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

Situation Prior to Action

A north-westerly gale was blowing when dawn broke with a good light and clear horizon to the north-eastward. Reports received during the night indicated that, despite reduced speed and damaged rudders, the Bismarck’s armament was functioning effectively. The Commander-in-Chief remarks that the strong wind and heavy sea made fighting to windward most undesirable. He therefore decided to approach on a west-north-westerly bearing and, if the enemy maintained his northerly course, to deploy to the southward on opposite courses at about 15,000 yards. Subsequent action was to be dictated by events.

Between 0600 and 0700 a series of enemy reports from the Maori, which was herself located by D.F. bearings, enabled the position of the King George V to be plotted relatively to the Bismarck which had apparently settled down to a course of 330°, 10 knots. At 0708 the Rodney was ordered to keep station 6 cables or more and to adjust her own bearings as she liked. Course was altered to 080° at 0737 and the Rodney took up station 010° from the Flagship. The Norfolk came in sight to the eastward at 0820 and provided a visual link between the Commander-in-Chief and the enemy. After the line of approach had been adjusted by two alterations of course, the Bismarck was sighted at 0843 bearing 118°, about 25,000 yards. The British battleships were then steering 110° almost directly towards her in a line abreast formation, 8 cables apart. The tracks of the ships engaged in the subsequent action are shown on Plan 9.

Commencement of Action

The Rodney opened fire at 0847, her first salvo sending a column of water 150 ft. into the air. The King George V followed a minute later. The Bismarck replied at 0850 after turning to open A arcs. The first German salvo was short.73 The third or fourth (at 0851) straddled and nearly hit, but the Rodney manoeuvred successfully to avoid them and the nearest shot fell 20 yards short. Her Captain remarks that the complete freedom of action allowed to him by the Commander-in-Chief facilitated this action. The Norfolk, which was flank marking74 22,000 yards to the northward, joined in at 0854 but the target was not clearly visible and she opened fire without obtaining a range.

Observers state that the German gunnery was accurate at first, but commenced to deteriorate after 8 or 10 salvoes. Our own hits were difficult to identify owing to the use of armour-piercing shell, but the first one is. reported to have been scored at 0854 by the Rodney’s third salvo.75 Both British battleships made small alterations of course away from the enemy shortly after opening fire, the King George V to increase her distance from the Rodney and the latter to open her A arcs. Thenceforward they manoeuvred independently although the Rodney conformed to the Flagship’s general movements. The Bismarck’s secondary armament came into action during this phase and the Rodney’s joined in at 0858.

Run to the Southward

The King George V deployed to the southward at 0859 when the Bismarck was 16,000 yards distant. The Rodney, 2½ miles to the northward, followed suit a minute or two later. Cordite smoke was hanging badly with the following wind and spotting was most difficult. Considerable smoke interference was therefore experienced on the southerly course which was partly overcome by R.D.F. The Bismarck had transferred her fire to the King George V shortly after the-turn but except for an occasional splash the latter hardly knew that she was under fire. At 0902 the Rodney saw a 16-in. shell hit the Bismarck on the upper deck forward, apparently putting the fore turrets out of action. At 0904 the Dorsetshire joined in the firing from the eastward at a range of 20,000 yards but observation of the target was difficult and she had to check fire from 0913 to 0920. Between 0910 and 0915 the range in King George V was more or less steady at 12,000 yards.

The fate of the Bismarck was decided during this phase of the action although she did not sink until later. Kapitänleutenant von Müllenheim-Rechberg76 seems to think that she could have held her own if the fore control position had not been hit 25 minutes after the action commenced (i.e., about 0912). The wish must be regarded as father to the thought for the issue had been decided much earlier by the greater volume and accuracy of the British gunfire. Incidentally, the same informant, who was rescued by the Dorsetshire, credits her with the alleged lucky shot despite her long range and the inherent improbability of identifying shots from particular ships. During the run to the South, the Rodney fired six torpedoes at 11,000 yards and the Norfolk four at 16,000 yards,77 none of which hit. The King George’s secondary battery which came into action at 0905 increased the smoke interference and was accordingly ordered to cease fire two or three minutes later.

Run to the North

At 0916 the Bismarck’s bearing was drawing rapidly aft and the Rodney turned 16 points to close and head her off. The King George V turned a minute or so later and both ships re-opened fire to starboard at ranges of 8,600 and 12,000 respectively. The Bismarck shifted her target to the Rodney about this time for several shots fell close to the latter and a near miss damaged the sluice door of her starboard torpedo tube. Most of the enemy’s guns had however been silenced by then and only. “X” turret (i.e., German “C”) and part of the secondary armament appeared to be firing. A fire was blazing amidships and she had a heavy list to port. During the run to the North the Rodney obtained a very favourable position on the Bismarck’s bow from which she poured in a heavy fire at comparatively short range. She also fired two torpedoes at 7,500 yards but no hits were obtained.

The King George’s position further to leeward was less favourable. Her view was obscured by smoke and splashes surrounding the target and her R.D.F. had temporarily broken down. Mechanical failures in the 14-in. turrets constituted however a more serious handicap at this stage. “A”, “Y” and “B” turrets were out of action for 30, and 7 minutes, and for a short unspecified period, respectively. This corresponded to a reduction in fire power of 80 per cent, for 7 minutes and 40 per cent, for 23 minutes which might have had serious results under less favourable conditions. There were also several breakdowns of individual guns in addition to those affecting the turrets.

At 0925, the King George V altered outwards 150° and reduced speed to avoid getting too far ahead of the target. She closed in again at 1005, fired several salvoes from about 3,000 yards and then resumed her northerly course. Meanwhile the Rodney was zigzagging across the Bismarck’s line of advance at a range of about 4,000 yards, firing her main and secondary armaments. She also fired four torpedoes, one of which was regarded as a hit. By 1015 the Bismarck was a wreck. All her guns were silenced, her mast had been blown away; she lay wallowing in the Atlantic swell – a black ruin, pouring high into the air a great cloud of smoke and flame. Men were seen jumping overboard at this time and the Captain of the King George V remarks that had he known it he would have ceased fire.

Signal sent to Fleet Commander from Adolf Hitler

0153/27 I thank you in the name of the German people. Adolf Hitler

Signal sent to the crew of battleship Bismarck from Adolf Hitler

0153/27 The whole of Germany is with you. What can still be done will be done. The performance of your duty will strengthen our people in the struggle for their existance. Adolf Hitler

Signal sent from Bismarck to C-in-C, Navy

0221/27 Propose Lt. Cdr. Scheider (Gunnery Officer) be awarded Knights Cross for sinking Hood. Fleet Commander

Signal sent to Lt. Cdr. Schneider from C-in-C, Navy

0351/27 The Führer has awarded you the Knights Cross for sinking the battlecruiser Hood. Heartiest congratulations. C-in-C, Navy

Signal sent from Bismarck to Group West

0710/27 Send U-boat to save War Diary. Fleet Commander

(This was the last signal made by Bismarck)

Signal sent to Bismarck from Group West

1322/27 Reuter reports: Bismarck sunk. Report situation immediately. Group West

73. Rodney says 1,000 yards and the King George V 400.

74. No flank marking signals were received in King George V (H.F. Gunnery report, paragraph 26).

75. Bismarck’s survivors say that she was first hit at 0857 but little reliance can be placed on their times. Vide Interrogation of Survivors, C.B. 4051 (24).

76. Vide Interrogation of Survivors, C.B. 4051 (24), page 22.

77. According to the track chart her distance was 21,000 yards at 0906.