Destroyers Shadowing Final Torpedo Attack

Touch was regained by the Maori, who at 0550/27 sighted the Bismarck zigzagging slowly either side of 340° at about 7 knots and thereafter shadowed her till daylight. At 0625 a star-shell fired by her shone out close to the starboard beam of the Sikh, who immediately afterwards sighted the Bismarck emerging from a rain squall, 7,000 yards on her starboard bow. It was then nearly full daylight, but greatly to the surprise of Commander Stokes, the Sikh got away unfired at.

Shortly before sunrise, a final torpedo attack was carried out by the Maori, who fired two torpedoes at a range of 9,000 yards at 0656 which apparently did not hit. The Bismarck opened fire on her and straddled; she escaped undamaged at 28 knots.

At daylight the destroyers were stationed in four sectors from which they were able to keep the enemy under continuous observation until the arrival of the Battle Fleet at 0845.

The conduct of the night operations had been “a model of its kind” (Commander-in-Chief’s despatch, paragraph 76). In heavy weather, frequently under fire, they had hung on to their prey with the utmost determination, hit her with two torpedoes and brought her to the Commander-in-Chief without suffering damage to themselves. They now took up a position to watch the battle and to see the final destruction of an enemy which they had done so much to ensure.