Sinking of Barham

25 November 1941, Off Sidi Barrani, Egypt

German success; Barham sunk

Cunningham's battleships were at sea to cover an attack on Italian convoys when U-331 slipped inside the destroyer screen and fired four torpedoes at close range. Three hit Barham. She rolled over to port in about four minutes, and as she went her main magazine exploded. A newsreel cameraman aboard Valiant filmed her end. 862 of her crew were killed; about 450 were saved. The Admiralty kept the loss secret for two months, and the film was not shown until after the war.