Bismarck sunk 27th may 1941.

[Woodlouse2002]

At 1036 hours of the morning of May 27th 1941, with all of her primary and secondary armament destroyed and reduced to a burning hulk, Bismarck sank taking the lives of 1921 men.

This was the climax of a naval battle that lasted over twelve hours between the battleship Bismark, the battleship HMS King George V and the battleship HMS Rodney.

Only 119 of the crew of 2040 survived.


Also on this day in 1915 the pre-dreadnaught Majestic was torpedoed and sunk in the Darnanelles.

[Felix/FFDS]

The sinking of the Majestic in the Dardanelles, was another nail in the professional coffin of the First Sea Lord at the time, one W. Churchill.

(Read the book "Castles of Steel" for an interesting account of naval operations in the First World War.)

[ozzy72]

Puts me in mind of a song my great-uncle used to sing (he was an Anzac);
Bugger the Rodney,
And bugger the Hood
Bloody great battleships,
No bloody good!

[Craig.]

LOL thats a great one

Thank you for the reminder on the Bismark

[Woodlouse2002]

And bugger the Hood
Bloody great battleships,
No bloody good!

They don't half look fantastic though.

[ozzy72]

Yes but one considers the tonnage a triffle excessive for a fishing boat Unless one is fishing for a Japanese deli

[Woodlouse2002]

Could be the ultimate weapon for mugging though...

That same night a muffled battleship sailed silently up the thames to the pool of London, carefully aimed its guns, and as dawn broke... "Hands up England! Your money or your life!"