Bismarck

13.3

Bismarck

Battleship | Germany | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price135000 exp

Purchase price11,000,000

Hit Points64,500

Main Battery

380 mm/52 SK C/34 on a Drh LC/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire2.31 shots/min.

Reload Time26 sec.

Rotation Speed5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time36 sec.

Firing Range19.28 km.

Maximum Dispersion272 m.

HE Shell380 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.6

Maximum HE Shell Damage4,400

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell34 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity820 m./s.

HE Shell Weight800 kg.

AP Shell380 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/4.4

Maximum AP Shell Damage11,600

Initial AP Shell Velocity820 m./s.

AP Shell Weight800 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/31 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min.

Reload Time3.35 sec.

HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200

Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

Secondary Armament #2

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/37 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min.

Reload Time3.35 sec.

HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200

Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

Secondary Armament #3

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

Secondary Armament #4

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

AA Defense

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/31 mount4 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second66.4

. . . Firing Range4.5 km.

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/37 mount4 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second66.8

. . . Firing Range4.5 km.

37 mm/83 SK C/30 on a Dopp LC/30 mount8 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second20.8

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

20 mm/65 C/38 on a Flak 35 Vierling L/38 mount2 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second12

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

20 mm/65 C/38 on an L/30 single mount12 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second36

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed28.52 knot

Turning Circle Radius850 m.

Rudder Shift Time22.4 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range15.89 km.

Air Detectability Range11.74 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.3

Bismarck

Battleship | Germany | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price135000 exp

Purchase price11,000,000

Hit Points69,200

Main Battery

380 mm/52 SK C/34 on a Drh LC/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire2.31 shots/min.

Reload Time26 sec.

Rotation Speed5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time36 sec.

Firing Range21.21 km.

Maximum Dispersion272 m.

HE Shell380 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.6

Maximum HE Shell Damage4,400

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell34 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity820 m./s.

HE Shell Weight800 kg.

AP Shell380 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/4.4

Maximum AP Shell Damage11,600

Initial AP Shell Velocity820 m./s.

AP Shell Weight800 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/31 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min.

Reload Time3.35 sec.

HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200

Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

Secondary Armament #2

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/37 mount6 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min.

Reload Time3.35 sec.

HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200

Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 %

Secondary Armament #3

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

Secondary Armament #4

150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount4 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range7.6 km.

Rate of Fire8 shots/min.

Reload Time7.5 sec.

HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 %

AA Defense

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/31 mount2 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second33.2

. . . Firing Range4.5 km.

105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/37 mount6 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second100.2

. . . Firing Range4.5 km.

20 mm/65 C/38 on an L/30 single mount14 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second42

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

20 mm/65 C/38 on a Flak 35 Vierling L/38 mount16 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second96

. . . Firing Range2.01 km.

37 mm/69 Flak M42 on an LM/42 mount10 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second103

. . . Firing Range3.51 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed31 knot

Turning Circle Radius850 m.

Rudder Shift Time16 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range15.89 km.

Air Detectability Range11.74 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

VIII

11,000,000

Bismarck — German Tier VIII battleship.

By the start of World War II, Bismarck was one of the mightiest battleships in the world, owing to her advanced gun fire control system and powerful artillery. Rugged construction — coupled with elaborate subdivision into compartments and a vast expanse of armor — ensured a high level of endurance.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
380 mm/52 SK C/34 on a Drh LC/34 mount	2.3	36	272	4,400	34	11,600		0	1,100,000

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Bismarck (A)	64,500	19	360	4	8/6	12/2/8/8				0	1,650,000
Bismarck (B)	69,200	19	360	4	8/6	14/16/10				52,000	3,900,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
FKS Typ 8 Mod. 1		0		0	600,000
FKS Typ 8 Mod. 2		0		23,500	1,500,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 150,100 hp	28.5		0	380,000
Propulsion: 163,000 hp	31		15,500	900,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5

Player Opinion

Performance

The historical pinnacle of German battleship construction, Bismarck stands as one of the heartiest battleships at Tier VIII. While her main battery may not look as impressive of that of Amagi and she doesn't have North Carolina’s range — or even her sister Tirpitz’s torpedoes — Bismarck has the perfect mix of ingredients to make her an excellent brawler.

