The battleship "Bismarck" and the cat nicknamed the "unsinkable Bashny.Net

Nearing the date of the 70th anniversary of the flooding of the largest at the time the ship.
It will be about 15-20 photos, some text and, if possible, one video.Kogda finish unsubscribe

"Bismarck" - a battleship of the German Navy, one of the most famous ships of World War II. Named after the first chancellor of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck. During his only campaign in May 1941 sank in the Denmark Strait British flagship battlecruiser "Hood" (eng. HMS Hood). The outbreak then hunt for the British Navy "Bismarck" Three days later, it was over the sinking.





November 16, 1935: A contract for the construction of the battleship at the shipyard Blom und Voss, Hamburg, No. BV 509.
July 1, 1936: On the slip №9 laid the keel.
February 14, 1939: The battleship afloat, godmother - Dorothea von Loefeld, the granddaughter of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, chbim name and called Battleship.
April 1940: The first crew members come aboard.
23 June 1940: The ship was transferred to the floating dock No. V-VI three weeks for installation azimuth of (three screws) and install the demagnetizing device.
July 14, 1940: The ship launched from the floating dock.
July 21, 1940: Conducted crenic tests in pure displacement without supplies and other 42,500 tons. Determined metacentric height - 3.9 meters.



Kiel "Bismarck" was built at the shipyard of the company Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, July 1, 1936. The ship went down the stocks of February 14, 1939, the day of Valentine's Day. During the descent to the water present Chancellor Adolf Hitler and the granddaughter of Prince Bismarck Dorothea von Levenfeld traditionally "christened" the ship a bottle of champagne.



August 24, 1940: In 1230 there was an official ceremony of taking the finished battleship from the shipyard and its entry into service Kriegsmarine. The commander was appointed captain of the first rank Ernst Lindemann, raised the battle flag.



Hike

Hitler, Stalin sought to give a clear signal that he is seriously preparing for the invasion of the British Isles. So seriously that he was ready to throw in its most powerful, has just put into operation the battleship. Until the day "D" - the date of the attack on the Soviet Union - was little more than a month, and in a series of German diversions campaign battleship "Bismarck" was the highlight. He was killed, but the people in the top Soviet leadership, who shared with Stalin hoped to throw Wehrmacht in the British Isles, knew already preparing to sail fellow "Bismarck" - the battleship "Tirpitz" and the battleships "Scharnhorst" and " Gneisenau "and heavy cruiser" Prinz Eugen ", which was released in the raid along with the" Bismarck ", but managed to escape his fate. So for these people march of the battleship "Bismarck" was to symbolize the prologue to a close, deadly blow to the German forces across England.



Pictured commander Captain First Rank Ernst Lindemann.
Subsequently, refused to leave the sinking ship.



May 18, 1941 (Sunday) Start of operation Reynbung.
1200. The ship moored in the harbor from the wall Gotenhafn and anchored in the bay to load supplies.



May 19, 1941 (Monday):
0200. Bismarck came out of Gotenhafna and lay a course to the west.
1200. The coordinates 54o 45 'North, 13 ° 20' East. To Bismarck joined the cruiser Prinz Eugen and the destroyers Z-16 Friedrich Eckoldt and Z-23, the rendezvous took place near the island of Ruegen.
2230. It joined the squadron destroyer Hans Lody.

May 20, 1941 (Tuesday):
0200-0600. Battleship followed the Great Belt, accompanied by Prince Eugen and the destroyers Z-10, Z-16 and Z-23.
1300. The Kattegat Bismarck and Prinz Eugen seen the Swedish cruiser Gotland.



May 21, 1941 (Wednesday):
0800-0900. The squadron entered Korsford, near Bergen.
1100. Bismarck anchored in Grimstadforde at 60 ° 19 '48 "North, 05o 14' 48" East.
1315. Bismarck observed and photographed fighter coastal defense British Spitfire.
2000 Battleship Korsforda walked out accompanied by Prince Eugen and 3 destroyers.
2340. Course 0 degrees.

