Bismarck Scuttling Charges

Hi,

I have often wondered why, with Graf Spee, was the battle caled The Battle of the River Plate?

All the shooting was out at sea.

The harbour was Montivideo.

There is no River Plate.

it is the Rio de la Platte or Silver River.

Regards

 

Hi

This may well help in understanding your queries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_de_la_Plata

Regards

 

Thank you for the links, Andy H.

Makes it a bit clearer.

History is written by the Victor.

Regards

 

Report by Lt Cmdr Wellings USN attached RN (HMS Rodney) the Bismarck:


https://archive.org/stream/onhismajestysser00well#page/188/mode/2up

 

Hi again,

I have been watching James Cameron's Bismarck DVD and I have one question.

What side, near the rudders, was Bismarck hit by a torpedo.

On the DVD the hole near the rudders is on the Port side.

Or did the explosion cause the effect.

Regards

 

Ark Royal's report said 'starboard quarter' for the critical torpedo hit - though I think I've seen diagrams showing it coming from the port side. If it did, I suppose it's possible for it to have missed the port rudder, crossed under the stern and exploded against the starboard rudder, so that the water column showed starboard. But by all accounts the stern damage seems to have been so severe as to suggest a hull hit at or near the rudder bearing mount.

Regards,
MikB

 

Just found Cameron's analysis. Can't seem to paste a link, but if you Google "Bismarck torpedo damage" you'll find a pdf of 'The Wreck of DKM Bismarck - A Marine Forensics Analysis' under www.navalengineers.org - take a look at pages 13 - 14 for something a bit more authoritative.

Regards,
MikB

 

Hi all,

Found what I was after.

I should have thought to 'google' it first.

Regards

 

Admiralty report 1946 - Armour German ships:

http://www.admirals.org.uk/records/adm/adm213/adm213-378.php


RN Armour and other: Approx immunity ranges for chance vital hit in magazine - written 1939!


http://www.admirals.org.uk/records/adm/adm239/adm239-268.php

 

Rickles23's diagram is the one I've seen, showing the kipper coming from port and exploding against the hull about midway between rudders. Not sure how that squares with Ark Royal's report of a probable hit starboard quarter, but from Cameron's report it appears the damage to the starboard rudder was the more severe, and brought it into collision with the central propeller.

Regards,
MikB

 

Hi MikB,

In Bob Ballard's book 'The Discovery of the Bismarck' on Page 112:

"Two Swordfish approaching on Bismarck's Port Side"

Mind you, knowing the Royal Navy as I do, after many years of researching my Late Father's wartime ship, I would always double check their accuracy.

Regards

 

Imagine His Majesty's Navy were going nowhere until she had sunk:




http://www.hmshood.com/history/denmarkstrait/resource.htm