Well, RN, dont feel entirely left out. Seventy-Five years ago, the RN experienced a catastrophic loss at a time, where they really couldnt afford it. Never mind they were always short on carriers, but to lose one like this...The short version is, that on this date, HMS Glorious, a CV originally of WW I vintage was steaming for home in the North Sea in company with HMS Acasta and Ardent. Whilst en route, they were intercepted by KM Gneisenau and Scharnhorst and taken under fire. Despite a heroic fight, they were all ultimately sunk. 1,519 sailors lost their lives in the engagement, the greatest single loss in one fight the RN suffered in the entire war.
Naturally, nothing is ever simple...
HMS Glorious: History of a Controversy Phil Weir is a respected naval historian, who has put a bit of work into this. The fact the ships were sailing alone, and the initial excuse of "low fuel" has been pretty much debunked; more than once before, you have read me writing of the RN's near monomaniacal obsession with keeping their bunkers topped up when possible. The facts in evidence of the Glorious's captain being a total fucking asshole and such a big one, as to dismiss what would be his CAG, and were rushing home to prepare for the latter's court-martial. Even Winston didn't buy the excuses. The tiny little detail that the ensuing Admiralty investigation, the final conclusions of which were, and ARE still classified until 20-fucking -41 tells me there is enough shit here that would not be believed. The presence of HMS Devonshire, perhaps only 30 miles distant yet somehow 'missed' the sighting reports AND distress signals beggars belief. That they were carrying the Norwegian Royal Family at the time, under the command of Sir Admiral John Cunningham who had specific orders on that subject, makes the why and what more likely ...
The attached video on the web page is quite good for the time, footage shot from the German side of any engagement being rare.