Bismarck (ship)
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The Bismarck was the most modern, most beautiful and most powerful warship of its time. The Bismarck had only one mission. This mission was called "Rheinübung". Nearly 3.500 seamen lost their life in the battle which last around 8 days.
[edit] Technics
The whole ship with all the oil reserves had a weight of 53.165 tons. It had a length of around 250 meters and the width was 25 meters. The ship had eight 38 cm canons which were named as the heavy artillery. The light ones were twelve 15 cm canons. Against aircrafts the ship had several FLAK canons. The plating of the Bismarck was very impressive for its times but for us today too. The thickest plating was around the heavy artillery. It was 36cm thick.
[edit] Operation "Rheinübung"
First the Bismarck had to reach the open sea because there it would not have an enemy which can win against this huge battleship. The first problem the Bismarck had was how to pass the English Island. It took the way near the Fjords. There it met the other German ship "Prinz Eugen". Both ships reached the open sea in the "Dänemarkstrasse". The English Headship "Hood" was sent to sink the Bismarck. The "Hood" lost this battle. The "Hood" was more than a ship for the British military leaders. It was kind of a myth. So the British Navy sent a huge amount of ships to hunt the Bismarck. There were some cruisers, many battleships and some aircraft-carriers. There was a very dramatic hunt. Finally they sink the Bismarck.