The powerful German battleship "Bismarck," was a constant
threat to the convoy routes, and her might meant that
Admiral Sir John Tovey, as Commander of the Home Fleet, was
forced to sail battleships at least in pairs.
"Bismarck" of 47,000 tons, fully loaded exceeded almost
51,000 tons, she carried 8 by 15 inch guns in twin turrets,
with a secondary armament of 16 by 4.1 inch guns, had a
speed of 31 knots, and a large cruising range of 8100
miles, 6 seaplanes were on board, and a crew of 2090, made
this ship a most formidible fighting unit.
"Bismarck's" usual consort was the heavy cruiser
"Prinz Eugen," of 14,050 tons, with a main armament of 8 by
8 inch guns.
In May of 1941, the British Naval Attache in Stockholm was
able to report the passage of "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen"
through the Kattegat, the channel linking the Baltic with
the North Sea. Coastal Command located the German ships
South of Bergen, in a fjord on the Norwegian S.W. coast.
Tovey was setting up his forces in anticipation of a
breakout of these major Naval units, the cruiser "Suffolk"
was watching the Denmark Strait between Iceland and
Greenland, whilst her sister ship "Norfolk" was sent in
support. Tovey sailed Vice Admiral Holland with
'Hood," and "Prince of
Wales," screened by 6 destroyers, from Scapa Flow to the Iceland base of Hvalfjord. Tovey remained at Scapa, maintaining his flagship "King
George 5," 5 cruisers, and 5 destroyers in readiness to sail at a moment's notice. The Admiralty reinforced Tovey's command by withdrawing the battle cruiser "Repulse," and the new carrier "Victorious," from a Mediterranean bound convoy.
The Luftwaffe had been keeping tabs on the movements of the
Home Fleet with continued reconnaissance over Scapa Flow,
but on 22 May, 41, bad weather grounded these flights, but
a Fleet Airarm flight discovered the German ships had
sailed and raised the alarm.
This report was the catalyst Tovey needed to sail his ships
from Scapa, which under cover of the bad weather, he
achieved unobserved. On the 23rd of May, on the edge of the
Greenland ice shelf, "Suffolk" at 1922 (7.22PM ) sighted
both German ships at a distance of 7 miles, and was able to
track this pair by Radar; soon afterwards "Norfolk," also
sighted the German vessels 6 miles away on this occasion,
the German lookouts sighted the British cruiser, and
"Bismarck" fired her first salvo.
Tovey's fleet was still 600 miles to the South East, and
Holland with his force was approaching at high speed from
Iceland, he anticipated that he should be able to attack
the German Naval force by 0200 (2.A.M.) on 24th of May.
For a period about midnight, the two shadowing British
cruisers lost their quarry, but then regained contact at
0247 (2.47 A.M.). Holland eventually sighted the Germans to
the West at 0535 (5.35 AM.) The "Hood," although having the
largest displacement of any Naval ship afloat, had
inadequate armour plating, particularly when compared with
this protection carried by "Bismarck."
The German ships concentrated their fire on the "Hood," who
at 0600 (6A.M ) suffered an immense explosion in her
magazines, and she had sunk in only 4 minutes. Out of 1419
officers and men only one Midshipman and two Sailors survived.
The "Prince of Wales," now became the German's main target
and she took direct hits from both German ships, in turn, 2
hits were scored on "Bismarck". The "Prince of WaIes" when
7.5 miles away from the German ships, turned away under
cover of a smoke screen. Admiral Lutzens in "Bismarck,"
decided to make a run for France, Tovey was still 300 miles
from the action, and the Admiralty scoured the area for
ships that might intercept the German force.
An aircraft attack launched from "Victorious," was
abortive, and "Bismarck," now operating alone, managed to
shake off her shadowers, and for 31 hours she was making
for the safety of the French coast. At 1030 (10 30 A M ) on
the 26th of May, a Coastal Command Catalina flying boat
sighted the retreating German, 700 miles West of Brest, at
this time Force H, including "Renown," and "Ark Royal,"
were about 70 miles to the East of "Bismarck."
The latter launched 14 Swordfish to attack, but
unfortunately it was directed against the "Sheffield". A
combination of faulty Torpedoes, and clever manoeuvering
from "Sheffield," foiled this attack, avoiding disaster.
A second wave of Swordfish found "Bismarck," at 2100
(9P.M.) and obtained two hits, one amidships did no
meaningful damage, but the second put the steering gear out
of action, and damaged the "Bismarck's" propellors.
A series of Torpedo attacks by destroyers were ineffectual,
now at last, Tovey arrived, and "King George 5," and
"Rodney," opened fire at 0847 (8.47A.M.) with "Bismarck"
responding a few minutes later. Germany's most powerful
ship was systematically pounded to her death over the next
109 minutes.
The German U556, actually sighted "Rodney" at this stage,
but she was out of Torpedoes and luck. The County Class
cruiser "Dorsetshire," finally delivered the coup de grace,
with two Torpedoes into "Bismarck's" starboard side and a
third into her port side. So, at 1036(10 36A M ) on 27th of
May, she disappeared beneath the waves, leaving only 110 of
her company to survive. "Hood," had been avenged.
"Prinz Eugen" developed engine trouble, and made for Brest.
She managed to elude British Submarines, and made it back
by the 1st of June. Within a further three days British
aircraft had discovered her location. "Bismarck's" sister
ship "Tirpitz," now nearing completion, would obviously
pose a future threat to our convoy routes, and the Royal
Navy.
Page Design by
"The Omega Connection"
The German Battleship "Bismarck"
The Bismarck - 1941
The Bismarck [ lower left ] photographed by a British
Spitfire in Norway's Grimstad fjord, May 1941.
Prinz Eugen
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