After coming to power of Hitler Germany secretly started construction of large ships. In the late thirties, it has been developed so-called plan «Z», according to which the Germans were going to build eight battleships, five heavy cruisers, four aircraft carriers and 12 cruisers smaller tonnage. "Nails" of the program to become the battleship "Bismarck" and "Tirpitz". Anglo-German agreement on naval armaments of 1935 g. It allowed Germany to build two 35 000-ton battleship, but its displacement "Bismarck" and "Tirpitz" exceeds the set limit.
German battleship “Bismarck” – video
Structurally, the "Bismarck" is largely based on the German battleship of the "Baden" World War I era, which affected the process of creating new projects of ships. So, some vital components, such as rudders, steering, radio and other means of communication, They were virtually no armor protection. Poor artillery shells of the "Bismarck", many of which did not explode. Meanwhile battleship conceived as raider, in which the task is not to collisions with ships KVMF in the usual sea battle. For the same purpose, for which it was created, it fits perfectly. He was fired at glory, well armed, It equipped with modern fire-control equipment and could carry six seaplanes reconnaissance "Arado» Ar 196.
Its 15-inch. (381-mm) artillery major caliber corresponded to adopt modern French and Italian battleships. "Bismarck" was laid 1 June 1936 city, launched 14 February 1939 g. and 24 August 1940 g. He was commissioned and subsequently played a prominent role in World War II.
K I 1941 g. he, along with the cruiser "Prinz Eugen" I have already acted in the North Atlantic, but it was his first swimming destined to do and the last. The battleship had not yet managed to track down a single allied convoy, when most of his scouts discovered KVMF. Pursued by the courts of the Home Fleet, it is thanks to the art of his gun gunners sank the British heavy cruiser "Hood". Taking off into the air after the guns "Bismarck", "Hood" was one of the biggest losses, incurred by the British Navy during the Second World War - it was saved only three of 1500 Teammate.
"Bismarck" tried to reach the coast of France, but it was re-discovered and underwent torpedo attack "Suordfish" aircraft aboard the British aircraft carrier "Ark Royal". As a result, flying torpedo struck the ship in one of the most vulnerable places. After which it, already with damaged rudders, attacked the British battleships "King George V» and "Rodney". In the end 27 May 1941 g. German battleship sank, torpedoed by a British cruiser "Dorsetshire". Loss of "Bismarck" made a great impression on the leadership of Germany. The relatively small surface fleet of the country was taken to safer waters in the future has not played a significant role in the war at sea.
The performance characteristics of the battleship "Bismarck"
| Displacement | standard 41 700 t; full 50 900 t |
| main dimensions | length (overall) 248 m; width (at the waterline) 35,99 m; draft 8,68 m |
| Power plant | 12 boilers of Wagner, three turbine type Bloem und Voss total capacity 138 000 hp, rotating three propellers |
| full speed | 29 with. |
| booking | the thickness of the belt from bead 317 mm 266 mm; deck 50 mm; armored deck from 119 mm 89 mm; torpedo install 44 mm; the towers of the main fire from guns 368 mm 178 mm; towers of mine guns from 102 mm 38 mm |
| weaponry | eight 15-inch. (381-mm) guns of the main caliber, 12 – 6-inch. (152-mm) and 16 - 4.1-inch. (105-mm) universal tools, 15 – 37-mm 12 – 20-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns, four to six aircraft |
| Command | 2092 man |
Photo sunken German battleship "Bismarck" at the bottom of the ocean