For starters, her secondary battery is the most impressive of all the Tier VIII battleships. It comes with a stock range of 7km, and with the right mix of modules and commander skills can be pushed to a range of over 10.5km, almost equivalent to the range of a similarly-equipped Yamato. This creates a large radius around her which enemy units must respect or pay a hefty price. Additionally, her handling is superb for a ship her size; she's quick to respond to rudder commands, and her turning circle is better than that of Amagi. Easily the most impressive thing about Bismarck is her survivability. Like her sister Tirpitz, she is exceptionally difficult to land citadel hits against; only long-range plunging fire has a good chance of doing so. The closer she gets, the better her armor scheme protects her from incoming fire. She will take more than her fair share of regular penetration damage from enemy armor-piercing rounds, but that damage repairs better than citadel damage.

Bismarck has another trick up her sleeve that sets her apart from Tirpitz: access to the Hydroacoustic Search consumable. This provides her with large windows of time where she is functionally immune to long range torpedoes, and also provides detection of enemy ships hidden in Smoke Screens when pushing into capture zones.

When all of that is paired with an above-average anti-aircraft suite, Bismarck is a very well-rounded, highly survivable battleship that is friendly to players of all skill levels.

Ship Review: Mouse in the Bismarck from the NA forums. Tested in patch 0.5.10

Pros:

• Outstanding secondary battery. With the right upgrades and commander skills, her secondary battery range can be extended past 10.5km, allowing Bismarck to whittle down enemy ships before closing in for the kill.
• Very decent dispersion on her secondaries.
• Has access to the Hydroacoustic Search consumable, making her very difficult to torpedo from long range.
• Reminiscent of earlier battleship gameplay: the closer she gets, the more dangerous she becomes to her enemies.
• Above average anti-aircraft suite.
• Surprisingly nimble for a battleship of her size, with an excellent top speed (30 knots).
• Exceptionally durable with a good armor layout; has the vaunted "turtleback" armor.
• Virtually impossible to citadel.
• Has access to Hydro-acoustic search. The time intervals have gotten better.

Cons:

• No torpedoes like those found on her sister Tirpitz.
• Only has eight (8) barrels, while every other ship at this tier has nine (9) or more of a higher caliber.
• 15-inch guns have trouble with angled enemy battleships (use HE against the superstructure or choose a different target).
• Her anti-aircraft can be destroyed with sustained HE spam.
• Extremely vulnerable to fires. Superstructures can be set on fire by calibers of any size quite easily.
• The only true armor is her hull and her guns. The situation is her superstructure is low riding and rather hard yo hit at a distance. But it is not armored nearly as much as it should be. Which leads to BE spam setting her on fire.
• Like Tirpitz showing your broadside can be lights out.
• Turns like a concrete fridge.

Research

Hull (B) is the best thing for players to research first, as it maximizes her anti-aircraft armament and provides additional hit points. The propulsion upgrade is the next best module to invest experience gains in; having all 31 knots to play with gives Bismarck more flexibility to close with the enemy or respond to new threats as required.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

Secondary Battery Build: The most common build for Bismarck will maximize her secondary battery by equipping Secondary Battery Mod 2, along with the usual suspects for battleships: Main Armaments Mod 1 and Damage Control Mod 1. Upgrade Slot 5 offers an interesting choice between Steering Gears Mod 2 and Damage Control Mod 2 that is left to individual captains; Upgrade Slot 6 is likewise captain's choice.

Anti-Aircraft Build: Another possible build is to maximize Bismarck’s AA suite; it is similar to the Secondary Battery Build above, but uses AA Mod 2 in Upgrade Slot 2. Players wishing to minimize their vulnerability to enemy aircraft should equip Concealment System Mod 1 in Upgrade Slot 6.

Commander Skills

Secondary Battery Build: Following along with the theme of maximizing the punishment dished out by Bismarck’s secondaries, captains should invest in Basic Firing Training, Expert Marskman, Superintendent, and Advanced Firing Training. Manual Control for Secondary Armament is a strong skill in this build, but it only allows the ship's secondaries to fire at a single target at a time. Some captains will prefer this skill; others will not. Extra skill points should be invested in either Basics of Survivability, High Alert, or Vigilance, as desired.

Anti-Aircraft Build: Similar to the secondary-focused build, Basic Firing Training, Expert Marskman, Superintendent, and Advanced Firing Training form the core of the commander skills. Captains then double up on Level 4 skills and pick up Manual Fire Control for AA Armament. German long-range AA batteries are all in excess of 85mm, allowing them to make good use of the skill and dish out extreme punishment to enemy aircraft.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns. ★★	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines. ★★	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched. ★	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time.	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters.	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time.	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire. ★	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes.
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables. ★★	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm. ★★★	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range.	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen.	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed.	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost. ★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding. ★★	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier. ★	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes.	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage.	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship. ★★★	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target. ★	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes. ★★
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of shells from secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only. ★★★	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three. ★★	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +30% to the armor penetration capacity of HE shells. -1% chance of fire on target caused by shells <=139mm. -3% chance of fire on target caused by shells >139mm. ★	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +5% attack aircraft aiming speed. +5% torpedo bomber aiming speed. +10% dive bomber aiming speed.	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% damage/sec. within the explosion radius of shells fired from long-range AA defenses. ★★★	Massive AA Fire Instantaneous Damage +100%. Priority AA sector cooldown +50%.	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken. ★	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful       ★★ - Frequently Useful       ★ - Occasionally Useful      No stars - Meh     Χ - Not recommended

