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Downloaded from
YTS.BZ
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May 1941.
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.BZ
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The world's biggest and
deadliest warship,
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the Bismarck, roams the seas.
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00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,400
Its mission -
to cripple Allied shipping.
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Its first victim, HMS Hood,
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is sunk in just eight minutes.
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We couldn't believe it.
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Just couldn't believe it.
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There were only three survivors.
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This is a devastating blow
to the Allies.
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Hood had been the pride
of the Royal Navy.
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00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,560
So, to lose her quite so suddenly
was a very great shock, indeed.
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What follows is one of the biggest
hunt-and-destroy missions
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in naval history.
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Course 1-3-5.
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Coast to intercept, 1-3-5.
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Using never-before-seen testimony
from the veterans of the British
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fleet who took part in the battle...
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It was getting hit regularly.
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There was smoke, there was fire,
there was...oh, God.
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I was scared, certainly.
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You'd be a fool not to be.
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Take nothing away from the Germans,
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their gunnery was out of
this world, really.
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..and powerful recreations
of the battle.
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We would be straddled
with 15-inch shells.
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And then, it was up smoke and
out as fast as we could go.
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It was quite a day
you'll never forget.
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You'll never forget the date,
you know, the 27th. Never.
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This is the story of
the dramatic final 24 hours
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of the German battleship Bismarck.
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It's 1941.
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Germany's Navy is destroying
thousands of tonnes of merchant
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shipping carrying essential
supplies to Britain.
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There was a major threat
to shipping in the Atlantic.
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There were several East-West
convoys in the Atlantic.
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00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,480
Hitler's plan is to win the war
by starving the Allies.
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00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,840
The convoys were being
destroyed so easily,
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00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,440
and so badly...
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..that England was hungry.
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00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,720
In fact, we were almost on
the point of suing for peace
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because we were so hungry.
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Two massive German battleships,
the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau,
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are already decimating convoys.
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Scharnhorst and Gneisenau rampaged
around the North Atlantic,
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off to Africa.
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Came back, they sank 270,000
tonnes and sank 48 vessels.
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Now, the Nazis unleashed the mighty
Bismarck into the Atlantic.
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41,700 tonnes, 241 metres long.
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It is armed with eight 15-inch guns.
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It has a range of nearly
10,000 miles,
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and has a top speed of 30 knots -
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faster than any British warship.
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It's the most formidable
battleship yet built.
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And for this mission,
it's accompanied by
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the light cruiser Prinz Eugan.
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00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,280
Their first target is HMS Hood.
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The Hood could do little
against such might.
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Bismarck landed a 15-inch hit under
the armour belt of the vessel.
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That penetrated an
ammunition magazine aft at
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the back of the ship.
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This then detonated,
and there was a chain explosion
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all the way through the ship
that tore Hood apart.
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In just eight minutes,
the British ship is lost,
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along with the loss of 1,415 crew.
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00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,880
Hood had been a flagship
of British naval supremacy.
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So, when that vessel was destroyed
in a matter of minutes,
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it was profound.
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The terrible news reaches Britain.
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Hood had been the pride
of the Royal Navy.
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00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:07,080
So, to lose her quite so suddenly
was a very great shock, indeed.
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00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,160
The British Navy acts quickly and,
within hours, the carrier
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HMS Victorious locates the Bismarck
and launches its torpedo bombers
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in a desperate attack
on the battleship.
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But they were up against one
of Germany's finest commanders,
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Admiral Gunter Lutjens.
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He's considered by his
contemporaries to be the ablest,
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most logical and shrewd Admiral
in the German Navy.
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Gunter Lutjens is
a formidable commander.
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He oversaw Operation Berlin
as an Atlantic raider,
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sinking 22 Allied merchant ships,
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and commanded the battle fleet
during the invasion
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of Denmark and Norway.
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The British didn't really have an
idea what he was going to do next.
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Was he going to prey on the convoys
which were in the Atlantic?
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Was he going to turn back
towards Norway, like some of
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the raiders had done?
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00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,160
Or was he going to make for
France, like the Scharnhorst
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and the Gneisenau?
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The valiant torpedo bombers
scored one hit,
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but failed to disable Bismarck.
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Barely 24 hours after
the sinking of the Hood,
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amid mountainous seas and
poor visibility,
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Admiral Lutjens slips the hounds
on his trail.
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So, once again,
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Bismarck is on the loose.
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Churchill orders the Royal Navy
to find Bismarck.
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There were two ways, really,
that the Royal Navy could track her.
