At Scapa Flow in the Orkneys, the UK has the finest, natural naval base to be found anywhere in the world.
On October 24th 1939, with the war only a matter of weeks old, the U47 slinked into this haven and fired four largely dud torpedoes at the Royal Oak.
These failed to cause any significant damage. A full quarter of an hour later, U47 decided to have a second go. She fired three torpedoes into the Royal Oak and sank her before making good her escape and returning to Nazi Germany to a jubilant and very public welcome.
'So what?' - you may well say. '833 men and boys killed - such are the horrors of war'.
But again - these deaths occurred purely because Fortress Scapa Flow was ill-maintained between the wars. Monies were not found to maintain First World War standards.
A mighty, albeit aging, ship was lost and hundreds of lives thrown away.
Seeking the so-called 'peace dividend' is simply a gamble by government who cross fingers, hoping that, because there is no war on the immediate horizon, there will never be one. FOLLY!
Theodore Roosevelt - "Speak softly and carry a big stick." - WISDOM!
