The King George V was still proceeding to the south-west when at 1030 25 May “a series of D.F. bearings was received from the Admiralty which indicated that the enemy was breaking back across the Atlantic. The signals appeared to come from the same ship which had transmitted several signals soon after the T/B attack of the night before; they could therefore be reasonably attributed to the Bismarck. These, bearings, as plotted in the King George V, showed a position too far to the northward which gave the misleading impression that the enemy was making for the North Sea.”34 This plot placed the enemy in 57° N., 33° W.35 at 0852/25 (see Plan 6) and had an important bearing on the subsequent proceedings for “it gave the misleading impression that the enemy was making for the North Sea.” (Commander-in-Chief’s despatch, paragraph 52.)
To counter this move the Commander-in-Chief turned round at 1047/25 to 55° at 27 knots to make for the Iceland-Faroes gap. The plotted position was broadcast and all Home Fleet forces were ordered to search accordingly. (Commander-in-Chief’s signal 1047/25). The Repulse was no longer with him, having parted company at 0906/25 to proceed to Newfoundland to fuel. Meanwhile the Suffolk out to the westward had-been covering all the enemy’s possible courses to the south-west and, on receiving the Commander-in-Chief’s signal (1047/25), turned to search to the eastward. Her search to the south-west had been fruitless. The search by the Victorious and Galatea’s cruisers to the north-west had been equally empty. Nothing had been sighted. The Victorious landed on her six Swordfish at 1107/25. One failed to return36 and she remained for some time calling it. The Galatea, Aurora and Kenya on receiving the Commander-in-Chief’s signal (1047/25) to search in the direction of the D.F. position had turned to 85°. The fuel state was beginning to affect them. The Hermione was down to 40 per cent, and had to be detached to Hvalifjord (Iceland). The remaining cruisers had to reduce to 20 knots to economise. The King George V still had 60.6 per cent. left.
34. Commander-in-Chief’s despatch, paragraph 52. A first set of bearings of signals made by enemy at 0654/25 was sent out by Admiralty at, 0927/25 and was received in King George V at 1010/25. A second set made at 0748/25 went out at 1030/25 and was received at 1106/25. (King George V’s signal log.)
35. The Bismarck seems to have been actually some 60 miles to the southward.
36. The Victorious lost two Fulmars on 24/25 May and two Swordfish during searches on 25/26 May. One landed alongside a ship’s lifeboat, empty, but stored with provisions and water; the crew were nine days in her before being rescued by a merchant vessel.