PICTURES: The German ships scuttled at Orkney’s Scapa Flow in 1919

Scapa Flow was a major anchorage and base for the British fleet during both world wars.

Following the German defeat in World War I, 74 ships of the Kaiserliche Marine’s High Seas Fleet were interned in Gutter Sound, at Scapa Flow, pending a decision on their future in the peace Treaty of Versailles.

On June 21, 1919, after nine months of waiting, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, the German officer in command at Scapa Flow, made the decision to scuttle the fleet.

At least seven of the scuttled German ships and a number of sunken British ships can be visited by scuba divers.

During World War II, Scapa also saw one of the most iconic attacks of the conflict.

On October 14, 1939, under the command of Günther Prien, U-47 penetrated Scapa Flow and sank the battleship HMS Royal Oak anchored in Scapa Bay.

Of the 1,400-strong crew, 833 were lost. The wreck is now a protected war grave.