The Sinking Of The “Unsinkable” Bismarck

By | January 29, 2019

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The Bismarck 1918: The German merchant navy ship 'Bismarck'. Source: (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In the early morning hours of May 19, 1941, Bismarck quietly set out on its maiden voyage in the Baltic Sea. Traveling under the cover of darkness, the Germans were confident that this formidable battleship was indestructible.

Bismarck was touted as an “ocean-bound castle.”

Bismarck was heavily armored and was the first of its kind, a full-scale battleship, constructed by the German Navy since World War I. This impressive vessel was accompanied by the Prinze Eugen, which was the largest warship in use. The pair braved the icy, open waters of the North Atlantic Ocean on a secret mission.

Operation Rheinubung was the code-name of Bismarck’s secret mission.

Bismarck’s mission was to attack the Allied ship convoys that were crossing the Atlantic between the United States and Great Britain. The convoys were carrying oil, food, and other necessary supplies. The Nazis had hoped to interfere with the Allied Forces' lifeline, thereby making Great Britain to comply with their authority. If the United States couldn’t supply Great Britain with necessities, they would surely starve.

Great Britain was one step ahead of the Nazis in their quest for destruction.

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HMS Hood. Source: (en.wikipedia.org)

The British had received intelligence reports that Bismarck was afloat in the Atlantic stalking the Allied ships. In response, they dispatched their own Navy to track it down. HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Hood were charged with the mission. First launched in 1918, Hood was Great Britain’s best solution to foil Bismarck. Hood may have actually been the most famous warship in use at the time.

By May 24, 1941, the British Navy ships had spotted the enemy inside the Denmark Strait and advanced Bismarck at full speed. Hood was approximately 14 miles away from Bismarck when it fired the first shots. Bismarck was under attack with shells screaming (at 2,000 MPH) all around it. The Nazis all but froze in utter shock of the attack. Admiral Gunther Lutjens was the Nazi commander in chief and couldn’t decide on his next move as Hood closed in on him. Ernest Lindemann, Bismarck’s Captain, eventually moved to override his superior and ordered return fire.