The Scuttling of the German Ships.
THE GERMAN SHIPS AT SCAPA FLOW
Although the association of the Grand Fleet with Scapa Flow would of itself have given that hitherto almost unknown spot a peculiar and honourable significance in our naval history, it was undoubtedly the choice of Scapa as the place of internment of the German ships and their subsequent dramatic sinking, which made Scapa a familiar name, not only in this country but all over the world. The photographs which follow show the various phases of the German "occupation" of Scapa from the time that the vessels arrived for internment to the final scenes in March, 1920, when those vessels which had been salved after the scuttling in June, 1919, were finally towed south for distribution amongst the Allied Powers.
The first phase took place on 23rd November, 1918, and the succeeding days, when the surrendered ships were escorted from Rosyth to Scapa and anchored in the Flow, prior to taking up their permanent billets in Gutter Sound (previously the collier anchorage of the Fleet; see map on [p. 110]).
The ships arrived in the following order:
| Date. | German Vessels. | British Escort. |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 23/11/18 | 20 Torpedo-Boat Destroyers. | Torpedo-Boat Destroyers. |
| Sunday, 24/11/18 | 20 Torpedo-Boat Destroyers. | Torpedo-Boat Destroyers. |
| Monday, 25/11/18 | 5 Battle Cruisers, 10 Torpedo-Boat Destroyers. | "Lion" and First Battle Cruiser Squadron and 10 Torpedo-Boat Destroyers. |
| Tuesday, 26/11/18 | 5 Battleships and 4 Light Cruisers. | 5 Ships First Battle Squadron and Second Light Cruiser Squadron. |
| Wednesday, 27/11/18 | 4 Battleships, 3 Light Cruisers. | 4 Ships First Battle Squadron and Third Light Cruiser Squadron. |