Battleship Bismarck and Tirpitz

Hilfskreuzer

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Battleship Bismarck

Armour Layout
Bismarck

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Notice that the figures are in millimeters
Codes of color explanation
	See the figures on the drawing	80 mm	145 mm
	320 mm	170 mm	60 mm

38 cm Turrets Armour Layout
Bismarck	Tirpitz


Notice that the figures are in millimeters

15 cm Turrets Armour Layout
Middle Turret	End Turret

Notice that the figures are in millimeters

On the morning of 27 May Admiral Tovey manoeuvred his squadron so that it would approach from the west and have the target silhouetted by the morning light. The battleships, King George V and Rodney, sailed in line abreast about 550 meter (600 yards) apart toward the last reported position of the enemy. Steering on a meandering course at 7 knots, finally came into view to the south-east at about 0843 and at a range of about 23,000 meters (25,000 yards). As soon as the enemy was sighted, the Rodney peeled off to port and headed on a more easterly course to engage separately as prearranged.

At 0847, the final battle began as the Rodney opened fire. King George V opened fire at 0848. The distance was about 20,000 meters (22,000 yards). At 0849, the Bismarck opened fire against the Rodney.

At 0854, the heavy cruiser Norfolk opened fire. At 0902, the Battleship Bismarck was hit for the first time.

At 0904, the heavy cruiser Dorsetshire opened fire.

At 0908, the forward range finder and turrets A (Anton) and B (Bruno) were put out of action. Therefore, on board the fire control was shifted to the after command post, until this station was also put out of action at about 0913.

At 0913, the Bismarck's after command post went out of action.

At 0931, fired her last salvo. At 0912 - 1016, the Battleship Bismarck received multiple hits at point blank range between 2,500 (2,700 yards) and 4,000 meters (4,400 yards), but was still afloat. By 0920, the range had come down to 14,000 meter (15,000 yards) for the King George V and 9,000 meter (10,000 yards) for the Rodney. At 0921, turret D (Dora) was put out of action after one of its own shells exploded inside the right barrel. At 0927, turret A (Anton) and B (Bruno) surprisingly fired one last salvo. At 0931 turret C (Caesar) fired its last salvo.

battleship, battlecruiser, cruiser, pocket-battleship and other ships of the german Kriegsmarine like

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Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Admiral Scheer, Graf Spee, Luetzow, Prinz Eugen, Admiral Hipper, Bluecher, Seydlitz