Hms Hood vs. Kms Bismarck

[Wustenfuchs]

Great video!

YouTube - Hood vs Bismark

[Klaus]

I don't know why but fireing ships alwas give me the creeps.

[Wustenfuchs]

I wonder why Admiral Lütgens hesitated to return fire? And is it proper for the Captain, Lindemann, to overide his superior officer? I can only figure that since he was the Captain it was his ship and he had the last word. Sorry the video didn't show the rest of the story.

[MAGNA]

Originally Posted by Wüstenfuchs

I wonder why Admiral Lütgens hesitated to return fire? And is it proper for the Captain, Lindemann, to overide his superior officer? I can only figure that since he was the Captain it was his ship and he had the last word. Sorry the video didn't show the rest of the story.

That would be the case although he would usually defer to the Admiral. It was also strange how Lutjens decided to stick so close to his orders and not go after Prince of Wales when it was very likely the two German ships would have sunk it.

[PatBC]

I think he was correct to follow his orders. While the Germans might have sunk the PoW, what if they suffered damage causing the them to need to turn back to port. Look what happened when they get forced to head to port. Roaming free in the Atlantic he could have the shutdown of most the Atlantic convoys a far more serious effect on Allied War effort then loosing PoW would be.

[MAGNA]

I suppose so although Bismark had already been damaged in the encounter.

I have also often wondered why she was sent out when she was anyway. It seemed like a big gamble to me.

[McCoy]

You won't win without a gamble now n' then. But it sure is easyer to play with a full deck...

[PatBC]

I think she was sent becuase German Raiders had been successful at that point. I do not think the German command realized how hard the RN would go after her however.

[Pylon1357]

Had the Bismark NOT sunk the HOOD, I don't think the British would have come after her with such vengeance.

This may have gone through the minds of those on board, and thus a delay in the return fire. I do disagree though with the idea of not going after the POW. Certainly the POW was no match for the Bismark.

[MAGNA]

To the British the thought of Bismark getting hold of a convoy would have been a nightmare. I don't know what the effect of a capital ship in the sea lanes would have been on other countries as far as their merchant fleets would have been concerned either.

I have been told the U-Boats were still gearing up at that time so Bismark and Prinz Eugen were sent to keep the pressure on the supply lines.