Events
The Battleship Bismarck is Laid Down
1st JulyThe Bismarck is Launched
14th FebruaryThe Bismarck is commissioned for sea trials under Captain Ernst Lindemann
24th AugustSea trials end, returning to Hamburg
9th DecemberOperation Rheinübung begins, the Prinz Eugen leaving Gotenhafen may 18th,
folllowed by Bismarck the next day at 2amBismarck and Prinz Eugen sail North,
toward the Skagervak, the straight between
Jutland and Southern NorwayRoyal Navy is alerted by the Swedish
of the ships in the Kattegat.
Pair port at Gristadfjord to refuel Prinz EugenBismarck and Prinz Eugen begin
to sail to Atlantic shipping lanesHMS Suffolk and Norfolk spot Bismarck & Prinz Eugen
Bismarck opens fire on Norfolk but missThe concussion of Bismarck's guns, taking out its radar
Prinz Eugen switches with Bismarck, leading the pair5:45 AM, German lookouts spot the HMS Hood
and HMS Prince of Wales on the horizon5:52 AM, Royal Navy ships close in to 26km, Hood
began engaging Prinz Eugen, whom they
thought to be the Bismarck, while Prince of Wales
engaged the Bismarck5:55 AM, the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen are given permission
to return fire. Within 8 minutes, the Bismarck had sunk the
HMS Hood by detonating it's stored propellant, and destroying
the Prince of Wales entire command, save for it's captain6:13 AM, the Prince of Wales deploys a smoke screen,
retreating with heavy damageBismarck, having been hit three times,
was leaking oil and being tracked by it,
forcing the Bismarck to begin moving to
port at Brest11 AM, Prince of Wales restores 9 of her 10 guns.
Churchill declared an order to direct all nearby
ships to the chase of the Bismarck, totaling 6
battleships/battlecruisers, 2 aircraft carriers,
13 cruisers, and 21 destroyers.6:14 PM, Prinz Eugen successfully detaches from Bismarck under it's covering fireCarrier HMS Victorious launches an airstrike
on Bismarck, almost attacking HMS Norfolk
instead before refocusing. The Bismarck
evades 7 torpedoes, but is struck by one
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