Force H
While the destroyers were shadowing the Bismarck, the pursuing forces were drawing steadily closer. To the north was the Commander-in-Chief with the King George V and Rodney, with the Norfolk closing on them. In the south the Dorsetshire was coming up, while Force H was waiting for the dawn. When Captain Vian’s destroyers got in touch at 2251/26 the Renown and Ark Royal were north-west of the enemy. It was not possible to carry out a third attack that night, but all preparations were made for an attack with 12 planes at dawn. Course was shaped to the northward and then westward for a time (see Plan 6) and at 0115/27 Force H turned south. Shortly afterwards (at 0138/27) came instructions from the Commander-in-Chief to keep not less than 20 miles to southward of the Bismarck so as to leave a clear approach for the Battle Fleet. Force H accordingly, continued to the southward during the night. Periodical bursts of starshell and gunfire could be seen to the eastward during the destroyer attacks. At 0509/27, a plane was flown off in the darkness to act as spotter for the King George V. It was blowing a gale and the plane lost its position in heavy rainclouds and did not find the enemy. The striking force of twelve planes were ready, but owing to low visibility the dawn69 attack was cancelled. At 0810 the Maori was sighted to the northward; she reported the Bismarck 11 miles north of her. This made the enemy 17 miles from the Renown and course was shaped to the south-west. At 0915 heavy gunfire could be heard and the striking force was flown off. It found the Bismarck at 1016/27. The battle was over; her guns were silenced; she was on fire. They saw her sink. It was 1115/27 when they got back to the Ark Royal. A Heinkel hovering round dropped a couple of bombs near while they were landing on.
HMS Norfolk
When the Catalina report (1030/26) came in, the Norfolk altered course to the south-east and went on to 27 knots: At 2130/26, the Bismarck was still some 160 miles to the southward and speed was increased to 30 knots (Plan 6). At 2228/26 came the report of the hit by the Ark Royal’s aircraft and the Norfolk turned to the southward, continuing to close the enemy, guided by the flashes of starshell from the destroyers, with the intention of keeping to the northward of him so as to be in a position to flank mark for the Commander-in-Chief. Day light. Nothing in sight at first, but steering down the destroyers’ last D.F. bearing the Bismarck was sighted to the southeast at 0753/27, bearing 145° 9 miles. She did not open fire and was lost to sight in ten minutes. Quarter of an hour later (at 0821/27) the Commander-in-Chief was sighted to the westward, 12 miles away, and the bearing and distance of the enemy (130° 16 miles) were passed to him. The action opened at 0847/27. The Norfolk was then some 10 miles from the Commander-in-Chief and almost due north of the Bismarck. She had seen the beginning and was to see the end.
HMS Dorsetshire
The Dorsetshire on 26 May was bringing home a Sierra Leone convoy. When the Catalina’s report of the enemy came in at 1056/26, she was some 360 miles south of the Bismarck. Leaving the armed merchant cruiser Bulolo to look after the convoy she shaped course to the northward to take up the possible task of shadowing. By 2343/26 it was clear from reports that the Bismarck was making no ground to the eastward and at 0230/27 she appeared to be lying stopped. A very heavy sea was running and the Dorsetshire plunging into it was forced to reduce speed to 25 and later to 20 knots. At 0833/27 a destroyer was sighted ahead bearing 294° 8 miles. She was challenged. It was the Cossack who reported the enemy 290° 6 miles. At 0850/27, the flashes of the Bismarck’s guns could be seen to the westward. The Dorsetshire had reached the scene of action in the nick of time having steamed 600 miles since the enemy report came in.
