The commander of U-751 believed that his torpedoes had sunk an Illustrious-class carrier rather than HMS Audacity. German propaganda repeated that identification even though the victim was an 11,000-ton converted merchant ship. The error shows how difficult night recognition could be and how wartime claims could inflate a success. Such exaggeration could also assist the Royal Navy, because the later appearance of the supposedly sunk class forced German accounts either to admit the mistake or invent British replacement ships. A combatant's immediate report must be separated from the vessel identity established afterward.
Notable Point · 43:14-44:14
U-751 mistakes Audacity for an Illustrious-class carrier
The U-boat commander who sank Audacity reported an Illustrious-class carrier, letting German propaganda magnify an 11,000-ton merchant conversion into a much larger prize.