The Story of Unsinkable Sam, the Navy Cat Who Survived Three Ships

In Greenwich, Britain, there is the National Maritime Museum. Its exhibits tell the glorious centuries-old history of the Royal Navy. Among the portraits of explorers and admirals, one not quite ordinary one stands out. It depicts a black-and-white street cat. The question immediately arises - how did the animal end up in such serious company?

History has not preserved the details of the birth of the future naval hero. He began his career not in the British fleet, but in the enemy camp. In 1941, a sailor brought a stray cat on board the German battleship Bismarck. This was a common practice - cats were always used to catch mice and rats on warships and merchant ships. In early May, the battleship set out on a combat mission.

The cat did not remain a member of the Bismarck crew for long. In the same year of 1941, on May 27, the pride of the German fleet was sent to the bottom by British ships. Of the 2,200 crew members, only 115 were saved. A few days later, the British destroyer Cossack was passing by the area where the battleship had sunk. Its sailors noticed a live cat swimming in the sea among the wreckage of the Bismarck. The mustachioed cat was lifted on board, fed and warmed.

The lucky cat was named Oscar. For sailors, this name has a special meaning. According to the International Code of Flag Signals, the square, diagonally divided, red and yellow Oscar flag means "man overboard". The cat quickly got used to the new place and soon became the crew's favorite. But unfortunately, new misadventures awaited the animal.

On October 23, 1941, the Cossack was sailing from Gibraltar to Great Britain, escorting a convoy. The destroyer was attacked with torpedoes by the German submarine U-563. An explosion occurred on the ship, taking the lives of 158 crew members and the captain. The Cossack remained afloat, but attempts to tow it to safety were unsuccessful. On October 27, it sank after the surviving sailors were picked up by the destroyer Legion. Among those rescued was the cat Oscar.

In his new place, the cat was given a proud name - Unsinkable Sam. He was dropped off in the port of Gibraltar, having rightly decided that it was not worth tempting the cat's fate any more. But Sam's life on land lasted for several days - soon he was picked up by sailors from the aircraft carrier "Ark Royal". The cat went to sea again on his third warship.

Unsinkable Sam brought misfortune to the aircraft carrier. The Ark Royal, previously undamaged, was sunk by the German submarine U-81 on November 13, 1941. The crew was rescued and, as you may have guessed, Sam was picked up. The cat went to Gibraltar again, first aboard the destroyer Lightning, and then as part of the crew of the already familiar Legion.

Incidentally, both destroyers involved in the rescue of Unsinkable Sam also perished. The Legion sank in March 1942 after an air raid. The Lightning was critically damaged in a battle with a Nazi torpedo boat in March 1943. The cat settled in the house of the Governor-General of Gibraltar, where he successfully caught mice.

After some time, it was decided to send Sam to the English city of Belfast. The captain of the ship on which the cat was sailing could neither eat nor sleep from excitement - he knew the cat's story well. But this time everything worked out, and Unsinkable Sam safely arrived at the destination port.

Sam spent the rest of his days at the Sailors' Home in comfort and honour. He died there of old age in 1955. During his lifetime, he was portrayed by the artist Georgina Shaw-Baker. This portrait is kept in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. I wonder if it would be among the most expensive "cat" paintings if it were put up for auction?