May 27, 1941 the German battleship Bismarck was sunk by the Royal Navy. Just three days after sinking the HMS Hood and after one of the greatest sea chases in history, the British caught up with the Bismarck, whose rudder had been jammed in an air attack from HMS Ark Royal and was not able to maneuver or escape. Only able to steer in circles, Bismarck was pummeled by the ships of Force H, King George V, Rodney, Norfolk and Dorsetshire. The battle lasted almost two hours with the Rodney firing the first shots.

Bismarck's Captain, Ernst Lindemann, ordered the valves opened and the scuttling charges armed. The charges exploded around 10:00. After this Bismarck was hit by three torpedoes fired by the Dorsetshire, and finally sank at about 10:30. Of the 2,221 members of the crew only 115 survived, 110 were picked up by the Dorsetshire and Maori, a U-boat rescued three others later in the day and a German weather ship picked up the final two the following day.

The wreck of the Bismarck remained in the dark until Dr. Robert Ballard located her on June 8, 1989.

Bismarck