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By sending out an aircraft
that would search a
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particular area of sea,
and spotting her with the eyeball,
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00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,200
or a ship escorting a convoy,
or out there patrolling on the hunt
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for her might see her coming
over the horizon.
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00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,000
The hunt is on.
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00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,200
The Women's Royal Navy Service
intercepts wireless messages
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sent from a German warship
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to its naval headquarters -
and Hitler.
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Lutjens had verbal diarrhoea.
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He couldn't stop sending
these wireless messages.
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The Wrens identified Bismarck
as the source.
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We'd already identified
to the person who the sender was
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of that wireless message,
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and that enabled us to get
bearings on Bismarck.
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They decided that Bismarck had
to be going to the South East.
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00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,800
So, that meant that Royal Air Force
Coastal Command aircraft was sent
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00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,040
out to search certain areas of sea.
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Using this information,
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00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,120
an RAF Catalina reconnaissance
plane is sent to confirm
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00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,040
the German warship,
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00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,360
around 690 miles to
the west of Brest.
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00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,720
The discovery of Bismarck
seals its fate.
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It only has 24 hours left to live.
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00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,200
The Admiralty orders warships
across the Atlantic to converge
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on Bismarck's position.
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Sailing up from Gibraltar
is Force H,
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a battle fleet that includes the
aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.
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00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,200
Coming down from the north
is the Home Fleet,
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00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:55,400
led by Admiral John Tovey
aboard HMS King George V.
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He commands the British forces
hunting Bismarck.
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00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:04,560
Tovey is a classic example of the,
sort of, product that the Royal Navy
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produced from the start
of the century.
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He's solid, he's dependable,
his professionally very adept.
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00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,280
Among the vessels seeking to join
the home fleet in Confront Bismarck
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00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,240
is the battleship HMS Rodney,
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commanded by Captain
Dalrymple-Hamilton.
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Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton was from
a distinguished military family
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of Scottish aristocrats who knew
the Bowes-Lyon family well,
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and indeed, Dalrymple-Hamilton
had known Queen Elizabeth
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since childhood.
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To the south,
Force H is approximately 75 miles
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00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,920
to the east of the German warship.
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00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,720
Aboard HMS Ark Royal
is 21-year-old Terry Goddard,
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one of the observers in a squadron
of Swordfish torpedo bombers.
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Terry Goddard is typical
of the aviators of his day.
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Very pragmatic, matter-of-fact,
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there's a job to be done, and he's
just going to get on and do it.
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We were well aware that...
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00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,200
..Bismarck had to be stopped.
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00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:15,200
Swordfish aircraft are launched
by HMS Ark Royal to
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00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,880
maintain contact with Bismarck.
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The main thing was to keep track
of her until the warships
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could get close enough.
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00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,960
When they arrive, the Swordfish
are spotted by German lookouts.
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00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,120
And, whenever they get in range,
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Bismarck's anti-aircraft
guns open fire.
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The planes weave and dodge the flak.
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Admiral Lutjens now knows
that enemy warships are on his tail.
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He must escape the Allied
pursuers and reach safety.
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00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,880
Meanwhile, the British fleet
is facing a fuel crisis.
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00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,440
Weather conditions are
extremely bad, and the warships,
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moving at high speed, are rapidly
burning through precious fuel.
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00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,560
Conditions were very bad
for that time of year.
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00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,200
By this stage,
you've got very high seas,
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King George V, Rodney -
all suffering,
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and they're running out of fuel.
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00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,840
Aboard HMS Ark Royal,
the Swordfish have returned
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00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,240
from their reconnaissance mission.
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00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,480
The crew are now preparing them
for a torpedo strike
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on the Nazi raider.
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The British biplane is
affectionately nicknamed
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the "Stringbag" because it can
carry just about any weapon.
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The Swordfish could carry
a whole variety of weapons
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and was very difficult
to shoot down.
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So, although looking like some
kind of World War I aircraft,
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Swordfish was relatively modern
and also quite formidable
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in its roles as a torpedo bomber.
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Despite atrocious weather
conditions, orders are given
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to launch the Swordfish.
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00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:34,320
In poor visibility, they spot
what they believe is the Bismarck
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00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,120
and begin their attack.
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00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:41,040
But, in fact, this is
the British cruiser Sheffield,
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which is shadowing Bismarck.
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00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:49,520
Now, for heaven's sakes,
the Sheffield is a two-stack,
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11,000-tonne cruiser.
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00:12:53,520 --> 00:13:00,680
Bismarck is a single-stack,
50,000-tonne battleship.
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Three times the size of Sheffield.
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And they attack the Sheffield.
