World War Losses
Scapa Flow holds the largest concentration of ships from both World Wars and is the resting place for the entire World War 1 German high seas fleet.
Losses included HMS Edinburgh. Known as 'Edinburgh Gold' because of her cargo of gold bullion, she was torpedoed in 1942, but was sunk by HMS Destroyer to stop her cargo falling into enemy hands; a replica ingot is on display.
S.S. Aurania - Was sunk by a German submarine in 1917; bottles, items of cutlery and silver plated tableware are on display.
RMS Medina once used as a Royal Yacht was torpedoed by a German U-Boat off Start Point in Devon in 1917. In the hold was a valuable personal collection brought from India and belonging to Lord and Lady Carmichael. Included were horse riding accessories, crockery and coins.
The HMS Exeter sank in the Java Sea near Borneo after being torpedoed in 1942.
There are pictures and correspondence on display from a member of the crew who died on board.
British dreadnought, the Royal Oak, was sunk in October 1939 after a German U-Boat penetrated the British Navy's main anchorage at Scapa Flow. With the loss of 833 lives, this is classed as one of the worst tragedies in British Naval history.
Torpedoed off Southern Ireland on 7 May 1915, R.M.S. Lusitania sank in 350ft of water in less than 15 minutes with the loss of 1,198 civilians. Although claims were made that she was not carrying any war stores, it is alleged that she was in fact heavily armed