 During early August 1940 , while she was still being outfitted and was in a semi @-@ complete state , Prince of Wales was attacked by German aircraft . One bomb fell between the ship and a wet basin wall , narrowly missing a 100 @-@ ton dockside crane , and exploded underwater below the bilge keel . The explosion took place about six feet from the ship 's port side in the vicinity of the after group of 5 @.@ 25 @-@ inch guns . Buckling of the shell plating took place over a distance of 20 to 30 feet ( 9 @.@ 1 m ) , rivets were sprung and considerable flooding took place in the port outboard compartments in the area of damage , causing a ten @-@ degree port list . The flooding was severe , due to the fact that final compartment air tests had not yet been made and the ship did not have her pumping system in operation . 
