Warspite encountered a severe storm while being towed from Portsmouth toward the breakers. One tow connection parted and another tug slipped its line, leaving the unmanned hulk dependent on an anchor dropped in Mount's Bay. The anchor failed to hold, and the storm drove the battleship onto Mount Mopus Ledge near Cudden Point before she shifted and grounded harder in Prussia Cove. Seven members of the skeleton crew remained aboard during the emergency. The Penlee lifeboat brought all seven safely ashore, turning a scrapping voyage into a major Cornish wreck and salvage problem.
Notable Point · 1:10:24-1:12:15
A broken tow drives Warspite ashore in Cornwall
A severe storm broke Warspite's tow, defeated her anchor, and left the battleship grounded while the Penlee lifeboat rescued seven caretakers.