The Shocking Loss of HMS Courageous: The First British Capital Ship Lost

Embark on a historical journey into the heart of World War II's naval battleground with our latest video, "Silent Hunter, Sudden Death: U-29 vs. HMS Courageous." Immerse yourself in the gripping tale of the ill-fated encounter between the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous and the German U-boat U-29. As we recount the events leading to that fateful night, discover the strategic decisions and errors that set the stage for this tragic episode. Join us in exploring the heroic efforts of the crew as they faced the relentless onslaught of torpedoes, revealing the untold stories of courage and sacrifice amid the chaos of war. In this detailed narrative, witness the dramatic moments as the U-29, commanded by Kappitanleutnant Otto Schuhart, dealt a devastating blow to the British fleet. The sinking of HMS Courageous marked a turning point in naval tactics, leading to the reconsideration of carrier use against U-boat threats. From the desperate attempts at counteraction to the subsequent rescue efforts amidst the oil-covered sea, this video unravels the layers of tragedy and resilience that defined this pivotal moment in naval history. Subscribe now to delve into the depths of Silent Hunter, Sudden Death, and gain a profound understanding of the challenges faced by seafarers during one of the most intense periods of World War II.
Related Videos:
• A Tale of Two Warships...
• HMS Courageous Sunk
• World War 2 In Color
Sources/Further Reading:
www.amazon.com/British-Battle...
www.amazon.com/World-War-II-S...
www.amazon.com/HMS-Courageous...
www.amazon.com/Ark-Royal-Sail...
Video Information:
Copyright fair use notice. All media used in this video is used for the purpose of education under the terms of fair use. All footage and images used belong to their copyright holders, when applicable.

[@lyedavide]

In war, as in peace, so much can depend on the turn of a friendly card. On this occasion, fate favoured the U-boat. A terrible tragedy that cost so many men their lives. RIP to all those who died.

[@ImportantHistory]

Thank you all for watching the remake of an older video that I was not happy with. I hope it is a bit better and more detailed than the original video. There are some videos of HMS Glorious in the video because of how similar they look. I'm sure some of you saw, earlier this week I had been uploading and reuploading some shorts, I had some extra time and thought I'd make some content and those are always pretty fun and easy to make. Anyway, the tale of the sinking of Courageous is one of many ships that we have been covering, and I hope to continue this trend as they are a bit more interesting than the typical videos I make. Although, next week it is going to be a long form video akin to what I made several months ago over the summer!

[@rajaockvalliant]

It's a good explanation even I'm not well at English, i can't wait for the next content sir,This all heard so fun while you explain it.

[@MartinMcAvoy]

I appreciate the hard work involved in creating these videos. Thanks very much.

[@MartinMcAvoy]

Thanks very much for making this video. If I heard correctly, HMS Courageous got hit as it was involved in recovering aircraft, which slowed it down. I suppose that is why the fast troop ships were relatively safe, because they maintained top speed and the U-boats were slow. Those sailors who survived for hours in the sea, covered by oil, were a different breed. RIP to the ones who never made it back to port.

[@darekkijewski713]

I've always thought an aircraft carrier needs to accelerate rather than slow down in order to recover aircraft, isn't that so?

[@MartinMcAvoy]

​@@darekkijewski713 Not sure about that. My understanding from the video, is that HMS Courageous was manoeuvring to enable the recovery of aircraft, which meant it's captain was focusing on that issue and not the presence of a U-boat.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Funny how Hunter Killer groups reappeared in a couple of years. As the number of escorting frigates, corvettes, destroyer escorts and destroyers became readily available, they created support groups. Then escort carriers became available and the support groups merged to form offensive Hunter Killer groups. They methodically destroyed the critical Milch Cows. Large subs equipped with refueling capabilities with the fuel to refuel several U-Boats. They also carried food supplies, repair parts, toroedoes and extra crew to replace casualties plus a doctor. These were critical for logistics of long range operations with the Type VII.

[@geordiedog1749]

Not sure if I’d call it “funny” exactly:) Certainly inter3sting how when done properly it was an effective concept and not the half arsed nonsense Churchill had concocted

[@CliveN-yr1gv]

Thanks again. I can't speak to the sinking by I will say that the audio track on this dock was the clearest and best balanced that I've heard on your channel. Outstanding research as always 👏🏽🙏🏽👍🏽

[@doronron7323]

Thank you for presenting this story. The ship was partially crewed with a deployment of retired RNR men. One of these was my grandfather Frank Makings RM RNR. Though he was an accomplished swimmer, having previously swam the English Channel, he was unfortunately one of the 500+ who lost their lives. As I understand it, he's the oldest RM to have died on active duty. My mother was born while he was at sea, so they never met. His loss continued to have consequences in the family to this day. I believe the Enquiry Report on this event is still classified as 'Secret'. I wonder what that report hides?

