 At 11 : 00 that morning the first Japanese air attack began . Eight Type 96 " Nell " bombers dropped their bombs close to Repulse , one passing through the hangar roof and exploding on the 1 @-@ inch plating of the main deck below . The second attack force , comprising seventeen " <unk> " armed with torpedoes , arrived at 11 : 30 , divided into two attack formations . Despite reports to the contrary , Prince of Wales was struck by only one torpedo , although this was enough to prove fatal , ( while Repulse avoided the seven torpedoes aimed at her , as well as bombs dropped by six other " <unk> " a few minutes later ) . 
