They say cats have nine lives. If that is true, a black-and-white tuxedo cat named Sam used up three of them in just six months during World War II.
Sam holds a unique record in military history: he served in both the Nazi Kriegsmarine and the British Royal Navy, and he survived the sinking of three massive warships.
Whether he was the luckiest mascot in history or a furry bad omen is up for debate. Here is the incredible true story of Unsinkable Sam.
1. The Sinking of the Bismarck
Sam’s journey began on the pride of the German fleet: the battleship Bismarck.
In May 1941, the massive ship was hunted down and sunk by the British Navy in a fierce battle in the Atlantic. Out of the 2,200 crew members on board, only 115 survived.
Hours after the ship went under, sailors on the British destroyer HMS Cossack spotted something floating on a piece of wreckage. It was a black-and-white cat. They rescued him, named him “Oscar,” and officially made him the ship’s mascot.
2. Surviving the Torpedo
Sam (then called Oscar) served peacefully on the HMS Cossack for the next few months, catching rats and boosting morale.
But his luck didn’t last. In October 1941, the Cossack was escorting a convoy near Gibraltar when it was struck by a torpedo from a German U-boat. The ship was blown apart and sank.
Once again, survivors were plucked from the water. And once again, there was the cat—clinging to a piece of plank, wet and angry, but completely unharmed. He was taken to shore in Gibraltar, where the officers renamed him “Unsinkable Sam.”
3. The End of the Ark Royal
By now, Sam had a reputation. He was transferred to the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.
This was a massive, seemingly invincible ship. But Sam’s presence proved to be a curse. Just one month later, in November 1941, the Ark Royal was torpedoed by a German submarine.
The ship didn’t sink immediately, but it listed heavily and had to be abandoned. When rescuers eventually found Sam, he was clinging to a floating motor launch, described by rescuers as “angry but quite unharmed.”
4. Retirement
After surviving the destruction of three major warships, the Royal Navy decided that Sam had seen enough action (or perhaps they were scared to let him on another boat).
Sam was officially retired from active duty. He spent the rest of the war living at the Governor’s offices in Gibraltar before moving to a “Home for Sailors” in Belfast. He lived peacefully until 1955, far away from torpedoes and sinking ships.
Conclusion
War is often filled with tragedy, but the story of Unsinkable Sam serves as a strange, heartwarming reminder of survival against the odds.
Whether he was a symbol of hope or a “jonah” (bad luck charm), one thing is certain: Sam was the only sailor in WWII to survive the destruction of the Bismarck and the Ark Royal—and he did it without getting his paws wet.
Love amazing animal stories? Read about the Real Wolverine or explore our Shipwrecks tag for more tales from the deep.