Consumables

Hydroacoustic Search is one of her true strengths and makes her unique in her tier; the premium version is highly recommended for the reduced cooldown. Repair Party II is also recommended for the quicker cooldown; a well-played Bismarck is likely to find herself under intense enemy fire and captains will want to have access to Repair Party as quickly as possible. The premium version of Damage Control Party is recommended for similar reasons.

Camouflage

Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for credits; Types 2 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce the accuracy of incoming shells.

Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip Bismarck with Type 18 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, and increases the amount of experience she earns.

Signals

Players who have followed the Secondary Battery Build above will want to equip Mike Yankee Soxisix and India Delta signals in order to further boost the effectiveness of their secondaries and Repair Party consumable, respectively.

Players following the Anti-Aircraft Build may wish to equip November Echo Setteseven for the bonus to AA gun damage.

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of magazine detonation.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration. ★★	India Yankee -20% to fire duration. ★★	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy. ★	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding. ★	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating. ★
Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time. ★★★	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts. ★★	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★★★	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables. ★★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used. ★★★
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .

Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.

Gallery

Historical Info

Construction

Blohm and Voss Shipbuilding Company; Hamburg, Germany

Laid down: 1 July 1936

Launched: 14 February 1939

Commissioned: 24 August 1940

Specifications

41,700 tons displacement, standard

248m length

36m beam

8.7m draft

Machinery

12 boilers, 3 turbines

Performance

29 knots at 138,000 shaft horsepower

8,410nm at 15 knots

Armor

Main belt: 320mm mid, 60mm forward, 80mm aft

Upper belt: 145mm

Torpedo bulkhead: 45mm

Decks: 51mm main, 83-121mm armored deck, 102mm armored deck slopes

Bulkheads: 180-220mm

Barbettes and Turrets: 340mm barbette, 360mm face, 220mm side,
   320mm rear, 180mm roof, 102mm secondary turrets

Conning tower: 356mm

Armament

Main

Eight (4x2) 380mm guns

Secondary

Twelve (6x2) 150mm guns

Sixteen (8x2) 105mm guns

Anti-Aircraft

Sixteen (8x2) 37mm guns

Twelve (12x1) 20mm guns

Aircraft

Four (4) Arado Ar 196 floatplanes

History

Design

Bismarck was the first of two Bismarck-class battleships built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Named after Chancellor Otto von Bismarck — the primary force behind the unification of Germany in 1871 — the ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg in July 1936 and launched in February 1939. Work was completed in August 1940, when she was commissioned into the German fleet. Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz were the largest battleships ever built by Germany, and two of the largest built by any European power.

Service

In the course of the warship's eight-month career under its sole commanding officer, Kapitän zur See Ernst Lindemann, Bismarck conducted only one offensive operation: Operation Rheinübung in May 1941. The ship, along with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, was to break into the Atlantic Ocean and raid Allied shipping from North America to Great Britain. The British Admiralty learned of the sortie and ordered several ships to patrol the three possible break-out points into the Atlantic. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen were detected moving into the Denmark Strait by the HMS Suffolk and Norfolk on 23 May 1941 at approximately 19:22. Bismarck, the lead ship, went to action stations and Captain Lindemann announced at 20:30 to the crew “Feind in Sicht an Backbord, Schiff nimmt Gefecht auf! (Enemy sighted to port. Engage!)”. Bismarck fired several salvos but failed to score a direct hit. Heavily outgunned, the British cruisers retired to a safe distance and shadowed the Bismarck until reinforcements could arrive. Due to heavy vibration from the main guns firing, Bismarck’s forward radar failed. Admiral Lütjens ordered Prinz Eugen to take the lead position and provide radar coverage.

