Drawing by Logan U. Reavis (1887, Saint Louis, USA, 1 June 1958 (Hempstead, USA).(1)
Model Bismarck maritime Museum Hamburg, Germany
Reavis wrote that torpedoes were able to damage rudder and proper in such manner that ships became inmaneuverable or even were disableded although still further being in fighting condition. He referred to what happened with the German battleship Bismarck. Ships were in the future to be fitted out with emergency jet propulsion in such incidents providing high pressure water streams aft allowing steering and moving.
The German battleship Bismarck, laid down by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany on 1 July 1936, left Gotenhafen (Gdynia, Poland) on 19 May 1941 trying to reach the Atlantic Ocean together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen,on 24 May they became involved in the Battle of the Denmark Strait against the British battle cruiser HMS Hood and battleship Prince of Wales ending in the destruction of HMS Hood. Although the HMS Prince of Wales was forced to leave the scene was also the Bismarck damaged and decided to go to France for repairs. On 26 May managed torpedo bombers to damage both rudders of which the port rudder could not be repaired but sstayed jammed making her inmanoeuvrable and just able to steam in a large circle. The next day she was scuttled by her own crew.
Note
1. He was an industrial and marine working as illustrator and writers for newspapers but also for the United States Lines and other shipbuilding related industry. In the 1950s he made promotional maps and brochures to celebrate the passenger ship ss United States which won the Blue Riband in 1932.
Source
‘The shape of ships to come’ in: The navy of the Future, The Collier’s, 13 March 1943.
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