On the 10th of December 1941, a British task force led by the HMS Prince of Wales, commanded by Captain John Leach, attempted a surprise attack on suspected Japanese forces near Malaya. However, they were discovered by Japanese aircraft, leading to a devastating aerial assault. The HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales were targeted by Japanese bombers and torpedoes, resulting in severe damage. Repulse eventually sank after multiple hits, while Prince of Wales, unable to maneuver and heavily damaged, was also abandoned and subsequently sank. The tragic incident marked the end of British naval dominance in the region during World War II. In 2023, the wrecks faced potential looting concerns by a Chinese ship.
1. The text describes a historical event on the 10th of December 1941.
2. A task force of ships off the coast of Malaya was preparing to launch a surprise attack against the Japanese.
3. The head of the task force was the HMS Prince of Wales, commanded by Captain John “Jack” Leach.
4. The task force was under radio silence when they received a distress signal from Tenedos.
5. Tenedos was under a Japanese bomber attack, leading to a dire situation.
6. The Japanese found the Task Force Z and the entirety of it was within range.
7. The Japanese aircraft targeted the HMS Repulse and the HMS Prince of Wales.
8. The Repulse was hit by bombs, leading to a significant explosion and damage.
9. The Prince of Wales was hit by a torpedo, causing a massive hole in her hull.
10. The Japanese planes continued to approach, causing further damage and loss of life.
11. The Prince of Wales was hit by another torpedo, causing further damage and loss of life.
12. The Repulse was hit by multiple torpedoes, causing significant damage and leading to her sinking.
13. The Prince of Wales was unable to navigate due to the damage and the order was given to abandon ship.
14. Many men were saved by the destroyer Express, but the Prince of Wales eventually capsized.
15. The HMS Prince of Wales was sunk, and the HMS Repulse was severely damaged.
16. The Malaysian coastguard seized a Chinese ship in 2023, finding shells suspected to be from the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse.