swordfish flying off of glorious

While returning from Norway, escorted by the destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, she was engaged by the German ships SCHARNHORST and GNEISAU. The first salvo, which caused serious damage perforated the flight desk and burst in the hanger. Small arms ammunition exploded and a fire started in the hanger but this was soon got under control The next hits were on the bridge, as a result the commanding officer and most of the bridge personnel were killed. Further hits followed rapidly and one salvo struck on or abaft the centre engine room caused serious damage. The ship began to loose speed and circled to port with a list to starboard. GLORIOUS eventually rolled over to port and sank about one hour after she was first attacked.

The ships were travelling under radio silence and, although a message was sent and received during the attack, no support vessels were sent to find survivors and over 1,500 men were lost either during the attack or subsequently died in the Norwegian Sea. 39 survivors were rescued some time later from the sea by a neutral ship. The radio silence was most likely to protect the location of the Norwegian Royal Family who were being evacuated from Norway at the time - this is officially denied but Rosemary (Walter's only daughter) later received a large box of toys from the King of Norway.

Widespread surprise at the scale of the loss and the unexplained circumstances of the action leading to the sinking still abound, question are still asked, without answer, in the House of Commons.