| Operational
History |
| Construction |
| 16 November
1935 |
The building contract
was placed with the Blohm & Voss Shipyard
in Hamburg, as New Construction "F". It was
Construction No. BV 509 at the Blohm & Voss
Shipyard. |
| 1 July
1936 |
The keel was laid
and the construction took place on Slipway
9. |
| 14 February
1939 |
Bismarck was launched.
Christened by Dorothea von Loewenfeld, granddaughter
of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. |
| Middle
of April 1940 |
The first members
of the crew came aboard Bismarck. |
| 24 August
1940 |
Bismarck was commissioned
and placed under the command of Kapitän
zur See (Captain) Ernst Lindemann. |
| Sea
Trials and Final Outfitting |
| 15 September
1940 |
Bismarck left Hamburg
for the first time and sailed towards the
Baltic to conduct trials. |
| 16 - 17
September 1940 |
Bismarck passed through
the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal (channel). |
| 17 September
1940 |
Bismarck arrived
at Scheerhafen (Kiel). |
| 28 September
1940 |
Bismarck left Scheerhafen
(Kiel) and, under the escort of Sperrbrecher
13, headed for Arkona (on the island of Rügen).
Later that day Bismarck arrived, unescorted,
at Gotenhafen (Gdynia). |
| October
- November 1940 |
Bismarck conducted
trials in the Baltic. |
| 5 December
1940 |
Bismarck left the
Baltic (island of Rügen) escorted by
Sperrbrecher 6 and sailed to Kiel, on her
way back to Hamburg to complete her outfitting
at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard. |
| 7 - 8 December
1940 |
Bismarck passed through
the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal. |
| 9 December
1940 |
Bismarck arrived
at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg. |
| 24 January
1941 |
The final work on
Bismarck was completed and she was ready
to sail again. However a sunken ore ship
blocked the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal, which meant
that Bismarck had to stay in Hamburg until
6 March 1941. While Bismarck waited in Hamburg
she conducted training and battle drills
in the harbour of Hamburg. |
| 6 March
1941 |
Bismarck was now
able to pass through the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal
and left the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in
Hamburg and sailed towards the Baltic. |
| 7 - 8 March
1941 |
Bismarck passed through
the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal for the last time. |
| 8 March
1941 |
Bismarck arrived
at Scheerhafen (Kiel). |
| 8 - 17
March 1941 |
Bismarck embarked
supplies at Scheerhafen (Kiel), ammunition,
fuel, water, two Arado 196 aircraft. Striped
camouflage paint was added. The ship was
now fully equipped. |
| 17 March
1941 |
Bismarck left Scheerhafen
(Kiel) and arrived at Gotenhafen (Gdynia). |
| 18 March-April
1941 |
Bismarck conducted
trials in the Baltic. |
| 5 May 1941 |
Adolf Hitler visited
the Bismarck together with Admiral Günther
Lütjens, and other personalities. Hitler
stayed aboard for four hours. |
| 12 May
1941 |
Admiral Lütjens
and the Fleet Staff embarked the ship. |
| 13 May
1941 |
Bismarck made refueling
exercises at sea with Prinz Eugen. |
| 14 May
1941 |
Bismarck made exercises
at sea with the light cruiser Leipzig. |
| Sunday
18 May 1941 (Operation "Rheinübung") |
| Between
11:12 and 11:15 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen left their berths in Gotenhafen (Gdynia)
and anchored in the roadstead. |
| 11:30 |
Operation "Rheinübung" officially
began. |
| Afternoon |
Bismarck weighed
anchor and made manoeuvre with Tirpitz near
the coast. |
| Evening |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen anchored in Gotenhafen (Gdynia) roadstead. |
| Monday
19 May 1941 |
| About 02:00 |
Bismarck weighed
anchor. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen made separate
cruise westward. Made a subsequent meeting
at Cape Arkona (Rügen) and cruise on
to the Great Belt. |
| Tuesday
20 May 1941 |
| About 02:00 |
Bismarck, Prinz Eugen,
and three destroyers Z-10, Z-16 and Z-23
passed through the Great Belt. |
| 13:00 |
German air security.
The Swedish flight-deck cruiser Gotland (Captain Ågren)
was sighted to the east. Gotland reported
sighting Bismarck passing through the Kattegat. |
| Between
14:00 and 18:00 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen were sighted or observed by numerous
merchant ships and fishing boats. |
| Wednesday
21 May 1941 |
| 08:00 -
09:00 |
Bismarck, Prinz Eugen
and the destroyers entered Korsfjord near
Bergen. |
| 09:14 |
Prinz Eugen passed
through the Korsfjord and anchored with the
destroyers north of Bergen (refuelled in
Kalvanes Bay). |
| 11:00 |
Bismarck anchored
in the Grimstadfjord and was not refueled.
