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By now, every report of a submarine was causing grave consternation. In Scapa Flow, the Grand Fleet had been thought safe from attack – but lookouts, now on full alert, began to see German submarines all around, and constant alarms were being raised.

Now fully aware of the potential of the submarine threat, when the Admiralty examined the anti-submarine defences at Scapa Flow, naval commanders were staggered to find just how poor the defences were for the fleet. The astonishing success of the German submarine would subsequently cause the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, to change his view about utilising submarines in the Royal Navy.

On 2 November 1914, Churchill issued a list of decisions taken by the Admiralty. In amongst a raft of war preparations it was provided that extra numbers of destroyers and armed merchant cruisers, along with 48 armed trawlers and three yachts with guns, would be sent to Scapa Flow. Attempts were made to fortify and block all but a few of the main sea entrances into the Flow. In addition to sea defences, coastal defence gun emplacements were installed at strategic locations covering the sounds, and powerful searchlights were installed that could sweep across the water.