The Sinking Of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse

The Sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse

Admiral Sir Tom Phillips (right)

Prince Of Wales

The Sinking of Prince Of Wales and Repulse was a Second World War naval engagement which occurred at the North of Singapore, near Kuantan,Pahang. The British Royal Navy Ship HMS Prince Of Wales and  HMS Repulse were sunk by bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy on the 10 December 1941. 

Repulse

The objective of Force Z, which consisted of only one battleship, one battlecruiser and four destroyers, was to intercept the Japanese invasion fleet north of Malaya. However, it sailed without any support from air, which had been declined by Admiral Sir Thomas Phillips, the commander of Force Z, in favor of maintaining radio silence.  However,the force failed to find and destroy the main convoy. On their return to Singapore, they were attacked in the waters and sunk by long-range bombers.

 It is believed that these four factors influenced his decision: he thought that Japanese planes could not operate so far from land, he thought that his ships were relatively immune from fatal damage via air attack, he was unaware of the quality of Japanese bombing and torpedo aircraft, and lastly, Phillips underestimated the fighting abilities of the Japanese.

No. 453 Squadron RAAF was to provide air cover for Force Z. No request for air cover was sent until an hour after the Japanese attack began. Flight Lieutenant Tim Vigors planned to order six aircraft over Force Z , but this was not approved by Phillips.They were later bombed down together with their ships at a later date.

 The sinking of the two ships severely weakened the Eastern Fleet in Singapore, and the Japanese invasion fleet was only engaged by submarines until the Battle Of Endau on the 27 January 1942.

Destroyers Electra and Vampire  rescued the survivors of Repulse, while Express rescued those from the Prince Of Wales. 840 sailors were lost, 513 from Repulse and 327 from Prince Of Wales.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse(Date accessed:16 February 2013)
Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse(Date found:16 February 2013)
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRMLFy67VEw(Date found:16 February 2013)

The Battle Of Singapore

THE BATTLE OF SINGAPORE 

The Japanese Occupation Of Singapore in World War Two took place between 1942 and 1945 after the surrender of the British on 15 February 1942, the first day of Chinese New Year. Military forces of the Japan Emperor conquered Singapore after defeating the Australian, British, Indian and Malayan troops. The occupation made a drastic change in the history of several nations such as Japan, Britain and Singapore back then.

Singapore was then renamed Syonan to, which means "Light of the South". The troops defending Singapore surrendered on the 15 February 1942, just a week after the invasion of Singapore started. It was the worst disaster in British history and one of the British worse combat ever.

Surrender Of The British At Old Ford Motor Factory

The fighting in Singapore only lasted from 8 February 1942 to 15 February 1942.

About 80,000 soldiers became Prisoners Of Wars (POW). In just a week, Singapore, the "Impregnable Fortress", had fallen.

In Total, The Battle Of Singapore lasted for less than 70 days.The Japanese started bombing Singapore on the 8 December 1941.The British eventually surrendered Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942 after lots of bloodshed.The surrender took place at Old Ford Motor Factory.

The Allied Forces were then forced to the Selarang Barracks from the Padang by the Japanese.The Allied Forces marched for a total of 22 kilometres.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore(Date accessed:16 Feb 2013)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Singapore(Date accessed:16 Feb 2013)
(2007) Singapore From Settlement To Nation Pre-1819 to 1971 (Second Edition), Times Centre,1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196, Marshall Cavendish Education
Images from Google Image ( Date Found : 16 February 2013)