Coastal Command "Spitfire" planes took off
on reconnaissance flights. |
| 13:15 |
British Coastal Command "Spitfire" (Observer
Flight Lieutenant Suckling) sighted and photographed
Bismarck. |
| 20:00 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen left the Korsfjord undiscovered, along
with the three destroyers, northward from
Kalvanes Bay at cruising speed. |
| 23:00 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen left the group (dropping the pilot)
under Me 110 air protection. |
| Thursday
22 May 1941 |
| 05:00 |
At the latitude of
Trondheim the destroyers left the group which
was now led by the Bismarck, course 0º. |
| About 12:00 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen at cruising speed, 24 knots. Position
about 65 degrees 53 minutes north, 03 degrees,
38 minutes east. |
| About 13:00 |
Hazy, rainy weather
(limited visibility) with soft south winds. |
| Friday
23 May 1941 |
| 12:00 |
Position approximately
67 degrees 28 minutes north, 19 degrees 28
minutes west. Average speed 24 knots. |
| 18:21 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen reached the ice limit. |
| 19:22 |
Bismarck sighted
Suffolk. Suffolk reported Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen in the Denmark Straits. |
| About 20:30 |
Bismarck sighted
Norfolk in the fog and fired 5 heavy artillery
salvos. No hits scored. The forward radar
set on Bismarck was disabled. Shortly after
the Prinz Eugen passed the Bismarck and took
the lead. |
| 22:00 |
Bismarck inverted
the course and tried to engage the Suffolk
which realized the manoeuvre and avoided
contact. |
| As of 23:30 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen entered into a snowstorm. |
| Saturday
24 May 1941 (The Battle of the Denmark Strait) |
| 05:45 |
Sighted two ships
at the horizon. Speed 28 knots. |
| 05:52-05:53 |
British opened fire
(Hood and Prince of Wales). |
| 05:53 |
Prince of Wales fired
both its forward turrets (A and B) at Bismarck. |
| ca. 05:54 |
Presumed hit on Bismarck
(Prince of Wales). |
| 05:55 |
Germans opened fire
(Bismarck and Prinz Eugen). Fire concentrated
on Hood. |
| ca. 05:56 |
Prinz Eugen scored
a hit on Hood with the 4th salvo (near the
hangar by the after mast): Fire near ammunition
lift (port, aft). Fire spreads. |
| ca. 05:58
- 05:59 |
Hood fire quickly
dies down. Lütjens commands (after 2nd
or 3rd Bismarck salvo, after 5th (6th) Prinz
Eugen salvo): Change target to left! (against
Prince of Wales). |
| 05:59 |
Prinz Eugen: Beginning
of effective firing (after getting range).
Observed effect: two hits, small fire. Distance
about 16,000 meter. Use of heavy (10.5-cm)
anti-aircraft guns (with decreasing distance). |
| 06:00 |
Hood changed course
by 20 degrees to port, to bring the after
turrets (C, D) into action. Speed: about
28 knots. Distance from enemy: about 19,700
meter. |
| 06:01 |
Bismarck's 5th full
salvo. Hood blows up.
Hood crew: 95 officers and 1324 men. There
were only three Hood survivors, who could
be rescued after three hours by the British
destroyer Electra:
1. Ordinary Seaman (Signal Corporal) A. Edward Briggs, later Lieutenant.
Station: Compass deck, navigation bridge. Command messenger of Flag
Lieutenant of Vice-Admiral Holland.
2. Midshipman William J. Dundas, later Lieutenant Commander. Station:
Upper (enclosed) bridge, as Midshipman of Watch, under command of
officer of Watch
3. Able Seaman (Senior Corporal) Robert E. Tilburn, later Admiralty
Storeman. Station: Boat deck, service, port 10.2-cm anti-aircraft
guns. |
| After 06:01 |
The Prince of Wales,
moved in close starboard formation to Hood,
turned hard around the Hood wreckage and
rubble and moved off on southward course
through the fog and black smoke of concentrated
fire from Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. |
| As of 06:01 |
Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen changed target. Distance about 14,800
meter. |
| 06:02 |
Prince of Wales under
concentrated fire of Bismarck and Prinz Eugen,
shooting well and fast (distance about 16,000
meter). Norfolk fires 3 salvos (Suffolk 6
in all?). |
| 06:03 |
Prince of Wales took
direct hit in the bridge and left the battlefield
smoking heavily. |
| As of 06:03 |
Rear Admiral Walker
took over further measures as Senior Commander. |
| Approx.
