Which aircraft sank the cruiser Königsberg?

Short answer

Sixteen Blackburn Skua dive bombers of the British Fleet Air Arm, from 800 and 803 Naval Air Squadrons, which took off from RNAS Hatston, in Orkney. They attacked at 7:20 and the cruiser took at least five 500-pound (230 kg) bombs. It capsized and sank in under three hours.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Which aircraft sank the cruiser Königsberg?

Blackburn Skua

An attack launched from Orkney

The force that sank the German cruiser Königsberg consisted of sixteen Blackburn Skua dive bombers of the British Fleet Air Arm, seven belonging to 800 Naval Air Squadron and nine to 803 Naval Air Squadron, which took off from the naval air station at Hatston, in Orkney. The formation began taking off at five in the morning, British time, on 10 April. The distance was such that crews were told to fly to neutral Sweden if they did not have enough fuel left for the return flight over the North Sea.

Five bombs and under three hours

The dive bombers attacked at 7:20 and caught the ship's crew off guard. The Königsberg was hit by at least five 500-pound (230 kg) bombs, which caused it severe damage. Less than three hours passed from the start of the attack until the ship capsized and sank completely.

What happened that 10 April

The action was the first sinking of a major German warship by air attack in the Second World War, and the largest ship lost to dive bombing up to that point.