Killing the Bismarck

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In May 1941, the German battleship Bismarck, alongside heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, launched an attack on Allied shipping in the Atlantic. The Royal Navy's pursuit and eventual destruction of Bismarck became a defining moment in naval warfare. This gripping account draws on vivid eyewitness testimonies from veterans, primarily focusing on the British battleships, cruisers, and destroyers involved. The narrative captures the intense atmosphere as cruisers engage in a perilous game of cat and mouse while shadowing Bismarck in the frigid Denmark Strait. The shocking destruction of the British battle cruiser Hood, which resulted in the loss of nearly her entire crew, ignited a fierce desire for revenge among the pursuing Royal Navy vessels, including the battered Prince of Wales. As Swordfish torpedo-bombers attempt to cripple Bismarck, destroyers embark on daring torpedo attacks amidst treacherous seas. The climax unfolds in a final showdown, where battleships Rodney and King George V, supported by cruisers Norfolk and Dorsetshire, ultimately bring down Hitler's pride. This meticulously researched narrative presents the saga through the eyes of 'ordinary sailors' caught in extraordinary circumstances, vividly illustrating the horror and majesty of war at sea.