U-24 sinks HMS Formidable

Vice-Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly took the Fifth Battle Squadron to sea for a gunnery exercise despite reported submarine activity and without destroyer escort. There is debate over whether he discussed the need for escort, but the exchange described in the source did not amount to a request. His only supporting cruisers, HMS Topaze and HMS Diamond of the 22-knot Topaze class, were placed behind the battleships rather than on the flanks as a screen. The squadron remained at sea in line ahead at 10 knots under conditions rough enough to hinder submarine detection without preventing a torpedo attack, and Formidable was the last battleship in line. U-24 stalked the formation, torpedoed Formidable at about 02:20, and struck again while Captain Arthur Loxley tried to reach shore. The battleship sank at 04:45 with the loss of 35 officers and 512 men. Loxley remained on the bridge directing the evacuation, rescue vessels recovered survivors, and his fox terrier Bruce washed ashore and was buried at Abbotsbury Gardens in Dorset.