battleship "Bismarck" was produced in 1939 in Hamburg.Booking the main belt of the ship was 320 mm.In 1940, tests were completed vessel.It was the strongest and most powerful in the Reich.Some experts believe that among the ships of the line at that time was the most formidable battleship "Bismarck".Photos captured a large and powerful ship (even by today's standards).In the late spring of 1941 the battleship went to his first trip to the North Atlantic.The aim was to sink merchant ships to partially block the maritime trade routes between Britain and the United States.
Soon British reconnaissance aircraft found the battleship "Bismarck" anchored in a port in Norway.British Admiralty fitted out a squadron of warships against the German battleship.The next day the British battle cruisers "Prince of Wales" and "Hood" met the battleship "Bismarck" with another powerful German ship - a heavy cruiser "Prinz Eugen" and squadron support between Greenland and Iceland."Hood" gave several volleys of "Prinz Eugen" and "Prince of Wales" was shooting on the "Bismarck", but the British did not have enough accuracy.Answer the German courts did not wait.The result of it was the sunken cruiser "Hood" and badly damaged "Prince of Wales", which miraculously managed to escape.The battleship "Bismarck" also received significant damage.Vessel speed dropped to 28 knots, lost a lot of fuel, which subsequently played him a disservice.
British authorities to the loss of his ship reacted very painfully.It is regarded as a defeat of the Empire.And even Churchill was furious and sent two aircraft carriers and four battle cruisers to escort ships to drown "Bismarck".The battleship did not have to leave, because then Germany started to blow the whole world about the weakness of Britain.Soon it was discovered and attacked by torpedo aircraft.The damage was slight.However, the British learned the connection rate of the enemy - the battleship "Bismarck" went to Brest.However, he managed to break away and hide from the English connection.But soon one of the planes found the fuel-oil track that left the battleship due to damage and leakage.The aircraft carrier "Ark Royal" held a successful torpedo attack, by which managed to jam the rudder German ship in the same position that deprived him of the ability to maneuver.
morning of May twenty-seventh British ships caught up and attacked the battleship "Bismarck".In a short time the vessel has received so many hits that the crew was ordered to leave.Early destruction of the most powerful German battleship shocked Hitler.His plan for the war against the British maritime trade has completely failed.Drowning "Bismarck" announced a quality revolution in the Navy.Since battleships never been at sea a formidable force, which had been before.Of consummate predators ships of this class have become a victim of submarines and aircraft.The leading position of the sea began to occupy more and more carriers.
