The Bismarck Battleship Was a 50,000 Ton ‘Paper Tiger’

Much ink has been spilled over the Pacific battles between the United States and Japan during the Second World War. However, the general population often forgets the naval Battles in Europe. The Bismarck battleship, one of the most famous warships of World War II, has a storied and dramatic history. Launched in 1939, the Bismarck was the pride of the German Kriegsmarine and at the time signified the pinnacle of Nazi Germany’s war machine.

However, this battleship was destined to be sunk by the Allies, with some calling it the ultimate ‘paper tiger’ warship. 

Bismarck: Building a Leviathan Naval Warship 

The Bismarck was named after the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, a key figure in the unification of Germany. The ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg on July 1, 1936, and launched on February 14, 1939. It was commissioned into the Kriegsmarine on August 24, 1940.

The Bismarck was a formidable vessel, measuring 251 meters in length and displacing over 50,000 tons when fully loaded. It was powered by three Blohm & Voss geared steam turbines, which allowed it to reach a top speed of 30 knots (approximately 56 km/h).

The ship’s primary armament consisted of eight 38 cm (15 in) SK C/34 guns mounted in four twin turrets, which could fire shells weighing up to 800 kg over a range of 36 kilometers. Additionally, the Bismarck was equipped with twelve 15 cm (5.9 in) secondary guns, sixteen 10.5 cm (4.1 in) anti-aircraft guns, and numerous smaller caliber weapons.

The Bismarck Sets Sail

After its commissioning, the Bismarck underwent sea trials and training exercises in the Baltic Sea. Its first and only major mission, Operation Rheinübung, began in May 1941. The objective of this mission was to break out into the Atlantic Ocean and disrupt Allied shipping lanes, thereby cutting off supplies to Britain.

The Bismarck was accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. On May 18, 1941, the two ships set sail from Gotenhafen (now Gdynia, Poland) and headed towards the North Atlantic. The British Royal Navy, aware of the threat posed by the Bismarck, closely monitored its movements.

The Battle of the Denmark Strait

On May 24, 1941, the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen encountered the British battlecruiser HMS Hood and the battleship HMS Prince of Wales in the Denmark Strait. The ensuing battle was fierce and brief. The Bismarck’s superior firepower and accuracy quickly became evident. Within minutes, the Bismarck’s shells struck the Hood, causing a massive explosion that sank the British battlecruiser, resulting in the loss of all but three of its crew.

The Prince of Wales continued to engage the Bismarck but suffered significant damage and was forced to withdraw. However, the Bismarck did not emerge unscathed; it sustained damage to its fuel tanks, which would later prove to be a critical vulnerability.

The Sinking of the Bismark

Following the battle, the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen separated, with the Bismarck heading towards occupied France for repairs. The British Royal Navy launched a relentless pursuit, determined to prevent the Bismarck from reaching safety.

On May 26, 1941, British aircraft from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal launched a torpedo attack on the Bismarck. One of the torpedoes struck the ship’s stern, jamming its rudder and rendering it nearly impossible to steer. This critical hit slowed the Bismarck and made it an easier target for the pursuing British fleet.

The final battle took place on the morning of May 27, 1941. The British battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney, along with cruisers and destroyers, engaged the Bismarck in a brutal and relentless bombardment. Despite its formidable armor and firepower, the Bismarck was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of fire.

After several hours of intense fighting, the Bismarck was reduced to a burning wreck.

At 10:39 AM, the order was given to scuttle the ship to prevent it from being captured. The Bismarck sank, taking with it over 2,000 of its crew. Only 114 survivors were rescued by British ships.

Discovery and Legacy of the Battleship Bismarck 

The sinking of the Bismarck marked the end of one of the most dramatic naval pursuits in the European theatre. The loss of the Bismarck was a significant blow to the Kriegsmarine and a symbolic victory for the Allies. The ship’s brief but impactful service left a lasting legacy in naval history.

However, to this day, many naval experts say the warship was a waste of resources that could have been uses elsewhere, hence, why many consider the warship a failure. 

For decades, the exact location of the Bismarck’s wreck remained a mystery. In 1989, American oceanographer Robert Ballard, who had previously discovered the wreck of the Titanic, located the Bismarck at a depth of approximately 4,791 meters (15,719 feet) in the Atlantic Ocean. The discovery provided valuable insights into the ship’s final moments and confirmed that it had been scuttled by its crew.

The Bismarck battleship remains an iconic symbol of naval warfare and engineering prowess. Its construction, brief service, and dramatic sinking continue to captivate historians and naval enthusiasts alike.

Battleship Bismarck. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The story of the Bismarck is a testament to the technological advancements and strategic challenges of naval warfare during World War II, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict.

About the Author: 

Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.