May 24, 1941 The Bismarck sinks HMS Hood

[H]

I tend to edge towards Scania on this Woody (as a possibility, not necessarily a probability); your information even points to it. Even had he "steamed out straight into Hood and Ark Royal," he would yet have had the expectancy of having time to safely   (  ;D ) scuttle.

8)

[dcunning30]

Again, imo, I believe he was'nt a true Nazi and did'nt desire to continue the fight with the british, a people whom he greatly respected.

Lots of professional military men who weren't Nazi believers fought, not for National Socializm, but for their country.

I haven't studied these events in such detail as you, but what I have read tends to be the account Woodlouse stated.  Hindsight is 20/20, but at the time, I belive Langsdorf was led to believe a British task force was en route to deal with the Graf Spee.

[mrjake2002]

The Bismarck was eventually sunk by a Swordfish formation. The Swordfish were carrying torpedos; it is thought that a lucky shot disabled the rudder, leaving the Bismarck virtually immobile. Other British ships went for the kill.