It was at 1030/26 that one of the Catalinas of the Coastal Command (Group 15) (Flying Officer Dennis A. Briggs) sighted the Bismarck. The report47 placed the enemy in 49° 30’ N., 21° 55’ W. It was received in the King George V at 1043 and in the Renown at 1038.48 It placed the enemy well to westward of the Renown and a wave of hope surged up in every ship. It was confirmed within an hour by two Swordfish from Ark Royal which were part of a searching force which had been flown off some time previously. They reported the enemy49 at 1115/26 in 49° 19’ N., 20° 52’ W some 25 miles east of the position given by the Catalina. The latter emerging momentarily from the cloud had come under a heavy fire, had been badly holed and had lost touch at 1045/26.50 By the Catalina’s report, the Bismarck was some 690 miles 96° from Brest,51 which meant that at 21 knots she should reach Brest by 2130/27. The Commander-in-Chief was some 130 miles North of her and the King George V was steering to close, but it was evident that the Bismarck had too great a lead to permit of her being overtaken unless her speed could be reduced. Nor was the question one merely of distance and speed. The Bismarck approaching a friendly coast could run her fuel tanks nearly dry and was sure of air protection, while the British ships would have a long journey back in the face of air and submarine attack. The Renown was ahead of her, but it was important that she should not engage the Bismarck unless the latter was already heavily engaged by the King George V and Rodney; a signal to this effect was sent to Vice-Admiral Somerville at 1052/26 (received 1145). It remained for him to keep in touch and all that day shadowers from the Ark Royal were up sending in reports52 while Force H took up a position within 50 miles ready to launch a torpedo attack. The two Catalinas were also sending in reports and one of them sighted the destroyers of the 4th Flotilla at 1200/26. When the Catalina found the Bismarck at 1030/26 the Cossack and her four destroyers were steering eastward to join the Commander-in-Chief. They seem to have crossed about 30 miles astern of the enemy’s track about 0800/26.53 The Catalina’s report reached the Cossack at 1054/26 and “knowing that the Commander-in-Chief would wish him to steer to intercept the enemy”, Captain Vian altered course to the south-east. They were to form that night an important link between the Commander-in-Chief and the enemy.
Führer Conferences on Naval Affairs 1941
In the afternoon reconnaissance signals from the aircraft led the cruiser Sheffield to the Bismark. At 1824 the Fleet Commander reported the Sheffield’s position in quadrat BE 5311, course 115°, speed 24 knots.
Signals sent from Bismarck to Group West
1154/26 Enemy aircraft shadowing. Land plane. Appr. position 48 40N, 20 00W. Fleet Commander
Signal sent to Bismarck from Group West
1156/26 English aircraft reports to 15th reconnaissance group: 1030 – one battleship. 150°, speed 20 knots. My appr. position 49 20N, 21 50W.
1553 Enemy aircraft reports to Plymouth: have lost contact with the battleship.
1773 English aircraft regained contact at 1600. Group West
47. One battleship, bearing 240° 5 miles, course 150°, my position 49° 33’ N. 21° 47’ w. 1030/26.
48. By Flag Officer, Force H at 1050/26.
49. One of the Ark Royal planes reported the ship sighted as a cruiser.
50. The Catalinas regained touch at 1330/26.
51. Lands End, 638 miles 87°; Finisterre, 675 miles 125°.
52. First reconnaissance to 1250; first relief 1230-1553, 12 reports ; second relief 1624-1850, 9 reports; third relief 1900-2130, 7 reports. (Force H, signal log).
53. Bismarck survivor’s diary C.B. 4051 (24) page 57 “0700/26. Enemy squadron in sight in the distance.” Note that German 0700 = British 0800.