Norfolk and Suffolk Find Bismarck

Between Greenland and Iceland there stretches a dreary expanse of Arctic waters frozen and icebound for a long distance from Greenland. On 23 May the ice edge on the Greenland side lay some 80 miles from the Iceland coast and between it and the minefields off the north-west of Iceland, the Suffolk, on the afternoon of 23 May, was patrolling on a south-westerly course at 18 knots. The weather conditions were unusual. The weather was clear over the ice pack and over the water for some ten miles from the edge of the ice. The rest of the Strait right across to Iceland was shrouded in dense mist. Evening was drawing on when at 1922/23 the Suffolk sighted the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen bearing 20° 7 miles (i.e., in 67° 6’ N., 24° 50’ W., or 55 miles N.W. of North Cape, Iceland). They were proceeding to the south-west skirting the edge of the ice. The Suffolk, sending out an “enemy report,” made to the south-east to keep out of sight in the mist. The Norfolk, closing to make contact, sighted the enemy an hour later at 2030/23. They were only some six miles off and the Bismarck opened fire,6 but the Norfolk, turning away, was not hit and sent out an “enemy report” signal at 2032/23. Though the Suffolk had been the first to sight the enemy, the Norfolk’s report reached the Admiralty first. It was received at 2103/23 and was broadcast. This was the first intimation received by the Commander-in-Chief, for the Suffolk’s signal had not reached him. It put the enemy some 600 miles away to the north-westward.

The battle fleet turned to 280° and increased to 27 knots. The Hood had received the Suffolk’s first report at 2004/23, which put the enemy about 300 miles 5° from the Battlecruiser Force. Vice-Admiral Holland turned to 295° and increased speed to 27 knots.

6. At 1928, opened fire, three salvoes (survivors). Note: Bismarck’s time was 1 hour behind British.