Die Geschichte der deutschen Schlachtschiffe der Bismarck Klasse. Schlachtschiffe der Kriegsmarine während des zweiten Weltkrieges.

Major German battleships of world war II, the Bismarck and Tirpitz were the largest German battleships in the Kriegsmarine. Both these surface raiders were sunk, the Bismarck finally by HMS Rodney and the Tirpitz capsizing after heavy bombing and hits by three tallboy bombs (12,000lbs each). 

BISMARCK             TIRPITZ

The Bismarck

Built by Blohm und Voss of Hamburg and launched on the 14th February 1939,  The Bismarck spent the following 18 months fitting out, and receiving  of main Officers. On the 24th of August 1940 the Bismarck was handed over to the German navy

The main Officers of the Bismarck were.

• the Captain. Ernst Lindemann

• Gunnery Commander. Commander Adalbert Schneider

• Chief Engineer Commander Walter Lehmann

• Damage Control Officer Captain Gerhard Junack

• Navigating Officer Commander Wolf Neuendorff
• Executive Officer Commander Hans Ols

Specifications of the the Battleship Bismarck.

Armament: eight 15-inch Guns and 12 6-inch Guns. with a secondary armament of 16 40-inch guns and 16 1.5inch AA Guns.

Speed 30 Knots  Compliment of 2,400  Dimensions Length. 823.5 feet.  Width 118 feet  Height 29.5 feet  Displacement 41,700 tonnes.

Tirpitz.

The German battleship Tirpitz had a main armament of eight 15-inch guns and 12 6-inch guns with a secondary armament of 16 4-inch guns and 16 1.5inch AA guns.  Her top speed was 32 knots, with a compliment of 2400.