06:05 |
Prince of Wales fire
near Bismarck. 20.3 cm shots from Norfolk.
Prince of Wales was hit by 7 shells):
4 (Bismarck) 38.0 cm, 3 (Prinz Eugen) 20.3 cm:
38.0-cm hit the bridge, 38.0 cm superstructures, forward medium artillery
control post, 38.0 cm under the waterline near diesel generator room,
20.3 cm at waterline aft, ca. 500 tons of water, 20.3 cm at waterline
aft in the ship, 20.3 cm in 13.2 cm shot loading room. |
| 06:09 |
Germans ceased fire.
Prinz Eugen received no hits. Bismarck was
hit by 2 heavy and one light hits.
1. Sections XIII-XIV ' electric system out of commission. 4-boiler
room port 2 makes water.
2. Forward sections XX-XXL: entered at port, exited starboard over
armor deck. Oil cells hit: light port side damage (about 4000 tons
of water in ship).
3. Hit through a boat (without importance). *
Effects:
a) Reduction of speed (top speed cut to 29 knots . . . water in ship
forward
b) wide, clearly visible oil spill.
Ammunition consumption:
Bismarck: 93 38.0 cm
Prinz Eugen: 183 20.3 cm (Comparatively high, especially for Prinz
Eugen).
* It is assumed that this hit caused that the compressed-air-line
to the catapult was bent which means that
saving the Bismarck's War Diary failed. So in that way this hit had
a significant importance as a lot of invaluable information was lost
when the Bismarck sunk. The fact that the compressed-air-line to
the catapult was bent was unknown to the crew of the Bismarck until
27 May between 06:00 and 07:00 when they tried to launch one of the
ships Arado 196-A aircraft. |
| At noon |
New course 180º. |
| 18:14 |
Turns 180º to
starboard towards British pursuers, while
the Prinz Eugen left the formation. |
| 18:40-18:56 |
Bismarck fired some
shells at Suffolk and Prince of Wales. 3
sailors were killed by blast and shell splinters
of a near miss . |
| 23:30-23:45 |
Attacked by 9 Swordfish
and 6 Fulmars from carrier Victorious. Speed
27 knots. She was hit by one torpedo on the
starboard side, amidships. Without importance. |
| Sunday
25 May 1941 (Fleet Chief's Birthday) |
| 00:28 |
Bismarck reported
attack by torpedo planes. |
| 00:37 |
Bismarck reported:
Expect further attacks. |
| 01:53 |
Bismarck reported:
Expect further attacks. |
| 02:41 |
Group West reported:
West U-boats have instructions to move eastward. |
| 03:06 |
Bismarck turned to
starboard and the Suffolk lost contact with
her. New course 130º. British contact
lost for 31.5 (thirty one and one-half) hours. |
| 07:00 |
Bismarck reported:
. . . one battleship, two heavy cruisers
keeping contact again. |
| 08:52-09:28 |
36-minute Bismarck
radio message: homed in on by British stations. |
| 11:25 |
Admiral Raeder radioed
birthday greetings to Admiral Lütjens. |
| ca. 11:45 |
Aboard Bismarck:
Lütjens speech plus that of the Commander
(Captain Lindemann). |
| 16:25 |
Hitler radioed birthday
greetings to Admiral Lütjens. |
| 23:44 |
Group West reported:
Presumed continued course for west coast
of France, even without enemy contact. |
| Monday
26 May 1941 (Bismarck is discovered and disabled) |
| 10:30 |
Bismarck sighted
by "Catalina" flying boat (Briggs) at 49º 20´ north,
21º 50´ west. |
| 11:15 |
Ark Royal planes
make contact. Then Sheffield too. |
| 14:50-15:00 |
Ark Royal: Takeoff
of 15 Swordfish's torpedo planes. Mistaken
attack on Sheffield: Target confusion with
Bismarck! |
| 17:47 |
Bismarck sighted
by Sheffield. |
| 19:03 |
Bismarck reported:
fuel situation urgent. When can I expect
refueling? |
| 19:48 |
U-556 reported: Battleship
and Ark Royal in sight. |
| 20:39 |
U-556 reported: Battleship
and aircraft carrier on 115-degree course,
high speed. |
| ca. 20:45 |
Bismarck reported:
Torpedo planes from Ark Royal in sight. |
| 20:55-21:25 |
Bismarck attacked
by 15 Swordfish's from the carrier Ark Royal.
