Germany • NAVAL
Bismarck
Bismarck-class Battleship
The Bismarck was the most powerful battleship in the German Kriegsmarine and one of the largest warships ever built by a European power. Her brief but dramatic career captivated the world and led to one of the greatest naval chases in history.
- Introduced
- 1940
- Manufacturer
- Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
- Retired
- 1941
- Type
- battleship
Key Technical Details
- Displacement
- 50,300 t
- Length
- 251 m
- Top Speed
- 30 knots
- Range
- 8,870 nmi
- Crew
- 2,092
- Main Armament
- 8× 38cm SK C/34 guns (4 twin turrets) • 12× 15cm SK C/28 guns
- Armor
- Belt 320 mm • Deck 120 mm
Combat Context
During Operation Rheinübung in May 1941, Bismarck sank HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy, with a devastating magazine explosion. This triggered a massive Royal Navy pursuit involving dozens of warships. After being slowed by a Swordfish torpedo hit to her rudder, Bismarck was battered by HMS King George V and HMS Rodney before sinking on May 27, 1941.
- • Battle of the Denmark Strait - sank HMS Hood (May 24, 1941)
- • The largest naval pursuit in history
- • Swordfish torpedo bombers crippled her rudder
