The Bismarck
Built by Blohm und Voss of Hamburg and launched on the 14th February
1939, The Bismarck spent the following 18 months fitting out, and
receiving of main Officers. On the 24th of August 1940 the Bismarck was
handed over to the German navy
The main Officers of the Bismarck were.
the Captain. Ernst Lindemann
Gunnery Commander. Commander Adalbert Schneider
Chief Engineer Commander Walter Lehmann
Damage Control Officer Captain Gerhard Junack
Navigating Officer Commander Wolf Neuendorff
Executive Officer Commander Hans Ols
Specifications of the the Battleship Bismarck.
Armament: eight 15-inch Guns and 12 6-inch Guns. with a secondary armament of
16 40-inch guns and 16 1.5inch AA Guns.
Speed 30 Knots Compliment of 2,400 Dimensions Length. 823.5
feet. Width 118 feet Height 29.5 feet Displacement 41,700
tonnes.
Big brother little sister (Bismarck and Prinz Eugen
) By
Randall Wilson Bismarck and Prinz Eugen exiting the Denmark Straits
Bismarck
Replies to HMS Hood by Ivan Berryman The mighty Bismarck
returns fire to the fast-approaching HMS Hood a the start of a battle
that would see both adversaries tragically sunk.
Bismarck by Randall Wilson Under attack by swordfish from HMS ark Royal,
Bismarck heels to port as she is struck by a torpedo in the Stbd. Aft.
rudder area.
Bismarck - The Final Voyage by Anthony Saunders One of the finest battleships of all time, Bismarck
was built by the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg and launched in
February 1939. Her first duty was for commerce raiding in the
north Atlantic. Together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, the
destroyers Z10, Z16 and Z23 and a minesweeper. The Bismarck,
commanded by Vice Admiral Gunther Lutjens, left her last anchorage at
Grimstadt Fjord in Norway. Once Bismarcks departure was confirmed
all available British forces were deployed to meet the threat. On
the 24th of May 1941 the Bismarck sailed into naval history - sinking
the battlescruiser and pride of the British fleet - HMS Hood. But
Bismarck would have little time to celebrate, she was sunk by a scorned
British fleet three days later. Here Bismarck is depicted on the
evening of the 21st May 1941 entering the open sea on her fateful final
voyage..
At 0555 hrs, after being fired upon
for over 3 minutes without a reply, the Bismarck unleashed her first salvo
against the British Battlecruiser HMS Hood. The first salvo fell
short, however the Prinz Eugen's fire scored hits along the mainmast of
the Hood that caused severe fires along her deck extending to her funnel.
At 0600, the Hood and Prince of Wales commenced a 20 degree turn to
port in order to bring their rear turrets around and place them into
action. At this time, at a range of 18,236 yards, the fifth salvo
from the Bismarck found its mark. At least one shell found its way
through the armoured belt and exploded in the Hood's magazine. The
German observers onboard the Bismarck were awestruck by the enormity of
the resultant explosion. The Hood, the Mighty Hood, pride of the
Royal Navy and for over 20 years the largest warship in the world split in
two and sank in three minutes. Of a crew of over 1,416 men, only
three survived. Immediately after the sinking of the Hood, Bismarck
turned its attention to the HMS Prince of Wales. Hitting the bridge
of the Prince of Wales, Bismarck was clearly at the advantage in this
engagement. At 0603, the Prince of Wales initiated a smoke screen
and retreated from combat. At 0609, the Bismarck fired its final
salvo.
Due to damage from hits scored by the Prince of Wales, Bismarck found
that a significant oil leak developed that severely impacted her ability
to carry out its primary mission. The resultant damage forced
Admiral Lutzens to make a hard choice, continue the mission or return to a
friendly port for necessary repairs. Lutzens choice of sailing to
the French port of St. Nazairre led to the greatest ship to ship
engagement in World War II. For the British, "Remember the
Hood" became the battle cry of the Royal Navy. The hunt for the
Bismarck took a new and desperate tone. They had to "Sink the
Bismarck".
KMS Bismarck Returns Fire, May 24th, 1941 by
Marii Chernev Limited edition of 300 prints signed by Marii Chernev and Berkard
Baron Von Mellenheim-Rechberg, the sole surviving officer of the Bismarck.
Bismarck at Hamburg by Ivan
Berryman Bismarck, now complete and newly painted in
full Baltic camouflage, returns to Hamburg for the last time as the harsh
winter of 1940/41 relents and the pride of the German Kriegsmarine
prepares for real action. In the distance, the pre-Dreadnought Schleswig-Holstein
awaits her next commission, the old ship alternating between vital
ice-breaker and air defence duties at this time.
Operation Rheinubung by Randall Wilson Bismarck is shown anchored at no 5 buoy taking on
main armament ammo in Gottenhaven, she was to sail later for Norway then
the Atlantic.
The Hunters by Randall Wilson The mighty German battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz operated
together for only 6 hours on the 18th May 1941.
Breakout by Randall Wilson The Bismarck is seen taking the lead from the Prinz Eugen on the breakout
from Bergen May 1941.
Battle of the Denmark Straits by Randall Wilson With salvos landing close! The Bismarck with Prinz Eugen is shown loosing off
the salvo that destroyed HMS Hood.
Bismarck by Ivan Berryman. Fairey Swordfish I, L9726 4M of 818
Sqn, HMS Ark Royal pulls a tight,
climbing turn through a hail of anti-aircraft fire as its torpedo strikes
home, jamming the steering gear of the mighty Bismarck and setting in
motion the beginning of her dramatic end.
SINK THE BISMARCK BY GEOFF LEA Shows the action on 26th May 1941 by Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal on the
German battleship Bismarck. Fresh from her triumphant encounter with HMS Hood,
Bismarck was struck by Swordfishs torpedo which jammed her rudder and was
finished off by the home fleet on 27th May 1941.
Death of the Bismarck. by Brian Wood The battered Bismarck fires its final salvos, during the last stage of the
battle, 27th May 1941.