May 22, 1941 (Thursday):
0420. Course 0 degrees, the destroyers left the cruiser and battleship Bismarck came forward with in the wake of Prince Eugen.
1200. Coordinates 65oє 53 'North, 03o 38' East. Course 0 degrees, speed 24 knots.
1237-1307. Anti-submarine and air raid ships began to follow the zigzag.
1310. The course is 325 degrees.
1800. The course is 311 degrees.
2125. The course is 295 degrees.
2322. The course is 266 degrees.



May 23, 1941 (Friday):
0400. The course 250 degrees, speed 27 knots.
1200. The coordinates 67o 28 'North, 19o 28' West. The course is 250 degrees, the average speed of 24 knots.
1420. The course is 270 degrees.
1811-1822. Misleading ice anxiety confused with icebergs transport ships.
1821. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen th came to the edge of the ice formed on a new course of 240 degrees.
1922. The heavy British cruiser Suffolk found on the left side at a distance of 7 miles battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, which is immediately sent to a combat report.
2030. Bismarck found heavy cruiser Norfolk and made 5 volleys from the tower of the main fire. Hit not observed. The nose radar installation FuMO 23 out of order due to a concussion bursts from the main fire. Shortly afterwards the Prinz Eugen passes the Bismarck and heads column.
2200 Battleship changing course, trying to get closer to the distance cruiser Suffolk volley. Suffolk solves the maneuver and leaves.



May 24, 1941 (Saturday):
0543. The course 220 degrees, speed 28 knots. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen find on the left side two enemy ships at a distance of 17 miles.
Battlecruiser 0552. Hood opens fire, starting a battle in the Denmark Strait. Bismarck brings to headquarters - "began the battle with two battleships of the enemy."
0555. Bismarck makes the first salvo at Hood, followed by the Prinz Eugen opens fire.
0555-0601. Bismarck struck in the left side three projectiles caliber 35.6sm launched from the battleship Prince of Wales. One gets into the middle of the body under the armor belt, the second hits the bow pierces through the third boat.
0601. battle cruiser Hood takes off into the air and instantly killed at 63o 22 'North, 32o 17' West.
0602-0609. Bismarck 4 records falling into the battleship Prince of Wales.
0609. The last shots of Prince of Wales. In total issued 93 x 38cm armor piercing shells. Bismarck damaged - damaged fuel tank from which fuel flows continuously, Yanagimachi speed of 28 knots, a hole in the nose through which received about 2000 tons of water.
0632. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "Battlecruiser, presumably Hood, sunk. Battleship - King George or Renown - damaged. For us to continue monitoring the two heavy cruisers. "



0705. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "Flood the battleship at 63o 10 'North, 32o 00' West.»
0801. Bismarck reports to headquarters:
1. Power No. 4 incapacitated
2. In the boiler room No. 2 enters the water, but fails to pump. Water inflow in the forepeak.
3. The maximum speed of 28 knots.
4. 50 miles from the Denmark Strait, floating mines. The enemy has radar.
5. Objective: to follow in the port of St. Nazaire. The crew - no losses.
1200. Coordinates 60 ° 50 'North, 37 ° 50' West.
1240. The new course of 180 degrees. The speed of 24 knots.
1814. Turn "right on board" at 180 degrees, the Prinz Eugen leaves the formation.
1840-1856. Battleship made several volleys of at Suffolk and Prince of Wales, past.
1914. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "Short-term combat contact with the battleship King George, to no avail. Prinz Eugen released me for refueling. The enemy continues to harassment and surveillance. "
2056. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "Away from the enemy is impossible in view of their radar. Fuel shortages, following direct in Saint Nazaire. "
2300. Bismarck seen the US Coast Guard cutter Modoc.
It is midnight. Bismarck is attacked by eight Swordfish torpedo bombers of 825 Squadron under the command of Lieutenant Commodore Eugene Esmond aircraft coming from the aircraft carrier Victorious. The speed of 27 knots battleship. One of the 18-inch torpedo hits the battleship in the middle of the hull on the starboard side. Minor damage, killing one crew member oberbotsman Kurt Kirchberg.