The Commander-in-Chief and Rodney
All through 26 May, the Commander-in-Chief, in the King George V, had been making hard to the south-east at 25 knots. He had been joined by the Rodney at 1806/26. They were then some 90 miles north of the Bismarck. Fuel was a matter of grave anxiety. At noon, 26 May, the King George V had only 32 per cent, remaining and the Rodney reported that she would have to turn back at 0800/27. Speed had to be reduced on this account to 22 knots at 1705/26. In these circumstances it was no longer possible to hope to intercept the enemy, and the Commander-in-Chief decided that unless the enemy’s speed had been reduced by 2400/26, he must turn at that hour. The only hope lay in the Bismarck being slowed up by torpedo bombers. The prospects were not too favourable and the faces of those examining the charts reflected the gloom of the sky. The evening drew on. A report came in of the Ark Royal’s striking force having left. Then at 2136/26 came in a report from the Sheffield that the enemy was steering 340°; four minutes later came another, giving her course as 0°. These reports indicated that she was not able to hold her course and that her steering gear was damaged. It might still be possible to intercept her. Hope shone out anew.
The Commander-in-Chief turned at once (2142/26) to South hoping to make contact from the eastward in the failing light. At 222870 came a signal from Vice-Admiral Somerville reporting that the Bismarck had been hit. The weather was as bad as ever. Rain squalls and gathering darkness made the prospect of interception uncertain and the Commander-in-Chief decided to haul off to the eastward and northward and work round to engage from the westward at dawn. He turned eastward at 2306/26 (see Plan 6). Reports began to come in steadily from the destroyers confirming the Bismarck’s northerly course. They were some distance off to the south-eastward, though their exact position was not easy to determine on account of the differences of reckoning arising from widely separated forces operating far apart in bad weather. At 0236/27 the Commander-in-Chief ordered Captain (D) 4th Flotilla to fire star-shell every half hour, but frequent rain squalls prevented their being seen and they tended to attract the enemy’s fire. The Bismarck was still a formidable opponent for at 0353/27 Captain D reported that she had done 8 miles in the last hour and was still capable of heavy and accurate fire. On account of the uncertainty of the relative positions and poor visibility, the Commander-in-Chief decided not to make a dawn approach but to wait for full light, approaching from the westward “with the advantages of wind, sea, and light.” At 0529 the Rodney reported the Norfolk to the eastward by D.F. It was light at 0600. Day dawned out of a leaden sky lowering over a rising sea and heavy swell. A tearing wind from the north-west. At 0820 the Norfolk is seen on the port bow. She signals “Enemy, 130°, 16 miles.” “On tin hats!” At 0843 looming on the starboard bow there emerges out of a rain squall the dark grey blot of a large ship. “Enemy in sight.”
The Bismarck
The Bismarck after altering course to the north-west at about 2300/26 had been labouring along with a jammed rudder, steering an erratic course at about eight knots. The destroyers attacking in the dark were met with heavy and accurate salvoes. Sixteen torpedoes were fired at her. Early in the morning a glare of star-shell burst over her, lighting her up. Three torpedoes followed from a destroyer on the port bow (the Maori) of which one hit71 on the port side amidships. Three minutes later three more came from the starboard side (the Cossack) of which one hit on the starboard bow. The nature and extent of the damage sustained is not known. The Bismarck lay stopped for over an hour. At 0140 came a message that a large number of Junkers were coming to her help and that U-boats had been ordered to close. She was beyond their help. The aircraft did not find her. One submarine72 on its way back from the Atlantic joined her and was within sight of her during the night. Another arrived at 0600/27 but it had been damaged in a depth charge attack and could do nothing. In the Bismarck the men were exhausted and falling asleep at their posts. It was under these ominous conditions that at about 0840/27 the British battleships were sighted approaching from the westward.
69. Sunrise at 0722.
70. From F.O., Force H 2225/26 (received 2228/26), “one hit”; 2240/26 “possible second hit.”
71. Possibly two, see Survivors’ reports, C.B. 4051 (24) page 20.
72. This submarine was sunk by destroyers on 27 June. The information is from her survivors. They stated also that she was within 218 yards of the King George V but had no torpedoes available. A submarine was detected by HMS Norfolk at 0508/27 in 48° 26’ N., 15° 18’ W.