Schlachtschiffe Bismarck

Schlachtschiffe Bismarck

"The Bismarck had put up a most gallant fight against impossible odds, worthy of the old days of the Imperial German Navy, and she went down with her colours flying."

At approximately 0800 hours on May 27, 1941, the Royal Navy vessels HMS Rodney and HMS King George V closed to within 21 nautical miles of Schlachtschiffe Bismarck, well illuminated by the morning sun. HMS Rodney steered north so her gunfire could work the length of Schlachtschiffe Bismarck, while HMS King George V took the side. The two Royal Navy vessels opened fire at 0847 hours. Schlachtschiffe Bismarck returned fire with affected accuracy, due to her inability to steer and her list to port. Due to Bismarck's low speed of seven knots, she was soon hit several times, with heavy cruisers HMS Norfolk and HMS Dorsetshire adding their firepower to the battle.
At 0902 hours, a shell from HMS Norfolk hit the main gun directing, killing gunnery officer Korvettenkapitan Adalbert Schneider, awarded the Knight's Cross earlier in the morning for his part in the sinking of the HMS Hood. At 0908 hours, a heavy shell from HMS Rodney struck both of the Bismarck's forward turrets (Anton and Bruno), disabling Bruno. Another salvo destroyed the forward control post, killing most of the senior officers. The aft turrets, Caesar and Dora, continued to fire locally. At 0921, Turret Dora was knocked out. The crew of Turret Anton managed to fire one last salvo at 0927. At 0931, Turret Caesar fired its last salvo before being knocked out. This salvo straddled HMS Rodney, jamming that ship's torpedo tubes. Within 44 minutes, Bismarck's heavy guns were out of commission and silent and HMS Rodney closed to point-blank range to pound the superstructure while HMS King George V fired from further out.
Schlachtschiffe Bismarck continued flying her ensign. With no sign of surrender, despite unequal odds, the British were loath to leave the Bismarck. Fuel and shell supplies were low on the HMS Rodney and HMS King George V and they were sent home when it became apparent that the Bismarck would be unable to return to port. HMS Norfolk had no torpedoes remaining, leaving HMS Dorsetshire to launch three 21-inch torpedoes at the Bismarck, which may have hit her. Bismarck slipped below the waves, stern-first, at 1039 hours.
HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Maori stopped to rescue survivors, but were halted by a U-Boat alarm, causing them to leave the scene. U-74 and German weather ship Sachsenwald, the next morning, arrived and rescued few survivors.
Of 2200 personnel aboard the Schlachtschiffe Bismarck at the time, 1995 followed their vessel to the depths of the ocean.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Bismarck
• Hood
• Battleship
• World War II
• WWII
• Shipwreck