May 25, 1941 (Sunday):
0028. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "attack torpedo aircraft from an aircraft carrier. One torpedo hit the starboard side. "
0037. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "We expect to continue attacks".
0131. Two volleys of Prince of Wales, past.
0153. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "The damage from torpedoes are minimal."
0310. The battleship abruptly changed course to starboard, the British lost contact with him.
0500. The new course of 130 °.
0727. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "The ship during 0700, the square AK 55. One battleship and two heavy cruisers continued their pursuit of the enemy."
0912 - 0948. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "The presence of the enemy radar-range at least 35,000 meters of difficult operations in the Atlantic in the highest degree. The ships followed in the Denmark Strait in thick fog and, nevertheless, are constantly monitored by the adversary. Unable to break even in favorable weather conditions for the separation.
Refuelling is not possible due to the pursuit of the enemy, you can not come off due to a lack of speed. The battle began at a distance of 20,800 - 18,000 meters. Hood was shooting at Bismarck, after 5 minutes as a result of an explosion inside the battlecruiser Hood destroyed.
Bismarck suffered a fire on the battleship King George, the latter turned away in clouds of black smoke due to certain direct hits. I was out of sight for several hours. Consumption of ammunition: 93 projectile. Later, King George engage in only maskimalnuyu distances.
Bismarck received two hits from the guns of the battleship King George, one below the armor belt in the area of ​​the section XIII-XIV, both in the area of ​​section XX-XXI, which is why the rate has fallen, appeared trim 1 degree on the nose, damaged fuel tanks and flow. In the mist of the cruiser Prinz Eugen managed to break away at a time when Bismarck began firing with a battleship and two heavy cruisers of the enemy. Radars often fail, especially during firing. "



May 26, 1941 (Monday):
1030 Battleship detected flying boat Catalina Z / 209 at 49o 20 'North, 21o 50' West.
1740. Battleship discovered cruiser Sheffield.
2047-2115. Battleship attacked by fifteen Swordfish torpedo aircraft of 810, 818 and 820 squadrons from the aircraft carrier Ark Royal. Two hits (possibly three) 18-inch torpedoes MK XII. One struck the port side amidships, another hit the starboard aft. As a result, both the steering jammed at 12 degrees to the left side.
2054. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "torpedo attack from an aircraft carrier!»
2105. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "I am in the square BE 6192. torpedo hit in the stern part.»
2115. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "torpedo hit amidships!»
2115. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "The ship went out of control!»
2130-2155. 6 volleys of cruiser Sheffield at a distance of 9 miles, the results were observed.
2140. Bismarck provides a telegram to the Supreme Command of the Navy (OKM) and the headquarters of the "ship out of control. We will fight to the last bullet. Long live the Fuhrer! »
2238. By the Bismarck went the distance visibility Polish destroyer Piorun.
2242. The battleship opened fire on the destroyer Piorun.
2325. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "Am surrounded by Renown and light battleship enemy ships.»
2358. radiogram to Bismarck: "The Fuhrer of the German Reich, Adolf Hitler. We will fight to the last man with faith in you, our Führer, and with an unshakable faith in a German victory! »
2359. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "The armed battleship ready to fight and not damaged, structurally intact ship, but only manage machines is impossible."

