If you were to ask me, what my favourite diagram is within the book, then I would say that it is the diagram that explains/shows how the Bismarck sunk. Thus, the underwater wreck photos are somewhat on the smaller side/grainy (although not all), but I found that this mattered little - as I found them sufficiently spooky (especially when combined with the artists impressions of the overall wreck of the Bismarck). I use the term basic photos, because at the time of the dive on the Bismarck (1989), the ability to both photograph and video underwater wrecks was in its infancy (at least by today's standards). I have always enjoyed looking at pictures of battleships - and this chapter has more than enough, but with a unique twist: as it compares black and white photos of the past (from previous voyages), together with basic photos of the wreck. My second favourite chapter is - Bismarck, Then and Now.
Contrasted with this, are the thoughts of the Germans on-board Bismarck: which seem to have been at first astonishment, followed quickly by disbelief, followed quickly by transfixing (an inability to act), followed later by thoughts of impending doom - when it became apparent that the British intended to sink the Bismarck at all costs.
After reading this chapter, it's a miracle that there were any survivors at all: one jumped overboard (but got entangled in aerial wires as Hood sunk), another (Ted Briggs) escaped the compass platform/bridge (but was soon dragged under with the pull of the ship) the third was essentially washed through a window - from the highest point on the ship (the spotting top). There are some chilling first hand descriptions of the explosions on-board HMS Hood (as viewed from both the Bismarck, and Prince of Wales) together with some details on how Hood's three survivors survived. This chapter covers the details of the Battle of the Denmark Strait - yes it is about the sinking of HMS Hood, but it also considers the aftermath of the battle (such as the damage that had been done to the Bismarck - especially towards her bow). One of the most interesting battleship books that I have encountered recently, is Robert Ballard's Bismarck: Bismarck - Robert Ballard Iron-sight shows that this wasn't enough (as a torpedo bomber damaged her rudder, and doomed the Bismarck). In any case, Bismarck was 'believed to have' a modern anti-aircraft armament of: sixteen 4.1 inch guns and sixteen 37 mm guns. Bismarck also had an unusual propeller arrangement - with three propellers (most battleships had two or four propellers). Despite this, it is known that Bismarck had a design flaw - whilst her hull form shape was 'reasonably efficient' (for a top speed of 29 knots), her stern was not 'strong enough' (having 'snapped off' when she sunk). Whilst her belt armour was 'slightly thinner' than it could have been (when compared to previous German battleships), her deck armour (of up to 4.7 inches) 'guarded well' against the menace of plunging shell fire.
She was designed to counter the battleship(s) attached to allied convoys (especially those found within the Atlantic). Battleship Bismarck is the 'most known' battleship of them all! She was the Pride of the German Navy (in World War Two), a 45 thousand ton behemoth, armed with eight 15 inch naval guns.
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