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00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,840
The Sheffield's commander,
Captain Charles Larcom,
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00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,000
manages to avoid the torpedoes,
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00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,400
and he restrains his anti-aircraft
gunners from firing
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on their own planes.
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Terribly sporting and
not firing on the idiots
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that were attacking them.
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00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,920
Bismarck has another lucky escape.
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00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:38,760
But the relentless clock counting
down to doom is still ticking.
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00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,360
The Swordfish biplanes
have returned to Ark Royal
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00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,360
after their mistaken attack
on HMS Sheffield.
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00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,600
Admiral Tovey is now burning
precious fuel as his fleet
200
00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,040
battles rough weather, trying
to catch up with the Bismarck.
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00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:19,360
Admiral Tovey and Captain
Dalrymple-Hamilton were both worried
202
00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,760
that if they went too fast,
then they would simply have to stop
203
00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,200
the pursuit of Bismarck,
because you can't have a battleship
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00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,680
running out of fuel in the
middle of the Atlantic.
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00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:34,120
The British warships converge
from all direction.
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00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,720
Aboard his flagship, King George V,
207
00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,480
Admiral Tovey now has the
concentrated firepower necessary
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00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,120
to destroy his target, the Bismarck.
209
00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:44,920
If he can just catch up.
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00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,160
Now, a Luftwaffe Condor
long-range scout plane
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00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,120
discovers the Home Fleet.
212
00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,960
It sends a message to Bismarck,
identifying HMS Rodney as one
213
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,760
of the approaching ships.
214
00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,840
The Home Fleet is now aware
that they've been located.
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00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,200
Their greatest fear is an attack
by German U-boats before they can
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00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,720
reach the Bismarck.
217
00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,520
On board the Bismarck,
Admiral Lutjens is informed.
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00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:24,600
Admiral.
219
00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,080
SPEAKS IN GERMAN
220
00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:15,280
As Lutjens' attention is focused
on the Rodney to the north...
221
00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:22,000
..he is unaware of HMS Sheffield
steaming ahead of Force H
222
00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,200
coming up from the south.
223
00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,640
Sheffield is now in visual
contact with Bismarck.
224
00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:33,680
She cautiously edges her way around
the distant German battleship.
225
00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,160
Sheffield reports the speed
and position of Bismarck
226
00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,520
to the home fleet.
227
00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,560
Now, Admiral Tovey knows
that the Bismarck is travelling
228
00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,080
too fast for the British
fleet to catch her.
229
00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,760
New orders are issued.
230
00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,040
The Swordfish torpedo bombers must
target the propellers and rudders
231
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,960
in a bid to disable her
and slow her down.
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00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,320
This is a highly dangerous mission.
233
00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,960
The mighty Bismarck
bristles with guns.
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00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,680
All will be brought to bear
against the Swordfish.
235
00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,200
The odds are stacked against
the pilots.
236
00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,160
Well, I think we knew
we were leaving fairly fast.
237
00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,160
I don't think we had
any fear of dying.
238
00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:26,040
Generally, the guys who
bought it just got married...
239
00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:27,440
..or just had a baby.
240
00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,280
We knew perfectly well
we were going to fly.
241
00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:41,040
Because if we didn't fly,
there would be no tomorrow for us.
242
00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,280
Once again,
despite the stormy conditions,
243
00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,360
Ark Royal's aircraft launch.
244
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,160
As far as flying off the Ark Royal,
245
00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,000
there's no other aircraft
could possibly have taken off
246
00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,200
and landed in the conditions
which we did.
247
00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,360
And, while three squadrons
of Swordfish head towards
248
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:09,840
the German warship...
249
00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,760
..enemy commanders in France
have ordered its U-boats
250
00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,000
to rendezvous with the Bismarck.
251
00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,520
First on the scene is U-556,
252
00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,640
commanded by
Captain Herbert Wohlfarth.
253
00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,040
U-556 is so close,
254
00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,600
the German U-boat almost has its
periscope crushed by the Ark Royal.
255
00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,080
Mein Gott.
256
00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:39,320
Prior to Bismarck sailing,
257
00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:42,400
she had sunk 30,000 tonnes
of shipping.
258
00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:45,920
But she'd also used all
her torpedoes up.
259
00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,600
It's really ironic that 556 is
very close to the action,
260
00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:53,560
but she's run out of torpedoes.
261
00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,040
So, she can only report
what is going on.
262
00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,200
She can't actually save her
big brother at this stage.
263
00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,080
SPEAKING IN GERMAN
264
00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:17,080
Wohlfarth reports the position
of Ark Royal and Force H
265
00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:19,960
to U-boat force headquarters.