In the photo, the flying boat Catalina.
May 27, 1941 (Tuesday):
0217. radiogram to the Commander of the Fleet of Grand Admiral Raeder: "I hereby present to be awarded the Knight's Cross Korvettenkapitän Schneider for the sinking of the battle cruiser Hood!»
0500. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "Rain 50% ceiling of 600 meters, the wind from the northwest of magnitude 7."
0625. Bismarck reports to headquarters: "The situation is the same, the wind increased to 8-9."
0710. The latest report of Bismarck's headquarters: "Please send us submarines to rescue the watch and combat log!»
0844. The battleship was found British battleships King George V and Rodney. The speed of 7 knots.
0847. begins the final stage of the battle. Battleship Rodney opens fire.
0849. Towers «Anton» and «Bruno» Bismarck opened fire back at Rodney.
0902. The first hit in Bismarck, incapacitated upper manual.
0908. Bow KP incapacitated. Towers «Anton» and «Bruno» ceased fire.
0913. Stern KP incapacitated. Towers "Cdsar» and «Dora» continue to fire.
0921. Tower «Dora» disabled.
0927. Some of the towers, «Anton» or «Bruno», makes a last volley.
0931. Tower "Cdsar" makes last volley and crashes.
0958. unconfirmed torpedo hit in the left side.
0936-1016: Numerous direct hit from a distance "gunshot" 2500 - 4000 meters, but still afloat.
Around 1000. In the engine room demolition charges tearing the turbine.
1022. Contact with the two 21-inch torpedoes MK VII, issued cruiser Dorsetshire from a distance of 3000 meters on the starboard side of Bismarck.
1037. Contact 21-inch MK VII torpedoes on the port side, a torpedo fired from a distance of 2200 meters the same Dorsetshire.
1039. Bismarck sank at 48o 10 'North, 16 O 12' West. From the water picked up 116 people.

In the photo-selection by British destroyers sailors from the sunken battleship "Bismarck».



Now Sam.

SEM unsinkable ship cat, who served during the Second World War on the German battleship, British destroyer, after the aircraft carrier and survived the destruction of all three ships



Bismarck

The battleship "Bismarck»
Cat black and white color was swept anonymous sailor on board a German battleship "Bismarck". May 18, 1941 the ship made of Gotenhafen with orders to sink British merchant ships. Nine days later, May 27, the battleship was sunk by a British squadron, with 115 sailors were saved only from 2200. A few hours later, the cat floating on the wreckage of the ship was spotted by British sailors to return to the base of the destroyer "Cossack" and taken on board. At the same time the crew of the destroyer could not save a single person. Not knowing the name of the cat, the British sailors gave him the nickname Oscar.



Kazak

The destroyer "Cossack»
The next few months Oscar spent aboard the destroyer, this time accompanied by several convoys in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic. October 24, 1941 "Cossack" while escorting convoy HG-75, en route from Gibraltar to Liverpool, was torpedoed by a German submarine «U-563." The crew moved to the destroyer "Legion", and attempts to tow the ship back heavily damaged in Gibraltar have not been successful because of the deteriorating weather conditions. October 27 destroyer sunk. German torpedo landed in the bow of the ship, caused the deaths of 159 British sailors, but Oscar survived this time. For some time he spent on the beach in Gibraltar.



Ark Royal

The aircraft carrier "Ark Royal»
After the death of "Cossacks" the cat got from the English nickname "Unsinkable Sam" and was moved to the aircraft carrier "Ark Royal" aircraft which greatly contributed to the death of his first ship, "Bismarck". Sam, however, the new ship did not stay long. Already November 14 aircraft carrier, returning from Malta, was torpedoed by a German submarine «U-81." Attempts to tow the ship sinking again proved fruitless, and the "Ark Royal" sank 30 miles east of Gibraltar. However, every one of the sailors, and airmen, and with them and Sam were rescued by the rescue vessels approached. Several sailors with Sam clinging to the wreckage of the ship, were picked up by a patrol boat. The survivors were transferred first to the destroyer "Lightning", and then - again on the destroyer "Legion", has previously participated in the rescue Sam. The fate of these two ships also was unenviable. "Legion" would be sunk four months later, on March 26, 1942 as a result of air attack, and "Lightning" is sunk by a German torpedo boat «S-55» March 12, 1943.

Further life

After the death of the aircraft carrier has been decided to leave the cat on the beach. Sam lived for some time in the office of the Governor General of Gibraltar, but was soon sent to the UK, where he met the end of the war in Belfast. Unsinkable Sam died on the shore in 1955. Pastel drawing heroic cat made artist Georgina Shaw Baker, now kept at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.



All.

used these sources:
ru.wikipedia.org/
www.odin.tc/books/bismark/10.asp
www.battleships.spb.ru/Foto/Bismarck/



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