Atlantic
Having evaded German searchers during a remarkable 44-day passage, the Polish submarine Orzel is escorted into British home waters.
[
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]Battle of the Atlantic
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- After penetrating the strongly defended naval base of Scapa Flow U-47, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Günther Prien, sinks the British battleship Royal Oak. British losses are 833 (786?) dead. This action is a serious blow to the prestige of the Royal Navy as well as an indication of a very serious real weakness in the defenses. Churchill orders concrete barriers at the eastern entrance to Scapa Flow.
- U-48 sinks the British steamer Steaton (3678t) 150 miles southwest of Fastnet with the loss of 1 crewman. The survivors are picked up by the Belgian tanker Alexandre Andre.
| ]Diplomatic Relations
Finland offers counterproposals to the Soviets but they are rejected because they did not represent even their minimum terms.[
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German Raiders
The German pocket battleship Deutschland sinks the Norwegian steamer Lorentz W Hansen east of Newfoundland with the loss of 3 of her crew. The survivors are put aboard the Norwegian tanker Kongsdal stopped later in the day.[
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