266
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:24,440
Now, the Nazis know the powerful
aircraft carrier can do
267
00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,440
decisive damage to Bismarck.
268
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:36,520
The squadron of British torpedo
bombers begin their attack runs.
269
00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,280
Down we went.
270
00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,240
Ice peeling off the wings.
271
00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:49,600
The altimeter is spinning,
spinning, spinning.
272
00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:53,280
And then, we break...
273
00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,360
..into the clear about 600 feet.
274
00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,040
There's Bismarck.
275
00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,920
On our starboard bow.
276
00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,440
She was a...
277
00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,440
..fire-spitting monster.
278
00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,360
MUFFLED GUNFIRE, EXPLOSIONS
279
00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,080
All around us,
there is thundering noise.
280
00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,720
The whole aircraft shook.
281
00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:40,800
As if a number of express trains
were roaring by us.
282
00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,280
DISTANT GUNFIRE
283
00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:52,600
She was just ablaze
with everything firing at us.
284
00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,760
And she was illuminated.
285
00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:00,640
Awesome.
286
00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:02,880
But...
287
00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:07,320
..this ship was just magnificent.
288
00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:11,080
It looked exactly like
a battleship should look like.
289
00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:13,800
I mean, scary and everything,
290
00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,440
but...oh, just a beautiful ship.
291
00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,840
The flak was bursting well above us.
292
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,920
Despite their enormous firepower,
293
00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:28,280
the Germans are finding the
British planes difficult to hit.
294
00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:32,640
The Swordfish presented them
with a very difficult target,
295
00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:36,120
because it flew slowly,
and then, would act like a leaf,
296
00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,920
going from side-to-side,
floating up and down.
297
00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,240
They found that very difficult
to shoot down.
298
00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,880
The Swordfish is one
magnificent airplane.
299
00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:53,920
Now they must hit the steering
and disable Bismarck at any cost.
300
00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,280
You're not thinking
you're going to be killed.
301
00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,400
You're going to hit the bastard,
and that's it.
302
00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,080
We got as low on the deck as
we could - which was low -
303
00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:08,360
and went straight in.
304
00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,320
At about 1,200 yards,
we dropped the torpedo...
305
00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,360
..did a violent turn.
306
00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:31,520
I see a large,
black-and-white explosion.
307
00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,840
It's high and wide.
308
00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,400
Obviously, it's a torpedo hit.
309
00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,040
There was no other aircraft
anywhere near us,
310
00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:53,880
and there's no doubt that it was the
torpedo that we had just dropped.
311
00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,120
The returning Swordfish crew
excitedly claim a strike
312
00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,000
against Bismarck, but doubts remain.
313
00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:11,280
Command were very reluctant to
believe that we had scored a hit.
314
00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:16,040
They wanted more confirmation
than just these young,
315
00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:18,880
enthusiastic aviators
claiming they had the glory.
316
00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,400
Then a report comes in
from Sheffield -
317
00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,800
Bismarck is steering erratically,
318
00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,560
and has changed course from
southwest to northeast
319
00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,840
on a collision course
with the British fleet.
320
00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:38,800
So, Bismarck suddenly turned and,
instead of heading away from
321
00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,480
the oncoming British battle fleet,
she sailed towards it,
322
00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,160
or appeared to be sailing
towards the enemy.
323
00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,160
And it seemed a bit of
a crazy thing to do.
324
00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,440
Bismarck's change in direction
could not be deliberate.
325
00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:01,360
In fact, she seems to be steering
in a series of crazy S-turns,
326
00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:05,800
heading away from France and
straight towards the British fleet.
327
00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,200
There can only be one conclusion.
328
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:13,200
That meant Bismarck had very
little control over her destiny.
329
00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,560
Even though her propulsion was
working, she couldn't steer.
330
00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:33,360
It's clear to Admiral Tovey that the
Swordfish's mission was successful,
331
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,280
wrecking the Bismarck's steering
as intended.
332
00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:42,760
But news of the damage to Bismarck
had yet to reach other units.
333
00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,080
And aboard Rodney,
Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton makes
334
00:24:46,120 --> 00:24:48,000
a broadcast from the bridge.
335
00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,160
Attention, all hands.
336
00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,880
Ark Royal's attack...
337
00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:56,080
..has failed.
338
00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,480
But then, he receives
new orders from the flagship.
339
00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,160
Sir. King George VI signals that
Admiral TV is ordering a course to
340
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,800
intercept the enemy.
