Bismarck (ship)
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Bismarck (ship) was the lead ship of the Bismarck-class battleships built by Blohm+Voss for the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany during World War II. The ship was named after Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany who unified Germany in the late 19th century, and was launched on February 14, 1939, in the presence of Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring. The Bismarck was designed to be one of the most powerful warships in the world, with a main armament of eight 28 cm SK C/34 guns, and was intended to serve as a symbol of German naval power, alongside other ships like the Tirpitz and the Scharnhorst.
Design and Construction
The design of the Bismarck was influenced by the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty, which imposed restrictions on the size and armament of warships. The ship's design was a compromise between the desire for a powerful main armament and the need to stay within the treaty limits, and was influenced by the designs of other ships, such as the King George V-class battleship and the Richelieu-class battleship. The Bismarck was constructed at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and was launched on February 14, 1939, in a ceremony attended by Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking officials, including Ernst Raeder and Karl Dönitz. The ship's construction was overseen by the Reichsmarine, and was influenced by the work of other shipbuilders, such as Cruiser Admiral Hipper and Battleship Gneisenau.
Career
The Bismarck began its career in August 1940, when it was commissioned into the Kriegsmarine under the command of Captain Ernst Lindemann. The ship's first mission was to break out into the Atlantic Ocean and attack British Royal Navy convoys, in conjunction with other ships, such as the Prinz Eugen and the Scharnhorst. The Bismarck sailed from Gdynia, Poland, on May 18, 1941, and was escorted by the Prinz Eugen and several smaller ships, including the Z10 Hans Lody and the Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt. The ship's crew was trained by experienced officers, such as Vice-Admiral Günther Lütjens and Admiral Wilhelm Marschall, and was supported by other ships, such as the U-47 and the U-74.
Sinking
The Bismarck was sunk on May 27, 1941, during a battle with the British Royal Navy in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ship was attacked by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from the HMS Ark Royal, and was hit by several torpedoes, which caused significant damage to its steering gear. The Bismarck was then attacked by the HMS King George V and the HMS Rodney, which fired hundreds of shells at the ship, causing extensive damage and killing many of its crew. The ship's sinking was witnessed by several other ships, including the U-556 and the U-74, and was reported by BBC News and other news agencies, such as Deutsche Welle and The New York Times.
Legacy
The sinking of the Bismarck was a significant blow to the Kriegsmarine and the Nazi Germany war effort, and marked a turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic. The ship's legacy has endured, and it remains one of the most famous warships in history, alongside other ships, such as the Yamato and the USS Missouri. The Bismarck has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including the 1958 film Sink the Bismarck!, which starred Kenneth More and Dana Wynter, and was produced by 20th Century Fox. The ship's story has also been told in numerous other works, such as The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck and Bismarck: The Final Days of Germany's Greatest Battleship, which were written by historians such as Robert Ballard and Jak Mallmann Showell.
Specifications
The Bismarck had a displacement of over 50,000 tons, and was powered by twelve Wagner boilers and three Brown, Boveri & Cie geared steam turbines, which produced 150,000 horsepower. The ship's main armament consisted of eight 28 cm SK C/34 guns, which were mounted in four twin turrets, and was supported by several smaller guns, including twelve 15 cm SK C/28 guns and sixteen 10.5 cm SK C/33 guns. The ship's crew consisted of over 2,000 officers and men, and was commanded by experienced officers, such as Captain Ernst Lindemann and Vice-Admiral Günther Lütjens, who had served on other ships, such as the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau. The Bismarck was also equipped with several Arado Ar 196 floatplanes, which were used for reconnaissance and spotting, and was supported by other ships, such as the Prinz Eugen and the Admiral Hipper.