On this day 14 November 1941
Published: 14 Nov 2014
HMS Ark Royal sank 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by U-81.
On 10 November 1941, as part of Force H, Ark Royal ferried aircraft to Malta (Operation Perpetual) before returning to Gibraltar.
On 13 November, Friedrich Guggenberger's U-81, spotted the ships returning to Gibraltar, and at about 15.40, Ark Royal was struck amidships by a torpedo. Despite efforts to save her, she sank at 06.20 14 November, 30 nautical miles from Gibraltar.
Images courtesy IWM (non Commercial licence) and FAA Museum