Two veterans that were on board HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse when they were sunk during the Second World War have recalled that day 80 years ago. More than 800 crew members were killed when the ships were attacked and sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy on 10 December 1941 - one of the Royal Navy's darkest days. | Forces News

Force Z and the Sinking in 1941 The Decision to Send the Ships: The dispatch of Repulse and Prince of Wales to Singapore in 1941 was a strategic decision to deter Japanese aggression, though it was a gamble that exposed the ships to the risk of air attacks without adequate carrier support. Lack of Air Support: The absence of the carrier HMS Indomitable, which ran aground before it could join Force Z, left the task force without crucial air cover. The Attack: On December 10, 1941, Japanese bomber