German battleship Bismarck destroyed according to the Dutch newspaper Nieuwe Apeldoornsche courant dated 27 May 1941

German battleship Bismarck, Maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany

British battlecruiser HMS Hood. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

British King George V-class battleships. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item dated Berlin, Germany 27th reported that the German battleship Bismarck (1) which destroyed earlier the British battle cruiser Hood (2) and damaging the British battleship King George (3) was herself damaged by a hit in the fore ship reducing her speed. On the 24th was she hit by a torpedo launched by a torpedo bomber and was her speed further reduced. On the 26th of a distance of 400 nautical miles west of Brest, France was she around 21.00 o’clock hit again by 2 torpedoes launched by torpedo bombers destroying rudder and screws. At 23.42 o’clock received admiral Lütjens a report that the Bismarck was uncontrollable but that she would fight until the end. In the morning of the 27th she sunk.

Notes

1. Part of Bismarck-class fast battleships preceded by Scharnhorst-class succeeded by planned H-class. Laid down by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany on 1 July 1936, launched on 14 February 1939, commissioned on 24 August 1940 and scuttled after being severe damaged in battling the British fleet in the North Sea on 27 May 1941.

2. Nicknamed Mighty Hood. Pennant 51. Her building at the shipyard of John Brown&Company was ordered on 7 April 1916, laid down on 1 September, launched on 22 August 1918, commissioned on 15 May 1920 as world largest warship, sunk on 24 May 1941 during her battle with the German battleship Bismarck. The only one of the four projected Admiral class battle cruisers caused by an insufficient design despite the modifications after the Battle of Jutland (31 May-1 June 1916).

3. Laid down by Vickers-Armstrong, Walker Naval Yard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England on 1 January 1937, launched on 21 February 1939, commissioned on 11 December 1940, involved in the battle with the German battleship Bismarck on 26-27 May 1941, training vessel since December 1946, part of the moth ball fleet since June 1950, laid up in extended reserve in December 1955, decided to be broken up in 1957 which started in 1958 at Dalmuir, Scotland by Arnott Young. King George V-class consisted of the King George V, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Howe and Anson, preceded by the Nelson-class and succeeded by the Vanguard and by the never realized Lion-class.