BRITISH CHASE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20567, 29 May 1941, Page 11

BRITISH CHASE

BISMARCK CAUGHT TORPEDO ATTACKS STORY OF SINKING PLANES AND WARSHIPS RELENTLESS QUEST (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.30 p.m. RUGBY, May 27. Further details relating to the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck, announced in the House of Commons in a dramatic statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, are given in the following Admiralty communique:— “Air reconnaissance by Coastal Command aircraft revealed that a German battleship and cruiser which they had previously located in the Norwegian port of Bergen had sailed. Certain dispositions,' therefore, were ordered and as a result H.M.S. Norfolk, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, and H.M.S. Suffolk were ordered to take up a position in the Denmark Straits. “On the evening of May 23 RearAdmiral Wake-Walker reported sighting an enemy force of one battleship and one cruiser proceeding at high speed to the south-westward. Visibility in the Denmark Straits was bad and extremely variable. The range of the engmy \yas only six miles when he was first sighted and storms of snow; sleet and patched mist at times reduced visibility to one mile. Despite the difficulties of visibility the Norfolk and Suffolk shadowed the enemy successfully throughout the night. Plans for Interception “Meanwhile other units of the Royal Navy were taking up dispositions at high speed with a view to intercepting the enemy and bringing him to action with our heavy forces. Early on the morning of May 24 H.M.S. Hood, bearing the flag of ViceAdmiral L. E. Holland, with Prince of Wales in company, made contact with the enemy. Action was immediately joined. “During the ensuing engagement the Bismarck received' damage and at one time was seen to be on fire. “The Hood received: a hit in a magazine and blew up. The Prince of Wales sustained slight damage. “The chase was continued on a south-westerly course with the Norfolk and Suffolk shadowing the enemy and maintaining contact, despite all his efforts to shake off the pursuit. “It appeared at this time that the enemy’s speed had been slighfly. reduced and reconnaissance aircraft of the Coastal Command reported that, she was leaving a wake of oil. “On the evening of May 24 the Prince of Wales again made contact with the enemy and action was joined for a short time.”

“The German ships at once turned away to westward and then swung round on to a southerly course with bur forces still in pursuit. Torpedo Seen to Hit

“Other of our naval forces were now approaching the enemy and during the night a naval torpedo bombing aircraft from the Victorious delivered a torpedo attack on the enemy from a considerable distance and one torpedo was seen to hit the Bismarck. "The Norfolk. Suffolk and Prince of Wales continued to shadow the enemy successfully until shortly after 3 a.m. bn May 25. “Touch with the enemy was now lost in low visibility. The enemy was then approximately 350 miles south-south-west of the southern point of Greenland.

Searching dispositions were at once taken up by other units of the Royal Navy. The main body of the Home Fleet under the command of Admiral Tovey, with his flag flying in H.M.S. George V, was steaming at high speed in a south-westerly direction from northern waters. Another force, under Vice-Admiral Somerville, with his flag flying in H.M.S. Renown, was steaming north-westwards at high speed from Gibraltar. “H.M.S. Rodney and H.M.S. Ramillies, \yho were encorting convoys in the North Atlantic, proceeded to move in the direction of the enemy. Extensive Air Searches “Extensive air searches were organised by the Coastal Command and by the Royal Canadian Air Force stationed at Newfoundland. It was not until about 1.30 a.m., British standard time, that the enemy was again located. At that time the Bismarck was sighted by a Catalina aircraft of the Coastal Command, in a position about 550 miles west of Land’s End. This aircraft was attacked,- and as a result lost, touch with the enemy battleship half an hour later, but at 11.15 a.m. the Bismarck was sighted by naval aircraft operating from H.M.S. Ark Royal. “Only the battleship Bismarck was seen, and she was then steaming on an easterly course. At this time the King George V and the Rodney were approaching the area, but were not yet sufficiently close behind to bring the enemy to action. “As soon as the Bismarck was sighted by the Ark Royal’s aircraft Admiral Somerville detached the cruiser Sheffield to make contact with and shadow the "Bismarck. During the afternoon a striking force of naval aircraft was dispatched from the Ark Royal to attack with torpedoes, but this proved unsuccessful. “Shortly after 5.30 p.m. the Sheffield made contact with the Bismarck and proceeded to shadow her. Within 20 minutes another striking force of naval aircraft was flown off by the Ark Royal. Successful Attack “This force attacked successfully and one torpedo was seen to hit the Bismarck amidships. A second hit was obtained by a torpedo on the starboard quarter of the Bismarck. “It was subsequently reported that, on being hit during this attack the Bismarck made two complete circles and her speed was again reduced. “During the evening some of our destroyers of the tribal class made contact soon after 11 p.m. “Between 11.20 a.m. and 11.50 a.m. on May 27 the Bismarck was attacked with torpedoes by the Zulu, the Maori and the -Cossack. The Cossack and Maori each scored a hit with one torpedo. After the Maori’s attack it was reported that there was a fire on the forecastle of the Bismarck. “One hour after these attacks by our destroyers, it was reported that the Bismarck appeared to be stopped. She was then about 400 miles due west of Brest and had been pursued by our forces for over 1750 miles. “It was subsequently reported that the Bismarck was again under way

and had made good about eight miles in one hour and was still capable of heavy and accurate gunfire. “At daylight on May 27 another striking force of naval aircraft was despatched from the Ark Royal, but this attack had to be cancelled owing to low visibility. Shortly after daylight the Bismarck engaged our destroyers by gunfire. The Norfolk was in action with the Bismarck almost immediately afterwards and very soon the Bismarck was being engaged by our heavy ships. “Details of this phase of the action have not yet been received. It is known, however, that the Dorsetshire was ordered to sink the Bismarck with torpedoes. •‘The Bismarck sank at one minute past 11 o’clock this morning. “As far as is known at present the only damage sustained by His Majesty’s ships, other than the Hood, is slight damage to the Prince of Wales already referred to.”