Ring on. Full speed ahead.
341
00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,040
Revolutions for 23 knots.
342
00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:16,840
Course 1-3-5.
343
00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:18,120
Sir.
344
00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,400
Course to intercept, 1-3-5.
345
00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,080
Very good.
346
00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:25,840
Course 1-3-5.
347
00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:35,120
As Rodney steams towards
its destiny with Bismarck,
348
00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,120
the crew take up battle stations.
349
00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:39,600
We never went to bed.
350
00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:43,040
We stayed at our action stations,
sat round the gun all night.
351
00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:44,720
And you couldn't sleep.
352
00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,520
Well, you can't sleep, really,
it's too blinking cold,
353
00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:48,920
anyway, in the turret.
354
00:25:54,120 --> 00:25:58,120
Meanwhile, Bismarck's crew worked
frantically to repair the damage
355
00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,360
to the stricken vessel's rudder.
356
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,240
In the hours after the fateful
hit on the steering,
357
00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,760
they did try and un-jam the rudder.
358
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,320
They tried to put divers down
into the compartment
359
00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:10,760
to free the rudders.
360
00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,040
They even talked about
putting people over the side -
361
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,840
but the weather was so bad,
they were being flooded
362
00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:17,240
in the engine compartment.
363
00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:23,480
20-year-old Len Nicholl
sees the Bismarck floundering.
364
00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,480
She was wallowing around in circles.
365
00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,640
She was a sitting duck,
as far as we were concerned.
366
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,800
After that torpedo strike,
her fate was sealed.
367
00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,200
Bismarck is now unable
to escape a battle.
368
00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,800
An injured animal with
a pack of wolves gathering
369
00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,560
to tear her to shreds.
370
00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:03,560
Bismarck has been seriously damaged.
371
00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,320
Its rudders smashed by
a Swordfish torpedo bomber.
372
00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:19,240
Steering out of control,
373
00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,920
it's heading straight for
the British fleet.
374
00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:28,640
Admiral Lutjens sends a signal to
German naval headquarters in France.
375
00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:30,920
SPEAKING IN GERMAN
376
00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:45,040
But, although wounded, his ship
is still a fearsome battleship.
377
00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,400
And the British must advance
with extreme caution.
378
00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,560
Admiral Tovey's plan is
to stage a daylight attack
379
00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,200
using the weather as cover.
380
00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,320
His vessels will be obscured
by gloom in the west,
381
00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:01,760
as King George V and Rodney
go into the attack
382
00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,440
with a climbing sun in the east
silhouetting Bismarck.
383
00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,520
The order is given to fire at will.
384
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,320
She was firing the 15-inchers.
385
00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:25,720
She didn't touch us, but very close.
386
00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:31,760
We made 2-3 attempts
to fire torpedoes,
387
00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,960
going head-on into the sea.
388
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,480
And then, turning and firing
head-on.
389
00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,720
We would be straddled
with 15-inch shells,
390
00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,640
and then, it was up smoke it out
as fast as we could go on.
391
00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,360
And it was going all over the place.
392
00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,240
From U-boat U-556,
393
00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,480
Captain Herbert Wohlfarth
watches the onslaught.
394
00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:01,520
SPEAKING IN GERMAN
395
00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:08,960
Commander of U-556 must've
been very frustrated,
396
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:10,560
but there was nothing he could do.
397
00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:11,600
He had no weapons.
398
00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:13,960
He couldn't participate
in this battle at all.
399
00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,280
But U-556 will not be alone.
400
00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:21,960
Captain Wohlfarth is informed that
other U-boats are on the way.
401
00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,720
British intelligence is also
aware that German submarines
402
00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:29,640
could be in the area.
403
00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:31,640
The Admiralty sent out a signal
404
00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,560
which the warship captains
at sea could tune into,
405
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,160
which said there were four U-boats
known to be in the vicinity.
406
00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,120
The British warships had very
little time to attack and destroy
407
00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,640
the Bismarck before they are
attacked by Nazi U-boats.
408
00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:59,440
Aboard Bismarck, Admiral Lutjens
believes all hope is lost
409
00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:03,480
and signals to have his war diary
collected by a U-boat.
410
00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,440
One of the things that Lutjens
was really keen to do was that
411
00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,560
his war diary should survive
412
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,240
to show the high command that
he'd done exactly the right thing
413
00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:12,280
in every case.
414
00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,400
His message is transmitted
to German high command.
415
00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,320
As the home fleet prepares
for the coming battle,
416
00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,720
Len Nicholl considers his
chances of survival.
