GERMAN BATTLESHIP BISMARCK

Bismarck was built in Hamburg, Germany. It was the first of a class of two heavy ships, (Tirpitz being the second). These Battleships were the first ones not to be restricted by the post-World War I limitations imposed by the treaty of Versailles. The new ships were to be in the 45,000-ton limit, much bigger than any other ship in service with the German Navy at the time, and featuring guns and protection of similar scale to those of the best foreign combat ships.

Bismarck  was named after Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the primary force behind the unification of Germany in 1871. It was commissioned in August 1940 and spent the rest of that year running trials and continuing her outfitting. The first months of 1941 were largely devoted to training operations in the Baltic sea.

In May 1941, Bismarck was sent out to the Atlantic for her first combat mission, accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. It would begin with an outstanding success.  On the morning of May 24th, while west of Iceland, the German vessels encountered the British battle cruiser Hood and battleship Prince of Wales. In the ensuing Battle of the Denmark Strait, Hood blew up and sank after a very short engagement, the seriously damaged Prince of Wales was forced to retreat. Bismarck also suffered  some damage resulting in fuel leaks.

Having been detected by the Royal Navy, Bismarck began a voyage toward France, where she could be repaired. In the meantime, the British developed a massive chasing operation involving no less than 7 battleships, 2 aircraft carriers and over 90 other ships. The Bismarck was found and attacked by carrier planes and surface ships, ultimately sustaining a torpedo hit in the stern that rendered her unable to steer effectively. British battleships and heavy cruisers intercepted the crippled ship on the morning of May 27th. After less than two hours of battle, shells and torpedoes had reduced Bismarck to a wreck. She capsized and sank, with the loss of all but 110 of her crew of some 2300 men.

Text by: Martin Waligorski
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2003/03/stuff_eng_photo_bismarck.htm