties which began on 8 Feb. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Birmingham | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
5 May 1941

United Kingdom
  • British Royal Navy's 18th Cruiser Squadron (HMS Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham with five destroyers) sailed from Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom and headed north. The operation (codenamed EB) had been mounted by the Admiralty with the specific aim of intercepting and capturing the German weather ship München. Using surprise and speed, Admiral Lancelot Holland intended to capture and board the enemy vessel and, all being well, secure a set of coding tables which would enable the German naval cipher system, Enigma, to be read immediately for the first time. ww2dbase [Enigma Code Broken | Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | AC]
8 Jul 1941

United Kingdom
8 Aug 1941

Photo(s) dated 8 Aug 1941
British cruiser Dorsetshire at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 8 Aug 1941
22 Sep 1941

United Kingdom
  • British cruiser HMS London departed Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom with Lord Beaverbrook and Averell Harriman aboard for Archangel, Russia for Lend-Lease discussions. She was escorted by Soviet and British destroyers. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | London | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
9 Oct 1941

United Kingdom
10 Oct 1941

United Kingdom
  • Allied convoy QP-1, which was consisted of 14 British and Soviet merchant ships escorted by British cruiser HMS London and four minesweepers, from Arkhangelsk, Russia arrived at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Arctic Convoys | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
28 Oct 1941

Photo(s) dated 28 Oct 1941
HMS Edinburgh off Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 28 Oct 1941
28 Mar 1942

United Kingdom
4 Apr 1942

Photo(s) dated 4 Apr 1942
USS Wasp and USS Washington at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 4 Apr 1942
5 Apr 1942

Photo(s) dated 5 Apr 1942
United States Navy Rear Admiral Robert Giffen (left) and Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Alban Curteis aboard HMS Duke of York at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 5 Apr 1942. Note carrier USS Wasp (Wasp-class).
6 Apr 1942

United Kingdom Photo(s) dated 6 Apr 1942
American aircraft carrier USS Wasp (Wasp-class) at anchor in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 6 Apr 1942. Cruiser USS Wichita is seen at right and battleship USS Washington in the center.
4 May 1942

United Kingdom
7 Jun 1942

Photo(s) dated 7 Jun 1942
King George VI inspecting battleship USS Washington at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 7 Jun 1942; note OS2U Kingfisher float plane on catapult
8 Jun 1942

Photo(s) dated 8 Jun 1942
King George VI of the United Kingdom inspecting trawler men & naval personnel at Lyness, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 8 Jun 1942
28 Jun 1942

United Kingdom
  • The British Royal Navy Home Fleet (carrier HMS Victorious, battleship HMS Duke of York, with cruisers and destroyers), reinforced by US battleship USS Washington, departed from Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom to provide distant cover for Allied convoy PQ-17 sailing from Iceland to Arkhangelsk, Russia. ww2dbase [Arctic Convoys | Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
1 Jul 1942

United Kingdom
11 Oct 1942

Photo(s) dated 11 Oct 1942
Winston Churchill with Stafford Cripps and Admiral John Tovey aboard HMS King George V, Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 11 Oct 1942
19 Oct 1942

United Kingdom
18 Mar 1943

Photo(s) dated 18 Mar 1943
King George VI of the United Kingdom aboard HMS Glasgow at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 18-21 Mar 1943
19 May 1943

United Kingdom
17 Jun 1943

United Kingdom
  • The Royal Navy battleships HMS Nelson (flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Algernon Willis) and HMS Rodney plus a large squadron sailed from Scapa Flow to join the largest invasion fleet yet mustered in World War II - 280 warships, 320 merchantmen, 2,125 landing craft and smaller vessels - for Operation Husky, the Sicilian landings. ww2dbase [Rodney | Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender | Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | AC]
26 Jun 1943

Photo(s) dated 26 Jun 1943
Commander of United States Naval Forces in the Atlantic Admiral Harold Stark aboard the battleship USS South Dakota at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, 26 Jun 1943.
1 Aug 1943

United Kingdom
15 Aug 1943

Photo(s) dated 15 Aug 1943
Rear Admiral Robert Burnett greeting King George VI of the United Kingdom aboard HMS Belfast, Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 15 Aug 1943
16 Aug 1943

Photo(s) dated 16 Aug 1943
British admirals Irvine Glennie, Louis Hamilton, Robert Burnett (shaking hand), and Henry Moore with King George VI and Admiral Bruce Fraser of the United Kingdom aboard HMS Duke of York, Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 16 Aug 1943King George VI of the United Kingdom aboard HMS London at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 16 Aug 1943
21 Sep 1943

Photo(s) dated 21 Sep 1943
United States Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox greeting Naval officers aboard USS Ranger at Scapa Flow, Scotland, 21 Sep 1943.
2 Jan 1944

Photo(s) dated 2 Jan 1944
Survivors of sunken German battleship Scharnhorst disembarking a British warship at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2 Jan 1944
30 May 1944

Photo(s) dated 30 May 1944
Battleship Arkhangelsk, Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 30 May 1944, photo 1 of 2Battleship Arkhangelsk, Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 30 May 1944, photo 2 of 2
28 Oct 1944

United Kingdom
30 Dec 1946

United Kingdom
  • Fleet escort ship F2 was sunk during a storm at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [F2 | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Heinrich Himmler (third from left, holding flag) outside the office of the Military District for Bayern (Bavaria) during the Beer Hall Putsch, München (Munich), Germany, 9 Nov 1923


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