Robert Taylor Sighting the Bismarck SN counter signed by pilots

  
Obergefreiter HANS HELLWIG Machinen Obergefreiter KARL-AUGUST SCHULDT Matrose II JOSEF STATZ Machinen Obergefreiter JOHANNES ZIMMERMANN +. In the early hours of May 24, 1941, as the mighty German battleships Bismarck and Prinz Eugen slipped through the Denmark Strait, they were dramatically intercepted by the Royal Navy battleships Hood and Prince of Wales. Within six minutes of the first salvo being fired, the Hood, pride of the Royal Navy, was blown out of the water in one of the most gigantic explosions ever witnessed at sea.

Bismarcks fourth salvo landed a shell forward of the Hoods after turrets, piercing her deck, exploding the 4-inch magazine. Simultaneously this detonated the adjacent 15-inch magazine, and in one mighty eruption the battleship broke in two. Within seconds she was gone.

Outraged at the grievous loss Winston Churchill signaled the Admiralty just three words: Sink the Bismarck! Thus began one of the epic sea chases in the history of naval warfare. Damaged by shells from the Prince of Wales 14-inch guns and losing fuel oil, Admiral Lutjens broke off the engagement and steamed Bismarck towards the anonymity of the North Atlantic. Evading the British warships for 32 hours he had hopes of reaching the safety of Brest, but when spotted by a Catalina of RAF Coastal Command, Lutjens knew it was the beginning of the end for the mighty German warship. When an attack by Ark Royals Swordfish torpedo planes jammed her rudder Bismarcks fate was sealed.

As she limped haphazardly through the waves trailing oil, the Home Fleet closed in for the final encounter. Overwhelmed by British guns and torpedoes, Bismarcks crew fought a gallant last battle, but the odds were too great. Watching Bismarcks final moments from King George Vs bridge, Admiral Tovey said: She put up a noble fight against impossible odds, worthy of the old days of the Imperial German Navy.