Bismarck (Germany)
| Length | 248m / 813.8ft |
| Beam | 36m / 118ft |
| Displacement | 51,714 tonnes / 50,900 tons |
| Crew | 2,092 |
| Armament | Eight 38cm guns Twelve 15cm guns Sixteen 10.5cm guns Twelve 2cm guns A variety of smaller arms |
| Range | 8,410nm |
| Top speed | 30 knots |
Launched in February 1939, Bismarck was armed with eight powerful 38cm guns (equivalent to the British 15in gun) which could fire a 800kg / 1,764lb shell over 35,550 metres / 38,880yd. She was protected by an armoured belt which ran along the waterline of the hull to a thickness of 38cm / 14in.
She was inspected by Hitler after trials and training and started operational missions in May 1941, a drastic month for the battleship. After joining the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, she set off for the Atlantic but was followed by British cruisers. On 24 May the British heavy battle cruiser Hood intercepted and engaged backed up by the battleship Prince of Wales. Hood was sunk and Bismarck was hit three times with 15in shells.
Trying to nurse her way home, Bismarck was eventually spotted from the air on 26 May and the next day British battleships Rodney and King George V intercepted with supporting cruisers. Bismarck was sunk on 27 May.
