BISMARCK

THE CHASE AND SINKING OF HITLER’S GOLIATH

Britannia Naval Histories of World War II

Contents

Britannia Royal Naval College

Foreword Commander Nigel Ward

Introduction Dr G. H. Bennett, Dr R. Bennett and E. Bennett

Part I - Führer Conferences

Führer Conferences on Naval Affairs, 1941

Part II - Bismarck

The Bismarck Sails

First Reports

First Dispositions

Commander-in-Chief Leaves Scapa

Norfolk and Suffolk Find Bismarck

Dispositions

Norfolk and Suffolk Shadowing

Hood and Prince of Wales

Action with Bismarck (Plan 2)

The Chase

Measures

Bismarck Alters Course to 180°

Situation At 1800/24

24 May, Evening

HMS Victorious and 2nd Cruiser Squadron Detached

HMS Victorious Aircraft Attack (Plan 3)

Contact with Bismarck Lost

Search Measures

D.F. Position of 0852/25

25 May

26 May

Force H 26 May

Bismarck Sighted (Plan 6)

HMS Ark Royal’s First Attack

Ark Royal’s Second Attack

The Bismarck

Captain Vian’s Flotilla Makes Contact

Destroyer Shadowing Operations

Destroyer Night Torpedo Attacks

Destroyers Shadowing Final Torpedo Attack

The Eve Of Battle

Commencement of Action, 0847/27 May (Plan 9)

End of Action

Damage to Bismarck

Commander-in-Chief Returns

Submarines Off Brest

Conclusions

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Part III - Personal Accounts

Personal Account - Rodney

Personal Account - Bismarck

Commander Nigel ‘Sharkey’ Ward DSC

Dr G H Bennett, Dr R Bennett and E Bennett

Britannia Naval Histories of World War II