Unlucky Hit Sinks World's Largest Battle Cruiser

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1941, Page 5

Unlucky Hit Sinks World's Largest Battle Cruiser

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, Mav 25. BRITAIN’S LARGEST CAPITAL SHIP, THE BATTLECRUISER HOOD, HAS BEEN SUNK IN A NAVAL ACTION OFF THE COAST OF GREENLAND. A communique, issued yesterday by the Admiralty stated: “British naval forces intercepted early this morning, oft’ the eo'ast of Greenland, German naval forces, including the battleship Bismarck. “The enemy were attacked, and during the ensuing action TOILS. Hood, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L. E. Holland, received an unlucky Hit in a magazine and blew up. “The Bismarck has received damage and pursuit of the enemy continues. “It is feared there will be few survivors from the Hood.” The Hood was under the command of Captain R. Kerr. Tier normal complement was 1341 officers and men.

German Version

The German High Command has issued a communique stating: “A German naval formation operating in the Atlantic encountered strong British naval forces in Icelandic waters. “The Bismarck destroyed the British battle cruiser Hood, and another British battleship was forced to turn away. We are continuing the operations. No damage was done to our ships that is worth mentioning.” The first reaction in Washington to the sinking of the Hood is that immediate and important decisions in United States naval policy are essential. The German naval force, lit would appear, penetrated the zone in which United States naval craft are presumably patrolling. U. S. View The “New York Times” says: “A new decision must be made. We must get aeroplanes overseas. It is to this problem that Mr. Roosevelt must address himself. We hope he will' get down to brass tacks.” Will Bismarck Escape? Judging from British and German communiques, the scene of the HoodBismarck action would appear to be 900 to 1000 miles from the nearest German-occupied point of Norway, says a British Official Wireless message, and this distance would take the Bismarck nearly a day and a half to cover, supposing her speed, estimated to be about 30 knots, had not been reduced in the action with the Hood.

Advantages of the Pursued Although the distance to be covered by the fleeing German forces is a factor in favour of their pursuers, seamen point cut that difficulties in keeping contact with or finding ships, at sea are not realised by those who are hot experienced in them. Everything depends upon visibility, and the balance in this respect is always in favour of the pursued. She has the whole sea to choose from, and can take advantage of local rainstorms or fog, apart from such artificial devices as smokescreens, to change her course again and again when obscured from view of the shadowing craft.

Beginner's Luck

If contact is not established by nightfall or early this morning, and there are no indications that such is the case, it is probable that the “beginner’s luck” of the new German warship held good, and it is advisable to postpone on this occasion the inevitable revenge which the Navy will exact.

An Admiralty communique states that after the engagement yesterday enemy forces made every effort to shake off the pursuit. Later in the evening attack by naval aircraft resulted in at least one torpedo hit on the enemy. Operations are still proceeding, with the object of bringing the enemy forces to close action.

The Hood was built after the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and completed in 1920. She was of 42,100 tons and had a length of 860 feet. Her speed at full power during trials in bad weather was over 32 knots. Her armament consisted of eight 15-inch guns, 12 5.5-inch guns and many smaller guns and machine-guns. The Hood visited Auckland in May, 1924, when she led the Special Service squadron on a voyage round the world.

The Bismarck is the latest addition to Germany’s small list of battleships, making her first appearance last November. The latest German communique reports that the Bismarck sank the Hood in a short, sharp fight, and claims that another British battleship of the George V. class was damaged. Admiral Luet Jens commands the Bismarck. The units under his command claim to have sunk 22 enemy merchantmen and also the auxiliary cruiser Jervis Bay.

Latest reports from London state that British warships are hunting the Bismarck. ,