Battle of the Atlantic: The British Courageous aircraft carrier (HMS Courageous) is sinking after being hit by torpedoes from a German U-29 submarine under the command of Lieutenant Commander Otto Schuhart.
On September 17, 1939, at 19 hours 50 minutes near the south-west coast of Ireland, the U-29 submarine fired 3 torpedoes to the Courageous aircraft carrier from a distance of 2,700 meters, two of which hit the ship’s engine room. Torpedo hits caused strong explosions and destruction. The commander of the aircraft carrier captain-commander W. Mekein-Jones ordered to leave the ship, and after 15 minutes the HMS Courageous sank.
Killed 518 British sailors (from a crew of 1,259 people) including the captain. Courageous aircraft carrier became the first ship of the Royal Navy, who died in the Second World War.
Source of Courageous aircraft carrier photo information:
Location: Atlantic
Date: September 17, 1939