Germany claiming sinking British London-class heavy cruiser according to the Dutch newspaper Bredasche courant dated 1 December 1939

HMS Norfolk

An item referred to a report of the German submarine commanding captain lieutenant Prien (1) who claimed to have torpedoed and sunk a British cruiser with 3 funnels. The German supreme command said that is was a heavy cruiser of the London-class. The British Admiralty denied this saying that all four London-class cruisers were undamaged. What ever class the newspaper called it a fact that a 3-funnelled cruiser was sunk.(2)

Notes

1. Günther Prien (16 January 1908 Osterfeld-7 March 1941 Atlantic Ocean) commanding the U-47.

2. The British cruiser HMS Norfolk was damaged but not sunk on 28 November 1939 by Prien. She was part of the County-class Norfolk sub-class heavy cruisers with indeed 3 funnels, succeeded by Hawkins-class, succeeded by York-class. Laid down by Fairfield Shipbuilding&Engineering Co. Ltd., Govan, Scotland on 8 JUly 1927, launched on 12 December 1928, commissioned on 30 April 1930 and sold to be broken up on 3 January 1950.