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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow , area of water, 15 mi (24 km) long and 8 mi (12.9 km) wide, in the Orkney Islands, off N Scotland. It is bounded by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay, and Hoy. Scapa Flow was Britain's main naval base in both world wars. Lyness, on Hoy, was the headquarters. The British vessel Vanguard exploded in Scapa Flow in July, 1917, and the German fleet was scuttled there in 1919. In Oct., 1939, a German submarine penetrated the area and sank the Royal Oak, causing the British fleet to withdraw until 1940. The Churchill Barrier was begun the same year to block the eastern entrance to Scapa Flow by sinking 250,000 tons of concrete in the sounds linking Mainland, Burray, South Ronaldsay, and two smaller eastern islands. The barrier now forms a causeway linking Mainland to South Ronaldsay. The naval base was closed in 1956. |
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"Scapa Flow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Scapa Flow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ScapaFlo.html "Scapa Flow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ScapaFlo.html |
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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow A stretch of sea in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. In May 1919 the terms of the VERSAILLES PEACE SETTLEMENT were submitted to the Germans, who protested vigorously. As an act of defiance, orders were given under Admiral von Reuter to scuttle and sink the entire German High Seas Fleet, then interned at Scapa Flow. In October 1939 the defences of Scapa Flow were penetrated when a German U-boat sank HMS Royal Oak. The naval base was closed in 1957 but the anchorage at Flotta at the southern entrance to Scapa Flow became the centre of the oil industry in Orkney.
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"Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-ScapaFlow.html "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-ScapaFlow.html |
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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow in the Orkneys is a magnificent natural harbour and naval base, commanding the approaches to both the North Atlantic and the North Sea. It was developed immediately before the First World War when the fleet increased in numbers and the vessels in size. The German high seas fleet was escorted to Scapa in 1918 and on 21 June 1919 the 74 vessels were scuttled. At the start of the Second World War, a brilliant U-boat action torpedoed the Royal Oak at anchor with the loss of over 800 lives. The naval base was closed in 1956.
J. A. Cannon |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ScapaFlow.html JOHN CANNON. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-ScapaFlow.html |
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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow, a huge expanse of water in the Orkney Islands sheltered by the off-lying islands of Hoy, Flotta, South Ronaldsay, and Burray. It was used as the base for the British Grand Fleet during the First World War (1914–18) and for the Royal Navy's Home Fleet during the Second (1939–45). At the end of the First World War the German High Seas Fleet was interned there, where most of it was scuttled by its crews in June 1919.
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"Scapa Flow." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ScapaFlow.html "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ScapaFlow.html |
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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow in the Orkneys is a magnificent natural harbour and naval base, commanding the approaches to both the North Atlantic and the North Sea. It was developed immediately before the First World War when the fleet increased in numbers and the vessels in size. The German high seas fleet was escorted to Scapa in 1918 and on 21 June 1919 the 74 vessels were scuttled. The naval base was closed in 1956.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-ScapaFlow.html JOHN CANNON. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-ScapaFlow.html |
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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow a strait in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, which was an important British naval base, especially in the First World War. The German High Seas Fleet was interned there after its surrender, and was scuttled in 1919 as an act of defiance against the terms of the Versailles peace settlement.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ScapaFlow.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Scapa Flow." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ScapaFlow.html |
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Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow Orkn. Scalpay 1579. ‘Boat-shaped isthmus’. OScand. skalpr + eith, with Scots flow. The ‘isthmus’ is the stretch of land south of Kirkwall on the eastern side of Scapa Bay.
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A. D. MILLS. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-ScapaFlow.html A. D. MILLS. "Scapa Flow." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-ScapaFlow.html |
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