The following morning, Prinz Eugen detected a ship by hydrophone and at 05:45 sighted two ships which were initially misidentified as cruisers. The two ships were, in fact, the battlecruiser HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy, and HMS Prince of Wales, the newest battleship in the British arsenal (she was so new that she still had a variety of shipyard personnel on board testing and maintaining her machinery). At 05:53 the British battleships opened fire on the two German ships. The British admiral on board Hood had intended on targeting Bismarck first, but due to the change in the German battle line Hood targeted Prinz Eugen instead. The German force — on the orders of Admiral Lütjens — did not open fire. After roughly two minutes of fire, Captain Lindemann grew tired of not being given the order to open fire and issued the following directive: "Ich lasse mir doch nicht mein Schiff unter dem Arsch wegschießen. Feuererlaubnis! (I'm not letting my ship get shot out from under my arse. Open fire!)". At 06:01, the fifth salvo fired by Bismarck at a range of 18,000 meters (20,000 yards) struck Hood near her mainmast. The 380mm (15-inch) shell plunged through her decks and caused a magazine detonation. The resulting explosion broke Hood into three sections; she sank in a mere three minutes, taking all but three of her crew with her.

Bismarck and Prinz Eugen then turned their attention to the bewildered Prince of Wales. During this part of the engagement, Bismarck landed seven hits and took three damaging hits in return. Prince of Wales disengaged from the battle and the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen continued their mission. This engagement of 24 May 1941 became known as the Battle of the Denmark Strait and was an unqualified disaster for the Royal Navy.

The damage caused to Bismarck dictated that she return for repairs and that Prinz Eugen continue on into the open Atlantic to commence raiding. It has been reported that Admiral Lütjens and Captain Lindemann argued about which port to return to, with Lindemann advocating a course back through the Denmark Strait to return to Bergen, Norway. Lütjens overruled him and ordered a Bismarck to make for Saint Nazaire, France.

The destruction of Hood spurred a relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy involving dozens of warships, with Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanding that the Bismarck be sunk. Two days later, heading for the relative safety of occupied France, Bismarck was attacked by obsolescent Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal; one scored a hit that rendered the battleship's steering gear inoperable. In her final battle the following morning, Bismarck was neutralized by a sustained bombardment from a British fleet led by the British battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney. Bismarck was eventually scuttled by her crew, and sank with heavy loss of life. Most experts agree that the battle damage would have caused her to sink eventually, regardless.

The remains of Bismarck lie beneath 15,800 feet (4,800 meters) of water approximately 400 miles (650 km) west of Brest, France. The wreck was located in June 1989 by famed naval archaeologist Robert Ballard, and has since been further surveyed by several other expeditions. An expedition led by filmmaker in 2002 noted that despite the torpedo damage to Bismarck’s outer hull, none of the torpedoes that struck her had actually penetrated her protective torpedo bulkhead.

Historical Accuracy

• Hull (B) is ahistorical; Bismarck’s anti-aircraft complement was never upgraded.
• "The Last Conquest" camouflage has two large swastika on red banners on the deck of Bismarck (replaced with an Iron Cross for legal reasons): one on the bow and another on the stern. These markings were actually painted over prior to Operation Rheinübung.

Historical Gallery

• 

  The wappen (coat of arms) of Bismarck.

• 

  Launching ceremony of Bismarck, 14 February 1939.

• 

  Bismarck on trials in the summer of 1940; the rangefinders had not yet been installed.

• 

  Bismarck in 1940.

• 

  Bismarck in port in Hamburg.

• 

  3D rendering of Bismarck during Operation Rheinübung, May 1941.

• 

  Bismarck in the Baltic Sea — as seen from Prinz Eugen — departing Gotenhafen (now Gdynia, Poland), 19 May 1941.

• 

  Bismarck, photographed from Prinz Eugen, in the Baltic at the outset of Operation Rheinübung, 19 May 1941.

• 

  A British aerial reconnaissance photo taken by Flying Officer Michael Suckling shows Bismarck anchored in Norway, 22 May 1941.

• 

  Bismarck as seen from Prinz Eugen during the Battle of the Denmark Strait, 24 May 1941.

• 

  Bismarck firing her main battery during the Battle of the Denmark Strait, 24 May 1941.

• 

  A Swordfish returns to HMS Ark Royal after making a torpedo attack against Bismarck.

• 

  HMS Rodney firing on Bismarck, which can be seen burning in the distance, 27 May 1941.

• 

  HMS Dorsetshire picking up survivors following the sinking of Bismarck, 27 May 1941.

• 

  Painting by Ken Marschall depicting Argo exploring the wreck. Famed naval archaeologist Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of Bismarck in June 1989.

• 

  A 150mm turret, similar to those installed as secondary batteries aboard Bismarck.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Lindemann
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnther_L%C3%BCtjens

Ships of Germany

Battleships