417
00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:34,800
If the Rodney was, say,
heading straight towards the ship,
418
00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:41,440
to the enemy, and they
fired and hit the Rodney,
419
00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,960
it could've caused the same damage
as it did to the Hood.
420
00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,840
From HMS Rodney, the obscure shape
of Bismarck on the horizon
421
00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,160
looms into view.
422
00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,880
To me, it was quite a day
you'll never forget.
423
00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,720
You'll never forget the date,
you know, the 27th. Never.
424
00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:10,520
The British fleet
take up attack positions.
425
00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:15,320
King George V and HMS Rodney
move in from the west,
426
00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,160
with Dorsetshire coming from
the east, and heavy cruiser Norfolk
427
00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,440
joining the battle
from the northeast.
428
00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,480
Bismarck is confronted with
the chilling sight of King George V
429
00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:31,200
and HMS Rodney.
430
00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:46,880
We fired the first shot about 8.30.
431
00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,720
A single shell is hurled
at the Bismarck to test accuracy -
432
00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:53,480
the range, around 13 miles.
433
00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,400
It splashes wide of the target.
434
00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:00,800
Then, with calculations adjusted,
435
00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,080
Rodney's big guns send their
shells towards Bismarck.
436
00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,760
60 seconds later,
the King George V fires a salvo
437
00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:17,640
with her 14-inch guns.
438
00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,720
The British shells miss their mark,
creating gigantic splashes
439
00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:28,320
around the Bismarck,
but causing no harm.
440
00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,720
Captain Lindemann concentrates on
knocking out the most dangerous
441
00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,840
of his opponents - HMS Rodney.
442
00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:46,000
I must admit, I was scared to death.
443
00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:53,680
I was just waiting, so...
expecting it the whole time.
444
00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:58,280
Rodney's gunner, Len Nicholl,
watches from his turret.
445
00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:00,120
Take nothing away from the Germans,
446
00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,320
their gunnery was out of
this world, really.
447
00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,200
You could see the shells
coming towards you,
448
00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:15,360
and you could see our shells
going away from us.
449
00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:18,240
You could be blown away
at any minute.
450
00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:28,680
As Bismarck shells plunge in, smoke
obscures the fate of HMS Rodney.
451
00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:32,080
Due to very clever manoeuvring,
452
00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:37,040
our captain, Dalrymple-Hamilton,
avoided shells.
453
00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,080
The Bismarck fails to score
a hit on the Rodney -
454
00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:45,120
a testament to the skill
of Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton.
455
00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,800
He kept a salvo
levelling all around,
456
00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:52,080
and he would just shift his ship,
457
00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:57,280
almost as if he knew where
the next shot was coming.
458
00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,080
He was very astute.
459
00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:15,000
By now, the Home Fleet is engaging
in a fearsome battle
460
00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:16,640
with the Bismarck.
461
00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:30,400
It was a long battle,
and very frightening.
462
00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:35,920
I was 20, I think, at the time.
463
00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:40,320
And I must admit,
I was scared to death.
464
00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:46,240
The fleet is firing on Bismarck
with high-explosive shells.
465
00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,840
With high-explosives,
a shell will go in,
466
00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,120
and then, explode inside the ship.
467
00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:54,320
But they aren't very effective,
because the German battleship
468
00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:56,080
is so well-protected with armour.
469
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:03,120
The order is given to switch
to armour-piercing shells.
470
00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,920
Armour-piercing shells will
literally do what it says
471
00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:07,520
on the tin - they'll go through.
472
00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,520
And, with a ship like Bismarck,
473
00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:13,600
some parts were so vulnerable
that the armour-piercing shells
474
00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:16,120
went straight through like
a knife cutting through butter.
475
00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:19,000
They would just go in
and cause carnage.
476
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,640
The torrent of shells
from British guns inflict
477
00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,960
serious damage on Bismarck.
478
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:30,240
We noted that our shells,
which were one tonne in weight,
479
00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:34,080
and the biggest in the world at sea,
480
00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:38,120
was making quite a number
of hits on Bismarck.
481
00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:42,800
The Rodney is the closest
to Bismarck.
482
00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,800
What we were facing is about
2,000 yards away from us.
483
00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,120
No more.
484
00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,080
Some of the lads on the AA guns
485
00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:53,760
could've hit her with potatoes.
486
00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:55,440
She was that close.
487
00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:01,000
When the shells
from HMS Rodney came in,
488
00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,280
they destroyed most of
the command team,
489
00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:07,360
and also the communications and
what's called command and control.
490
00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,440
And another officer in the ship
described this as having
491
00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,240
Bismarck's brains blown out.
