The Final Battle of Bismarck: Did She Really Hit Any British Ships?
In the final battle of the Bismarck, the German battleship did not manage to hit a single British ship, despite scoring several damaging near misses and closing straddles on HMS Rodney. This article delves into the accuracy and effectiveness of Bismarck's fire, as well as the factors that ultimately led to her downfall, including mechanical issues and vulnerability to British torpedoes.
Accuracy and Battleship Battles
During her previous engagements, Bismarck displayed impressive accuracy, managing to score a lucky hit on the HMS Hood, which led to the sinking of the British battleship. She also hit HMS Prince of Wales with three shells, reflecting the high level of skill and training of the German crew. However, the final confrontation proved to be different due to several key factors. One of the primary reasons for the shift in effectiveness was the jamming of Bismarck's rudder, which caused the ship to spiral out of control. This maneuvering problem drastically reduced Bismarck's rate of fire and accuracy.
Technical Issues and Disadvantages
The difficulty in maneuvering also affected HMS Warspite, another British battleship, which demonstrated similar issues with its fire control when a 12-inch 305 mm shell from SMS Kaiser caused a rudder jam, leaving the ship similarly out of control. However, the crucial factor in the Bismarck's final battle was its exposed fire control cables above the waterline. These cables, if hit, could disable the main battery fire control, greatly hampering the ship's ability to hit targets effectively.
Downfall and Key Hits
The turning point in the battle came when HMS Ark Royal delivered a critical airstrike, scoring a hit with airdropped torpedoes that crippled Bismarck. This initial blow was the main contribution to her eventual sinking. When Bismarck attempted to fire her main guns, she suffered another significant setback. On her second salvo, HMS Rodney managed to score a hit on Bismarck, severing her main battery fire control cables. This left Bismarck operating on secondary battery fire control for her main guns and on local control after that was disabled, severely hampering her ability to engage the British ships effectively.
Collapse and Final Handling
The final blow came when HMS Rodney's 16-inch 406 mm shell penetrated Bismarck's Bruno turret, leading to the turret's explosion and subsequent flooding of another turret. This drastically reduced the number of guns Bismarck could use effectively, further contributing to her sinking. The combination of mechanical issues, exposed fire control cables, and the devastating torpedoes from HMS Ark Royal proved to be too much for Bismarck to overcome.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Bismarck managed to hit HMS Rodney with several near misses and straddles, she did not achieve any direct hits that would have significantly affected the British ships. The final battle of Bismarck was a testament to the skill and training of both the German and British navies, but ultimately, it was the combination of technical issues and strategic blows that sealed her fate.