Scapa Flow is a sea basin in the south of the Orkney Islands, six miles off the north coast of Scotland. It forms a great natural harbour 15 miles long by 12 miles wide almost entirely surrounded by islands. At the beginning of World War I, Scapa Flow was the principle base of the Grand Fleet, but it was totally undefended against submarine attack. On many occasions the whole Fleet was hastily ordered out to sea on reports of submarine sightings, most of which were subsequently proved to be false alarms.
Copyright © Ken Wilson 1981