Battle of the Denmark Strait, KMS Bismarck Returns Fire

Battle of the Denmark Strait,
KMS Bismarck Returns Fire
24 May 1941
by
Marii Chernev
At 0555 hrs, after being fired upon for over 3 minutes without a reply, the Bismarck unleashed her first salvo against the British Battlecruiser HMS Hood. The first salvo fell short, however the Prinz Eugen's fire scored hits along the mainmast of the Hood that caused severe fires along her deck extending to her funnel. At 0600, the Hood and Prince of Wales commenced a 20 degree turn to port in order to bring their rear turrets around and place them into action. At this time, at a range of 18,236 yards, the fifth salvo from the Bismarck found its mark. At least one shell found its way thru the armored belt and exploded in the Hood's magazine. The German observers onboard the Bismarck were awestruck by the enormity of the resultant explosion. The Hood, the Mighty Hood, pride of the Royal Navy and for over 20 years the largest warship in the world split in two and sank in three minutes. Of a crew of over 1,416 men, only three survived. Immediately after the sinking of the Hood, Bismarck turned it's attention to the HMS Prince of Wales. Hitting the bridge of the P of W, Bismarck was clearly at the advantage in this engagement. At 0603, the Prince of Wales initiated a smoke screen and retreated from combat. At 0609, the Bismarck fired its final salvo.*
Due to damage from hits scored by the Prince of Wales, Bismarck found that a significant oil leak developed that severely impacted her ability to carry out its primary mission. The resultant damage forced Admiral Lutzens to make a hard choice, continue the mission or return to a friendly port for necessary repairs. Lutzens choice of sailing to the French port of St. Nazairre led to the greatest ship to ship engagement in World War II. For the British, "Remember the Hood" became the battle cry of the Royal Navy. The hunt for the Bismarck took a new and desperate tone. They had to "Sink the Bismarck".
Available as a limited edition fine art print, each print is signed by Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg, the sole surviving officer of the Bismarck.

300 S/N prints: $150.00[Order] [Checkout]
30 Artists Proofs: $175.00[Order] [Checkout]
10 Giclees on Canvas $1,000.00[Order] [Checkout]
What is a Giclee'
Click here
$10.00 S&H on each order
Print Size 30" x 24"
Original Oil Painting 24" x 36"
Sold
*The above narrative is from the KBismarck.com website.

Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg is a former German naval officer, lawyer, and ambassador. Born in Spandau into a family where the profession of arms was an established tradition, he entered the navy of the Weimar Republic in 1929. After service in a variety of ships and as assistant naval attaché at the German Embassy in London, he was assigned to the Bismarck in May 1940. A year later he became the senior officer to survive her sinking.
In 1952, after spending time as a prisoner of war and earning a law degree, the baron joined the diplomatic service of the Federal Republic of Germany. He served as consul general in Toronto and as ambassador the West Indies, Zaire, and Tanzania.

Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg
Passes Away.