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Osprey Fortress #85
Scapa Flow: The Defences of Britain’s Great Fleet Anchorage 1914–45
A strategically important natural harbor in the Orkney Islands, Scapa Flow served as Britain's main fleet anchorage during World Wars I and II. It held Jellicoe's Grand Fleet from 1914-18, and it was from here that it sailed out to do battle with the Germans at Jutland in 1916. In 1914 the British began building a comprehensive defensive network by fortifying the entrances to Scapa Flow and then extending these defenses to cover most of Orkney. These static defenses were augmented with boom nets, naval patrols and minefields, creating the largest fortified naval base in the world.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, Scapa Flow again proved ideally situated to counter the German naval threat and served as the base for Britain's Home Fleet. Despite constant attacks from aircraft and U-boats, one of which managed to sink the British battleship Royal Oak, the defenses of Scapa Flow were again augmented and improved. By 1940, Orkney had become an island fortress, the largest integrated defensive network of its kind in Europe, manned by as many as 50,000 Commonwealth troops.
Backed by newly commissioned artwork, naval historian Angus Konstam tells the story of this mighty naval fortress, many pieces of which can still be seen on the island today.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, Scapa Flow again proved ideally situated to counter the German naval threat and served as the base for Britain's Home Fleet. Despite constant attacks from aircraft and U-boats, one of which managed to sink the British battleship Royal Oak, the defenses of Scapa Flow were again augmented and improved. By 1940, Orkney had become an island fortress, the largest integrated defensive network of its kind in Europe, manned by as many as 50,000 Commonwealth troops.
Backed by newly commissioned artwork, naval historian Angus Konstam tells the story of this mighty naval fortress, many pieces of which can still be seen on the island today.
64 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2009
About the author
Angus Konstam
222 books62 followersAngus Konstam is a Scottish writer of popular history. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised on the Orkney Islands, he has written more than a hundred books on maritime history, naval history, historical atlases, with a special focus on the history of piracy.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 13, 2018
Like most Ospreys, the text balances brevity with exhaustive facts. The author's passion for his birthplace adds a nice touch. Seeing him grow up as the tide carries landmarks on the sands down is a testament to the ravage/passage of time.
Be warned however, that the focus is squarely on WWII, as most of the remains date back to the more recent conflict. I was left in want of more info on 1914-18. A good book to bring with you on-site.
The Grand Scuttle gets the customary place of honour, next to the succesful sneak attack by U-47 on HMS Royal Oak on 14 October 1939. Both events sank British morale deeper than the hull in the Orcadian shallows.
Notwithstanding this success, the joint branches of the German armed forces decided that, with all the AA and RAF squadrons shielding a fleet whose smaller vessels were giving a feisty account of themselves in Northern European waters, the main naval base was a nut best left uncracked. Just as they had decided against it after Jutland.
As a result, the service at Scapa Flow across both wars was cold, wet and boring... but further from danger and hunger than most men on the frontline.
Be warned however, that the focus is squarely on WWII, as most of the remains date back to the more recent conflict. I was left in want of more info on 1914-18. A good book to bring with you on-site.
The Grand Scuttle gets the customary place of honour, next to the succesful sneak attack by U-47 on HMS Royal Oak on 14 October 1939. Both events sank British morale deeper than the hull in the Orcadian shallows.
Notwithstanding this success, the joint branches of the German armed forces decided that, with all the AA and RAF squadrons shielding a fleet whose smaller vessels were giving a feisty account of themselves in Northern European waters, the main naval base was a nut best left uncracked. Just as they had decided against it after Jutland.
As a result, the service at Scapa Flow across both wars was cold, wet and boring... but further from danger and hunger than most men on the frontline.
Displaying 1 of 1 review