Encounter:

U-81 and HMS Ark Royal 4 November 1941

Having undergone major repairs, U-81 left Brest for La Spezia in Italy. As she was sailing off the Gibraltar coast on 13 November 1941, she encountered the vessels of Force H (1) and it was at this point U-81 fired a single torpedo into the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, while simultaneously avoiding depth charges.

Unfortunately, despite major efforts to salvage HMS Ark Royal she was abandoned 12 hours after the initial attack. Shortly after she capsized and sank. Miraculously only one life was lost in the incident. After the sinking of HMS Ark Royal, U-81 reached La Spezia on 1 December where she joined the 29^th U-boat flotilla.

On 4 April 1942 U-81 sailed into the Eastern Mediterranean and on 16 April sank the Egyptian sailing ships; ‘Bab el Farag’ and ‘Fatouh el Kher’, the British ‘Caspia’ and the French submarine Naval trawler ‘Vikings’. A few days later U-81 also sank a further two Egyptian vessels, the ‘Hefz el Rahman caprilia’ and ‘El Saadiah on 22 September.

While on patrol in the Western Mediterranean, U-81 also sank the British ‘Havre’ on 10 June and later in the year, 10 September, intercepted one of the convoys of ‘Operation Torch’, subsequently sinking the ‘Mar’ on 13 November.

Operation Torch’ – This was part of the North African campaign within the area of the French protectorate of Morocco and French Colonial Algeria. Allied countries involved in this operation included; US, UK, Free France, Canada (Naval), the Netherlands (Naval), Vichy France and Germany (Naval). Originally named ‘Operation Gymnast’ Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa during the North African campaign, beginning 8 November 1942.

The allies organised three amphibious task forces to seize the main ports and airports of Morocco and Algeria, with the idea of targeting Casablanca and Tangiers (all under Vichy government of France). This was the first time British and Americans worked together on an invasion plan. All landings were highly successful and the French resistance minimal. From here the allied forces moved into Tunisia.

1943 – 7 May:

As a result of Operation Torch Hitler ordered ‘Operation Anton’, which saw German trrops occupy Vichy France, while in North Africa the French ‘Amee d’ Afrique’, joined with the allies.

Ark Royal after being hit by U-81

Go to Chapter 5. 'Encounters: U-81 meets the Saroena'

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