Why Did Bismarck Sink?
Battleships / World War 2
There are several factors that contributed to Bismarck’s ultimate defeat by the Royal Navy.
The battleship Bismarck was a special vessel for a number of reasons. It was the flagship of the German navy during World War II and was one of the largest and most powerful battleships ever built. It was also one of the most technologically advanced ships of its time, with state-of-the-art weapons and armor.
Bismarck was a German battleship that was commissioned in 1940. It was 823 feet long and had a displacement of about 50,000 tons. It was armed with eight 15-inch guns, twelve 5.9-inch guns, sixteen 4.1-inch guns, and numerous smaller guns and anti-aircraft weapons. Furthermore, it also had a top speed of about 30 knots (about 35 mph) and was equipped with armor that was up to 13 inches thick in some places.
One major factor contributing to the eventual demise of Bismarck was the lack of air support.
As a result of this lack of air support, Bismarck found herself vulnerable to the Royal Navy’s Fairey Swordfish torpedo plane. As a result of a hit sustained to the rudder Bismarck would find itself unable to maneuver. Unfortunately for the ship’s fate, battleship Bismarck did not have the means to repair its damaged rudder while at sea. Japan’s legendary Battleship Yamato would also find itself with a lack of air support which led to her demise much later in the war.
Additionally, the Bismarck’s crew was outnumbered and outgunned by the Royal Navy, and the ship itself was not as heavily armed or armored as some of the other battleships in the Royal Navy’s fleet.
Bismarck needed the air support that the Royal Navy or US Navy had for its fleet. Germany had a minimal Navy and its Air Force was also lacking and many historians feel the steel used on Bismarck and Tirpitz should have gone to more U-boats, planes or Tiger tanks.
On paper the battleship Bismarck had a good anti-aircraft defense for its time.
It was equipped with guns theoretically effective against low-flying aircraft. The ship also had a number of smaller anti-aircraft guns, including 2 cm (0.79 in) and 3.7 cm (1.5 in) guns. The ship’s anti-aircraft defense was further enhanced by the presence of numerous 20 mm and 37 mm guns.
However in reality many reports conclude these guns functioned poorly and had horrible accuracy. Some historians have asserted the Bismarck’s gunners shot at the water to create havoc for the attacking planes due to the continual terrible aim of their guns.
The crew itself was not an issue.
Kriegsmarine placed a strong emphasis on training and discipline, and it is likely that the crew of the Bismarck received extensive training in their duties and in the operation of the ship.
Bismarck’s armor might not have been as amazing as the PR campaigns of the German government would make some believe. But they were still extremely strong and impressive for their time. Bismarck’s armor was designed to be more effective at resisting attacks from long-range guns, which was a key factor in its construction.
For more reading on Bismarck’s armor see our piece: Battleship Bismarck & Her Armor Protection : An Extensive Analysis
In the days following the sinking of the Hood, the Royal Navy launched a pursuit of the Bismarck, deploying a number of its own battleships and aircraft carriers to hunt down the German vessel. After a series of skirmishes and attacks, the Royal Navy was able to inflict serious damage on the Bismarck, including disabling its rudder, which made it difficult for the ship to maneuver.
On May 27, the Royal Navy was able to deliver a final, decisive blow to the Bismarck when it launched a series of torpedo attacks against the disabled battleship. The torpedoes hit the Bismarck’s hull, causing it to sink beneath the waves. The majority of the crew was able to abandon ship before it went down. However, the British had to abandon their attempts to save the crew when a U-boat warning occurred forcing the Royal Navy to vacate the area. The fact that the Royal Navy worked so hard to rescue survivors is a piece of history often overlooked.
The battleship Bismarck did not have its own air support.
Despite, the Luftwaffe’s impressive numbers. The Luftwaffe’ s strength at peak stood at 373,000 personnel (208,000 flying troops, 107,000 in the Flak Corps and 58,000 in the Signals Corps). Aircraft strength was 4,201 operational aircraft: 1,191 bombers, 361 dive bombers, 788 fighters, 431 heavy fighters, and 488 transports. However, where was Bismarck’s air support? When Yamato found itself fatally attacked by hundreds of US planes, the Japanese mistakenly sent what would have been its air cover to another area in the war theater. Mistakenly leaving their “queen” exposed on the board. A similar “chess” mistake by Germany. Bismarck like Yamato was very much an idol of the people and a propaganda piece. Japan at least worked harder to protect their ship for most of the war. Germany sent Bismarck out lacking proper support and protection.
A combined arms warfare is without a doubt the superior method of fighting. See our piece: Combined Arms: What is the role of a tank?
It was a surface warship designed for naval combat and did not have the capacity to carry or operate aircraft. However, it could potentially have received air support from other aircraft carriers or land-based aircraft in the event that it was operating as part of a larger naval task force.
Entering the battleship arena was a mistake for Germany.
A waste of resources, manpower & momentum.
The sinking of the Bismarck was a major victory for the Royal Navy and a significant setback for the German navy, as the Bismarck had been one of its most formidable vessels. The sinking of the Bismarck was a key moment in the naval war in the Atlantic and had a lasting impact on the course of World War II.
Despite its brief career, the Bismarck remains a legendary warship in naval history and possesses an almost religious-like cult following around the world.
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