During Operation Husky, a torpedo struck Indomitable below the armoured belt beside the port boiler room. The explosion opened the hull, buckled surrounding plates, and sent fragments into the ship, while the large machinery compartment allowed water to enter rapidly. Speed fell to roughly seven knots, the carrier listed, and water entered the funnel uptakes. Immediate counter-flooding reduced the list enough for the pumps to control and reverse the flooding, and speed rose to 14 knots by 0230. Once the angle was safe, the crew gradually pumped out the counter-flooding water as well. Indomitable returned to Malta with Warspite and Valiant, making most of the journey at about 11 knots and reaching Grand Harbour by 1230.
Notable Point · 3:12:08-3:18:37
Indomitable's boiler-room hit and immediate counter-flooding
Immediate counter-flooding reduced Indomitable's list and restored effective pumping after a torpedo opened the hull beside a large boiler room.