Just read that he was a German spy who sent info on the torpedo nets to U-47 which enabled the attack on the Royal Oak. Anyone know more of this man or how he was able to get the info?
AFAIK, this "story" has been around for decades, and is usually a myth/legend. You never gave a "source" in the OP, so I don't know if you were reading a fictional or non-fictional account of the attack.
Sorry have forgotten the source but I only read real life books since 2001, as I get more kicks from facts that fiction.
One of the things I have read is that the German spys in the UK were all captured or turned fairly early in the war. This is early enough that there may still have been some around though. Shouldn't the info on them be released soon if it hasn't already?
Seems that your "real life" book isn't really as "real" as it should be... See "Myths & Legends of the Second World War" by James Hayward; Chapter 2: Royal Oak(you might have to go back a few pages) https://books.google.com/books?id=jbg7AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT41&lpg=PT41&dq=Albert+Oertel,+scapa+flow&source=bl&ots=OW6PWtzCI9&sig=Gy5bNXTg4mQ5NwRVF8mVy_849Ls&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BAv6VLa0JoKINoClgbgB&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBw#v=twopage&q&f=false
