The destroyer Laforey came alongside with additional pumps and power while Swordfish from Gibraltar reinforced the anti-submarine patrol overhead. The tug Thames attached a tow, and a boiler was restored, showing that the carrier remained a salvageable object for hours rather than sinking immediately after the hit. Water then entered the uninterrupted boiler-room fan flat, forcing the working boiler to shut down as the list increased beyond recovery. The crew completed its transfer to Legion, and 1,487 officers and sailors reached Gibraltar with Edward Mitchell the sole fatality. Ark Royal finally rolled over and sank at 06:19 on 14 November, more than fourteen hours after the torpedo struck.
Notable Point · 53:19-55:15
A long salvage attempt ended in capsize
Destroyers, aircraft, and a tug kept working around Ark Royal for hours, but unchecked water reached the fan flat and defeated the restored power and towing effort.