492
00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:16,440
But Lutjens is determined
to stay fighting, carrying out
493
00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,400
his orders from Admiral Raeder
at German high command.
494
00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:21,680
Rader had said quite explicitly,
495
00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:24,440
"If you're cornered,
you fight to the death."
496
00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:51,800
Weather conditions in the Atlantic
497
00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:55,400
have finally improved enough
for the Swordfish to fly.
498
00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:01,120
Terry Goddard is circling Bismarck.
499
00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:03,240
By the time we arrived,
500
00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:06,480
she was being mercilessly pounded.
501
00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:13,080
Bismarck was obviously
out of control.
502
00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:20,320
After her long dash from the south,
503
00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:23,640
the heavy cruiser Dorsetshire
storms into the fight.
504
00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:29,320
Swinging broadside, she fires
all her eight-inch guns.
505
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,440
The bridge and the gunnery command
positions in the forward section
506
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:38,880
of the Bismarck are being shredded.
507
00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:53,840
I actually saw the back of
the turret explode,
508
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:55,840
and flipped up in the air
like a penny.
509
00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:02,400
Shelling is relentless.
510
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:17,280
They were creating dreadful havoc.
511
00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:26,000
The Bismarck was getting
hit regularly.
512
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:30,760
There was smoke, there was fire,
there was...oh, God.
513
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,680
Quite a lot of the shells actually
tore into Bismarck from short range
514
00:38:41,720 --> 00:38:44,840
from King George V and Rodney,
there's no question about that.
515
00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:53,880
I saw the ship itself burning
from stem to stern.
516
00:38:56,080 --> 00:38:58,520
We did a tremendous
amount of damage.
517
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:09,760
It's highly likely that
Lindemann and Lutjens were killed
518
00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,720
within 20 minutes or so
of the battle starting.
519
00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:14,880
So, when the brains
were blown out,
520
00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:17,800
that included the command team.
521
00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:22,200
All Bismarck's big guns
are now silent.
522
00:39:22,240 --> 00:39:24,760
Once you get a lot of
percussive shells hitting a ship,
523
00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,480
particularly armour-piercing ones,
it distorts the ship.
524
00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:30,440
You can't get through hatches,
people are disorientated.
525
00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,880
The battle is turning
into a massacre.
526
00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:39,480
Hundreds of German sailors were
jumping off the burning inferno
527
00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:40,920
that was the Bismarck,
528
00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:43,840
desperate to escape, but with
little chance of survival.
529
00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:50,160
Some people aboard Rodney,
and I think including the captain,
530
00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:54,600
felt rather sickened by the whole
process and wanted it to end.
531
00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:01,280
It was ugly. It was dirty.
532
00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:04,480
In my opinion, we might almost
classify it as murder.
533
00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:07,560
It was slaughter.
534
00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,440
It was dreadful to see.
535
00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:17,080
He came on the bridge,
536
00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:21,360
and said to the captain
to "stop, desist"
537
00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:26,000
just firing shells at a ship
that can't reply.
538
00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:33,320
Captain Hamilton said,
"You go mind your own business...
539
00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:35,560
"..and get off my bridge."
540
00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:41,520
Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton has
no choice but to continue firing,
541
00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:44,960
as he has strict orders
to sink Bismarck.
542
00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:48,520
But also, Bismarck is flying
its battle flag -
543
00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:50,560
a sign that it's not surrendering.
544
00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:52,760
It's still ready to fight.
545
00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,240
I recollect...
546
00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:57,040
It seems to be, in my mind,
547
00:40:57,080 --> 00:40:59,360
the battle flag flying
above this smoke.
548
00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:05,520
You have this swastika on
the main mast, and this creates
549
00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:07,400
a big one on the foremast.
550
00:41:12,240 --> 00:41:13,640
This was war.
551
00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:17,000
You can't aim to wound,
you were to aim to kill.
552
00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:24,600
The Bismarck had to be sunk.
553
00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:28,720
It wasn't just to be left crippled.
554
00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:32,240
She'd have been repaired
and got out again.
555
00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:37,200
Time was also running out
for the British fleet.
556
00:41:37,240 --> 00:41:42,000
They know German U-boats and
warships are heading towards them.
557
00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:44,240
King George V and Rodney,
and all the other ships
558
00:41:44,280 --> 00:41:46,880
want to finish the job because
they're running out of fuel.
559
00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:49,520
They do not want to be
out there in the Atlantic
560
00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:51,600
at the mercy of U-boats.
561
00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:55,360
This is a mighty battleship that,
so far, has resisted being sunk.
