HMS Royal Oak

HMS Royal Oak is the largest maritime war grave in the Northern hemisphere. Sunk by U-boat torpedoes at anchor in the early weeks of WWII in Scapa bay, Orkney, this Sovereign class warship was the final resting place of 833 sailors. The wreck has been leaking oil for the past 67 years and has led to attempts by the MOD’s Marine Salvage team to prevent damage to the local environment.

The ADUS images show the impact damage of the four torpedoes that sank the ship. One of the most powerful images is of the starboard side of the upturned hull in which a bite appears to have been taken out of the bow where the first torpedo struck. The images have been animated using digital cinematography techniques to allow the viewer to explore the wreck in detail. The effects of movement across the digital data gives a much clearer understanding of the structure.