SINKING OF PRINCE OF WALES AND REPULSE Meaning and
Definition
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The sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse refers to the devastating naval battle that took place during World War II, resulting in the sinking of two British warships - the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse. This incident occurred in the South China Sea on December 10, 1941.
The HMS Prince of Wales was a battleship, and the HMS Repulse was a battlecruiser. They were part of the British Royal Navy's Force Z which was deployed to intercept Japanese forces that were advancing towards British territories in Southeast Asia. However, these vessels were ill-prepared and lacked air cover, making them vulnerable targets for the advancing Japanese aircraft.
During the battle, a large number of Japanese bombers and torpedo planes launched repeated attacks on the British ships. The lack of adequate air defense and anti-aircraft weapons on the Prince of Wales and Repulse made them susceptible to the overwhelming Japanese air power. Both ships were mercilessly bombed, torpedoed, and eventually sunk, resulting in the loss of nearly 840 British sailors.
The sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse marked a significant turning point in naval warfare, demonstrating the vulnerability of battleships and battlecruisers to aerial attacks. It highlighted the changing dynamics in warfare, where air power emerged as a dominant force. This event further emphasized the need for air cover to protect naval assets and influenced subsequent naval strategies and ship designs.