[@DaveSCameron]

Many thanks once again and stay safe and sound everyone. 👍 ☘️

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Good video too!

[@murrayscott9546]

Such Courage in the face of Disaster. !

[@murrayscott9546]

Thx. Poor Souls.

[@darekkijewski713]

Thanks a lot, very informative, I've learned a lot about the sinking. First heard about the demise of the Courageous when I was a teenager and was only begining my adventure into the WW2 history, then I foucused for many years on the war in the Pacific, almost exclusively; however now I''d like to study the develompent of the Royal Navy aircraft carriers, so your video was really useful. It really is surprising that the Courageous sank so quickly, but at least she was destroyed by a submarine, and there was a number of WW2 carriers which suffered the same fate, such as the USS Wasp or the IJN Shinano; it is much more difficult to understand the loss of the HMS Glorious, however, that failed to launch a single aircraft to try and fend off the German surface attack. Question: can you also include several frames in your videos with statistics (tonnage, performance, number and type of aicraft). Anyhow, great work nontheless and please keep these videos coming! Greetings from Poland!

[@ImportantHistory]

Thanks for the comment! My usual videos have statistics in them, in a video like this (more of a story telling video) I try to keep that out of it. I do have a video on the development of Glorious and Courageous, it’s older but has good info.

[@ImportantHistory]

Forgot to send the video: A Tale of Two Warships: The Conversion and History of HMS Glorious and HMS Courageous kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioKvZKOarNiCo9k

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@Tiberiotertio]

The titel gives the impression Britain never before lost a capital ship - which is so not right, unless there is added that it refers to the first capital ship lost in WWII. As one of the biggest losses the British had in capital ships where even the Flagship the Royal Charles was taken to the Netherlands in the raid of the Medway in the 17th century.

[@richardbanker3910]

Escort carriers were used against U boats but attached to convoys. The convoy would get the U boat to come to them. An aircraft carrier with destroyers will come across a vast amount of ocean and the cavalry idea was no bloody good.

[@Knight860]

Good video, however Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty, not First Sea Lord.

[@ImportantHistory]

Oh man I’m embarrassed. Such a silly mistake.

[@Knight860]

@@ImportantHistory It happens

[@hellhound47bravo3]

Have to wonder how two torpedoes were able to sink her so quickly? There was talk of bulkheads collapsing. I have to wonder if errors in construction of the original "Large Light Cruisers" came back to bite "Courageous" in the butt.

[@davidvajgrt990]

Has the wreck been surveyed

[@manveerparmar6570]

No unfortunately

[@geordiedog1749]

Bloody Churchill interfering. Constant menace to the Andrew. He got Courageous sunk and I deeply suspect he was somehow behind Glorious getting sunk as well (or at least at it not getting rescued). Thus, of course led to Ark Royal being over used and thus worn out and massively overdue a refit which was responsible for her sinking as well. The man was a menace. Great in parliament but awful at times in strategy. And don’t start me on the north east coast convoys…….

[@flamebreaker4340]

Churchill messed up really bad .I remember when he order attack berlin with bombers, what happens hitler gets mad and bombing of Britain beginns.

[@DaveSCameron]

Hmm! Not so sure about your opinions but love the passion! ☘️ #OurHistory

[@geordiedog1749]

@@DaveSCameron Cheers. I like passion too. Unless it involves utter cobblers and the it’s just annoying. Re. Churchill - you just have to look at operation Catherine to see just how ‘off on one’ he could get! Dudley Pound* - the “cunning old badger” spent a lot of time putting Churchills more looney ideas on to a back burner until they were forgotten about while simultaneously playing lip service to Winston about them. Perhaps if he hadn’t been so busy mitigating Churchill’s ‘mad ones’ he might have got Norway, the channel dash and PQ17 right (he did get the Atlantic right, to be fair, and that was the most important one) *first sea lord 1940-43.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

'Blood Churchill) did nothing of the sort. Firstly, the policy of using carriers as part of a hunter killer group had been devised by the Admiralty before Churchill became First Lord. Courageous had been sent to her war station at Portland on 31 August. Churchill became First Lord on 3 September. Secondly, Glorious was lost as a direct result of a series of unwise choices made by Guy d'Oyly-Hughes, her captain, and for no other reason. Thirdly, whether Ark Royal needed a refit or not had no relevance to her being torpedoed. Still less was Churchill involved. What do you consider to habe been the problem with the East Coast convoys? You seem to have a bizarre obsession with Churchill? Do you think he might have been a teenage Jack the Ripper, as well as being personally responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs?

[@geordiedog1749]

@@dovetonsturdee7033 Churchill and Jack the Ripper? I never thought of that. But you could be on to something!