There are no losses amongst the Swordfish
aircraft. Bismarck was hit by two torpedoes.
One in the center (port side), and one in
the starboard rudder area. The rudder indicator
indicated that the rudder was jammed either
12° or 15° to port. Additionally
Bismarck was possibly hit by a torpedo on
the starboard side, amidships. She is unable
to maneuver. |
| 21:03-21:05 |
Bismarck hit aft
(rudder system). Bismarck reported: Unable
to maneuver at ca. 47 degrees 40 minutes
north-14 degrees 50 minutes west. |
| 21:15 |
Bismarck reported:
Square BE-6192. Torpedo hit aft! |
| 21:30-21:55 |
Fired a few salvos
against the Sheffield. No hits scored. |
| 22:38 |
Polish destroyer
Piorun sighted Bismarck and came under fire. |
| 23:15 |
Bismarck changes
course from southeast to northwest. |
| 23:24 |
Captain Vian organized
his 5 destroyers (Cossack, Maori, Piorun,
Sikh, Zulu) for the planned (and also carried
out) night attack on Bismarck, but came immediately
under fire from Bismarck. |
| 23:40 |
Bismarck reported:
Ship unable to maneuver. We'll fight to the
last shell. Long live the Führer. |
| 23:58 |
Bismarck reported:
to the Führer of the German Reich Adolf
Hitler. We'll fight to the last in trust
in you, our Führer, and in rock-hard
trust in Germany's victory. |
| Tuesday
27 May 1941 (The Last Battle) |
| 01:53 |
Hitler radioed Lütjens,
Bismarck: I thank you in the name of all
the German people. Adolf Hitler. To crew
of battleship Bismarck: all Germany is with
you. Whatever can still be done, will be
done. Your devotion to duty will strengthen
our people in their fight for existence.
Adolf Hitler. |
| 02:21 |
Bismarck reported:
Recommend conferring of Knight's Cross on
Corvette Captain Schneider for sinking of
Hood. |
| 03:51 |
Radio message to
Bismarck A(rtillery) O(fficer) Corvette Captain
Schneider: The Führer has conferred
the Knight's Cross on you for the sinking
of the Battleship Hood. Heartiest good wishes.
Commander of the Navy, Grand Admiral Raeder. |
| Between
05:00 and 06:00 |
Two attempts was
made to launch one of the ships Arado 196-A
aircraft. It failed as the compressed-air-line
to the catapult was bent. |
| 07:10 |
Last message from
Bismarck (Admiral Lütjens): "Send a
U-boat to save War Diary" (KTB). |
| ca. 08:00 |
Alarm on Bismarck,
which was surrounded by the two British battleships
King George V (C-in-C Flagship) and Rodney
plus two cruisers Dorsetshire and Norfolk.
Weather: northwest wind (320 degrees) 6-7.
Sea: 4-5. Visibility tip to 10 nautical miles. |
| 08:15 |
Bismarck sighted
by Norfolk. |
| 08:43 |
Bismarck sighted
by King George V and Rodney. |
| 08:47 |
The final battle
began. Rodney opened fire. |
| 08:48 |
King George V opened
fire |
| 08:49 |
Bismarck opened fire
at Rodney. |
| ca. 09:02 |
Bismarck was hit
for the first time, and starts to receive
hits from all sides. Turrets A (Anton) and
B (Bruno) went out of action. |
| ca. 09:04 |
Dorsetshire opened
fire. |
| ca. 09:12 |
Bismarck's forward
command post went out of action. |
| 09:13 |
The Bismarck's after
command post went out of action. |
| 09:31 |
Bismarck fired her
last salvo. |
| 09:12 -
10:16 |
Bismarck received
multiple hits at point blank range between
2,500 meter (2,700 yards) and 4,000 meters
(4,400 yards), but was still afloat. |
| ca. 10:00 |
All weapons silent
on Bismarck. The ship was a wreck. |
| Sometime
about 10:00 |
Demolition charges
exploded in the turbine room on Bismarck. |
| 10:20 |
Bismarck was hit
on the starboard side by two torpedoes fired
by Dorsetshire. |
| 10:36 |
Bismarck was hit
on the port side by a third torpedo fired
by Dorsetshire. |
| 10:39 |
Bismarck sinks at
48º 10´ north, 16º 12´ west. |
| The
Discovery of the Bismarck |
| 8 June
1989 |
The wreck of the
Bismarck was discovered at a depth of about
4,850 meters by Robert Ballard. The man that
also found RMS Titanic. |
