HMS Prince of Wales, pennant 53, was a King George V battleship of the Royal Navy. John Catterall Leach became her captain on 15 February 1941 and was still in command on 10 December 1941, the day she was lost. Admiral Sir Tom Phillips flew his flag in her, and Leach held the command.
That morning, off Kuantan in the South China Sea, shore-based Japanese naval aircraft attacked. At 1144, nine torpedo bombers came in from the port side. Two torpedoes hit together abreast P.3 and P.4.
Prince of Wales listed 13 degrees to port. Both port shafts were out, and the steering failed. The later count of the damage is four, possibly five, torpedoes and one bomb. The hits are not credited to one plane.
At 1246, nine high-level bombers attacked, and one bomb hit near S 3 turret. Express came alongside at 1305.
At 1320 Prince of Wales capsized to port and sank, at 3-36 N, 104-28 E. She was lost that day with Repulse. Phillips and Leach were lost with her.