Seventy-five years today, the Royal Navy sank the German battleship Bismark in a three-day running battle in which the Bismark sunk the British battle cruiser HMS Hood. Ultimately, the German battleship was disabled when her rudder was damaged in a torpedo attack by obsolescent Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Here is a British newsreel of the events. Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.
Old Salt Blog
a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea , hosted by nautical novelist Rick Spilman
The little ship I live on was built in Elbing in Prussia in 1895 as a tug / inspection vessel for the Kaiser Wilhelm canal (now Kiel). She and another tug towed the Bismark through the canal on her final voyage. There are photos. She served on the canal until 1947. Launched as “Aegir,” changed to “Berby” in the ’20s and finally “Sabine” in the ’60s. She still has a Kriegsmarine compass though her steam plant has been replaced by a U-boat generator engine.
Tugs:
Julia your post almost coincided with this one.
I hope the link works?
http://forces.tv/28269289