The Destruction of Force Z

The Final Mission and Sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse

Jul 1, 2008

The absence of fighter protection left Force Z vulnerable to marauding Japanese strike aircraft, forcibly demonstrating that the reign of the battleship was near its end.

Having committed a bulk of it forces to the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the Royal Navy could muster a battle fleet of only six ships (designated as Force Z) to oppose Japanese advances against its colonial interests in the Far East.

Force Z's Deployment

In the early evening of December 8, 1941, the fast battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse steamed out of the harbor at Singapore, escorted by the destroyers Electra, Vampire, Express and Tenedos.

Force Z's Mission

Force Z commander Admiral Sir Thomas Phillips' objective was to proceed north through the South China Sea into the Gulf of Siam and engage Japanese amphibious forces that had begun landing troops on Malaya's northeastern coast that afternoon. Success depended on remaining undetected as a lack of available Royal Air Force fighter aircraft would leave the British ships exposed to aerial assault, therefore strict radio silence was to be observed.

Force Z is Discovered

A patrolling Japanese submarine, I-65, sighted Force Z in the afternoon of December 9 as it rounded Anamba Island. The information surprised Japanese commanders, who were about to dispatch bombers from Saigon to attack the British warships which were incorrectly reported to be still moored at Singapore. Seven cruisers and two battleships were rapidly deployed to search the area where I-65 had reported contact.

Force Z Aborts Mission

At 5 PM, scout aircraft from the Japanese cruisers were observed on the horizon by lookouts aboard Prince of Wales, forcing Phillips to conclude that his mission had been compromised. As Phillips continued north in an attempt to deceive his adversary, Tenedos was ordered south to radio Singapore and arrange fighter cover for the next morning. As night fell, Force Z reversed course and headed back to port. Shortly thereafter, Phillips received intelligence from his Chief of Staff in Singapore warning of a suspected Japanese air fleet operating from southern Indochina.

Fatal Decisions

Just past midnight, another communication from Singapore reported an additional Japanese invasion force was landing at Kuantan in southern Malaya. Although the information would later prove to be erroneous, Phillips felt compelled to act; for this supposed Japanese incursion could potentially cut off British troops already fighting in northern Malaya. Phillips adjusted course to intervene, but opted to maintain radio silence and did not confirm the information. Believing that his Chief of Staff would anticipate his response, Phillips assumed that fighter cover would be provided when Force Z arrived to contest the alleged Japanese invaders at dawn.

During the night, the Imperial Navy submarine I-58 reestablished contact with Force Z and relayed its position to Saigon. When morning broke, strike aircraft of the Japanese 22nd Air Flotilla would take off to seek out the British.

As the sun rose on December 10, a Prince of Wales scout plane confirmed that there was no hostile action occurring in the Kuantan area. Despite this revelation, Phillips still believed that the enemy must be landing somewhere in the vicinity and continued north to search it out.

At 10 AM, Tenedos was spotted south of Anamba Island by aircraft of the 22nd Air Flotilla and came under attack. The destroyer sent urgent transmissions describing her plight as she weaved to avoid Japanese bombs. Upon receiving Tenedos' frantic alarms, Phillips realized the danger and immediately reversed course for a dash back to Singapore. Again, the British admiral did not break radio silence to request air cover.

Luck was not to be with Force Z. As Prince of Wales' scout plane was returning to the fleet, it was spotted by enemy aircraft. The British pilot would unwittingly lead the Japanese to their quarry.

Final Moments of Force Z

Just after 11 AM, Repulse's radar detected aircraft approaching from the port bow. Within minutes, nine Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bombers lined up for attack as antiaircraft crews aboard Repulse opened fire. The battlecruiser maneuvered swiftly to dodge the descending ordnance, but sustained a minor hit to her hangar deck.

A half hour later, radar operators aboard Prince of Wales reported a flight of torpedo bombers inbound from the starboard horizon. The aircraft commenced their attack runs in groups of two and three, releasing their deadly cargo from mast level. The British battlewagons helmed hard over in divergent directions as the Long Lance torpedoes closed in. Repulse managed to evade, but Prince of Wales was hit twice astern, jamming her rudder and shearing the port propeller shaft. Electrical power fluctuated as her turbines ceased to function.

Admiral Phillips stricken flagship began to take on water as she circled helplessly, unresponsive to signals from Repulse requesting a situation report. The silence from Prince of Wales prompted Repulse to transmit an urgent plea for air support. Singapore scrambled six fighters in response, but it would be an hour before they would arrive.

With Prince of Wales faltering, the attackers turned their focus onto Repulse. The valiant battlecruiser refused to yield, evading over fifteen Long Lances before a brilliantly orchestrated attack run by two groups of torpedo bombers successfully delivered their payloads into either side of Repulse's bow.

Torrents of seawater poured through the lacerated hull as the alarm to abandon ship was sounded, sending men scrambling to reach the weather deck of the rapidly listing vessel. Sailors hurled themselves over the sides as their venerable ship rolled over and surrendered to the sea at 12:33.

Full attention was now given to the wounded Prince of Wales. The sturdy battleship absorbed several more blows before Express pulled along side to evacuate casualties. Tugboats summoned from Singapore would prove pointless as Phillips' flagship began to founder before ultimately capsizing at 1:20, taking Force Z's commander with her.

Aftermath

The one-sided action had cost the Royal Navy 840 men, while the Japanese suffered only 18 deaths. Apart from the human toll, the engagement successfully dethroned the battleship as queen of the high seas.

The copyright of the article The Destruction of Force Z in WW II History is owned by Andrew C. Rappold. Permission to republish The Destruction of Force Z in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.