562
00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,800
You want to get rid of it.
There's no question about that.
563
00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:02,240
So, the signal went out, then,
for anybody with torpedoes to go in
564
00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:04,160
and end the Bismarck's agony.
565
00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:16,400
HMS Dorsetshire delivers
the final blows.
566
00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:29,040
I wouldn't have liked to be
on that ship.
567
00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:39,480
The dying moments of the Bismarck
are witnessed by Terry Goddard.
568
00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:42,320
The bridge was gone,
the island was gone,
569
00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:45,200
and it was just a big, black hole,
570
00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:47,440
billowing black smoke.
571
00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:53,520
She started to go down
by the stern.
572
00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:56,640
Up came the bow,
as if to say "up yours".
573
00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:03,680
Amidst a great big mass of bubbles,
574
00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:05,160
she went down.
575
00:43:08,080 --> 00:43:12,160
Over 2,000 German sailors
lose their lives.
576
00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:17,880
The water was full of hundreds
of bobbing sailors.
577
00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:22,200
The attack turns into
a rescue mission.
578
00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:28,280
There are pictures of German
sailors being hauled on board
579
00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:30,240
alongside Dorsetshire.
580
00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:33,000
Other destroyers
are looking for survivors.
581
00:43:34,720 --> 00:43:39,080
But the rescue mission
is abruptly brought to an end.
582
00:43:39,120 --> 00:43:41,560
There is a perpetual
fear of U-boats.
583
00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:44,880
And then, someone thinks they
see a submarine periscope.
584
00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:49,200
The British are wary,
they don't want to get sunk.
585
00:43:50,920 --> 00:43:56,640
The captain of the cruiser
that was picking these chaps up
586
00:43:56,680 --> 00:44:01,200
realised that, you know,
he had to move away,
587
00:44:01,240 --> 00:44:03,480
otherwise he'd be sunk, as well.
588
00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:10,840
Admiral Tovey orders the
Home Fleet to withdraw immediately.
589
00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:13,480
Leaving these people in the water.
590
00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:15,480
Really sad.
591
00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:18,040
Because, once your enemy
has been defeated,
592
00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:21,040
the Law of the Sea, the custom
of the sea requires you to
593
00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:22,680
stop and aid your enemies.
594
00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:29,280
It was heart-wrenching, really,
595
00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:34,800
to leave all these sailors
in the icy sea,
596
00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:37,560
who were obviously going to die.
597
00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:40,200
Just drown.
598
00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:53,280
The sinking of the Bismarck
599
00:44:53,320 --> 00:44:55,880
has far-reaching consequences
for Germany.
600
00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:03,280
The effect of the sinking of
the Bismarck was to stop
601
00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:06,320
Atlantic raiders coming in,
602
00:45:06,360 --> 00:45:09,080
like the Admiral Scheer
like Tirpitz,
603
00:45:09,120 --> 00:45:13,120
or the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
ever doing that again.
604
00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:14,760
With the sinking of the Bismarck,
605
00:45:14,800 --> 00:45:18,240
America realises that the
British cause is worth helping
606
00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:20,400
with crucial war supplies.
607
00:45:20,440 --> 00:45:23,320
Taking the Bismarck was a
pivotal moment, because it showed
608
00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:26,640
not only the world that Britain
wasn't a lost cause,
609
00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:32,200
but ending Bismarck encouraged
President Roosevelt to carry on
610
00:45:32,240 --> 00:45:33,800
supporting the UK.
611
00:45:34,920 --> 00:45:38,720
On the evening of 27 May, 1941,
612
00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:42,480
President Roosevelt makes
an address to the American nation
613
00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:46,520
in which he declares an
unlimited national emergency.
614
00:45:47,680 --> 00:45:51,920
Roosevelt tells his nation
that the USA will help the British
615
00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:55,320
with American naval escorts
for the convoys.
616
00:45:55,360 --> 00:46:02,280
I say that the delivery of needed
supplies to Britain is imperative.
617
00:46:02,320 --> 00:46:05,720
I say this can be done.
618
00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:11,000
It must be done,
and it will be done.
619
00:46:11,040 --> 00:46:16,920
We will not accept
a Hitler-dominated world,
620
00:46:16,960 --> 00:46:24,800
and we will not accept a world like
the post-war world of the 1920s,
621
00:46:24,840 --> 00:46:30,560
in which the seeds of Hitler-ism
can again be planted
622
00:46:30,600 --> 00:46:32,520
and allowed to grow.
623
00:46:54,240 --> 00:46:56,800
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