Sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse | Nihon Kaigun
Sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse
(December 10, 1941)

Three days after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese demonstrated to the Royal Navy exactly what happens to surface craft who stick their necks out without friendly air cover. Britain's Force Z, centered on the battleshipPrince of Wales and the battlecruiser Repulse, attempted to intercept the Japanese amphibious forces off of Malaya. They were located by planes of several IJN air groups off the eastern coast of the peninsula, and subjected to multiple attacks, the third of which left both capital ships sinking. With their demise, the road to Singapore lay open.

Sinking of Prince of Wales and RepulseJapanAllied
Starting Forces x84 x1
x1
x4
Losses x3 planes shot down
 x1 sunk (Prince of Wales)
x1 sunk (Repulse)

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WW2DB article on Invasion of Malaya and Singapore


Men of the British 2/9th Gurkha Rifles training in the Malayan jungle, Oct 1941Men of the British Malay Regiment performing bayonet practice, Singapore, Oct 1941Vickers machine gun crew of the British 1st Manchester Regiment, Malaya, 17 Oct 1941BL 15-inch coastal defense gun elevated for firing, Singapore, circa 1941Newly-arrived Indian Commonwealth troops at Singapore, Nov 1941
Men of the British 2/9th Gurkha Rifles training in the Malayan jungle, Oct 1941Men of the British Malay Regiment performing bayonet practice, Singapore, Oct 1941Vickers machine gun crew of the British 1st Manchester Regiment, Malaya, 17 Oct 1941BL 15-inch coastal defense gun elevated for firing, Singapore, circa 1941Newly-arrived Indian Commonwealth troops at Singapore, Nov 1941
Recruits of the Singapore Volunteer Force training with a Lewis machine gun, Nov 1941British Royal Navy Rear Admiral Arthur Palliser and Admiral Sir Thomas Philips at Singapore, 2 Dec 1941The British Navy Office building in Singapore, 8 Dec 1941Attack on Prince of Wales and Repulse, 10 Dec 1941, photo 1 of 2Attack on Prince of Wales and Repulse, 10 Dec 1941, photo 2 of 2; photo taken by a Japanese pilot; note destroyer Electra or Express in foreground
Recruits of the Singapore Volunteer Force training with a Lewis machine gun, Nov 1941British Royal Navy Rear Admiral Arthur Palliser and Admiral Sir Thomas Philips at Singapore, 2 Dec 1941The British Navy Office building in Singapore, 8 Dec 1941Attack on Prince of Wales and Repulse, 10 Dec 1941, photo 1 of 2Attack on Prince of Wales and Repulse, 10 Dec 1941, photo 2 of 2; photo taken by a Japanese pilot; note destroyer Electra or Express in foreground

See all photos of Invasion of Malaya and Singapore on WW2DB

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