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Robert Ballard's Bismarck
Not satisfied with having found the Titanic, this great explorer of Oceans set off in search of what many people believe to be the greatest Battleship ever built - the Bismarck. Whilst we are treated, once again to excellent illustrations by Ken Marschall of the wreck itself, my own favourite series of images are across pages 218/9 and show the Bismarck sinking, how it turned upside down allowing the big guns to fall away from their mountings, how it then turned right side up as it continued it's voyage - 3 miles down, until it came to rest creating a massive underwater landslide. It is because there are no currents down there that that landslide was found - exactly as it was on the day it was created by this great ship in May 1941. Having the achieved yet another outstanding feat of finding a famous - but elusive ship so far beneath the ocean's surface, Dr Ballard has, once again put together the most complete account of that search, discovery and final success. He also includes an extremely detailed, accurate and well portrayed account of the life and death of the ship itself. As with the Titanic, all the facts and historic photographs are there and, as I know from researching lesser ships, he really has done the most thorough job of work on all fronts. From the book's front cover onwards we are, once again, treated to the most "outstanding" collection of artwork created by Ken Marschall. From thousands of photographic images taken far below the surface, Bob Ballard created montage after montage of the various sections and profiles of this great ship so that Mr Marschall was able to provide us with paintings which are as accurate as colour photographs. Once again (and it will not be for the last time!) I congrat
231 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Robert D. Ballard
86 books171 followersRobert Duane Ballard (born June 30, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas) is a former commander in the United States Navy and an oceanographer who is most noted for his work in underwater archaeology. He is most famous for the discoveries of the wrecks of the RMS Titanic in 1985, the battleship Bismarck in 1989, and the wreck of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in 1998. Most recently he discovered the wreck of John F. Kennedy's PT-109 in 2003 and visited the Solomon Islander natives who saved its crew. Ballard is also great-grandson of American Old West lawman Bat Masterson.
from wikipedia.org
see also
http://literati.net/Ballard/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/fie...
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pa...
from wikipedia.org
see also
http://literati.net/Ballard/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/fie...
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pa...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 15, 2026
The hunt. The fight. The discovery. The colour underwater photographs. The dead of his son.
the fold-out pages that mark every detail on the ship in 1941 vs. 1989.
Within the meat of underwater archaeology this is primer rib.
Now I need more Bismarck & more Ballard with other wrecks.
the fold-out pages that mark every detail on the ship in 1941 vs. 1989.
Within the meat of underwater archaeology this is primer rib.
Now I need more Bismarck & more Ballard with other wrecks.
August 22, 2010
One of my earliest memories is of living in Texas (I must have been in 2nd grade or so)and forcing my babysitter to listen to my monologue regarding the Bismarck.
February 14, 2021
It’s crazy to think how this one ship could’ve changed the entire course of the war. This book was written by the exact same person who found the Titanic, Robert D Ballard. Although I was more interested in the history behind the Bismarck rather then the search for it, I enjoyed the whole book thoroughly.
The Bismarck was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard on 1 July 1936. After successful sea trials, the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugene were assigned Operation Rheinubung, a top secret mission aiming to sink as much allied shipping in the Atlantic. Although the mission was top secret, the British eventually found out and literally sent two whole fleets after the two ships. After some ferocious fighting between the Nazi ships and the two British ships the HMS Hood and the HMS Prince of Wales, the Bismarck managed to blow the Hood sky and attempted to break through the the Denmark straight into the Atlantic.
The action kept me on the edge of my seat. Everything was very suspenseful and very real. The Bismarck was eventually sank and found by Ballard and his crew, after covering almost
100 square miles of ocean floor. Once they find it, they found out that the ship had been carried away by a landslide almost 20 miles away where it was originally sunk. Amazingly, it was in good shape.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in naval warfare or World War Two.
The Bismarck was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard on 1 July 1936. After successful sea trials, the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugene were assigned Operation Rheinubung, a top secret mission aiming to sink as much allied shipping in the Atlantic. Although the mission was top secret, the British eventually found out and literally sent two whole fleets after the two ships. After some ferocious fighting between the Nazi ships and the two British ships the HMS Hood and the HMS Prince of Wales, the Bismarck managed to blow the Hood sky and attempted to break through the the Denmark straight into the Atlantic.
The action kept me on the edge of my seat. Everything was very suspenseful and very real. The Bismarck was eventually sank and found by Ballard and his crew, after covering almost
100 square miles of ocean floor. Once they find it, they found out that the ship had been carried away by a landslide almost 20 miles away where it was originally sunk. Amazingly, it was in good shape.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in naval warfare or World War Two.
April 22, 2025
“Frank was in pretty bad shape, but was typically downplaying the seriousness of his injury. ‘I’ll be back on the job tomorrow,’ he told me stoically. I wasn’t so sure. Then I talked to Captain Latter, who assured me Frank was in no mortal danger. He would be in pain for a few days but then he should be fine. I decided against a time-consuming detour. Jack Maurer accepted my decision gracefully, but I knew he thought I was wrong.”
In 1988-1989 Ballard and his crew sought and found the wreck of the battleship Bismarck. In 1985 they found and photographed the Titanic. The book tells the story of the Bismarck, its sinking and the search for its resting place. It’s profusely illustrated with photographs and paintings of the wreck.
Most TV shows about underwater exploration are largely taken up with complaints about how difficult it is, the weather, and the fragility of the equipment used. There’s a certain amount of this in the book—nothing underwater goes smoothly—but the many illustrations and the text make up for this. A good read for those interested in the subject.
In 1988-1989 Ballard and his crew sought and found the wreck of the battleship Bismarck. In 1985 they found and photographed the Titanic. The book tells the story of the Bismarck, its sinking and the search for its resting place. It’s profusely illustrated with photographs and paintings of the wreck.
Most TV shows about underwater exploration are largely taken up with complaints about how difficult it is, the weather, and the fragility of the equipment used. There’s a certain amount of this in the book—nothing underwater goes smoothly—but the many illustrations and the text make up for this. A good read for those interested in the subject.
July 12, 2018
I could not put this book down. It was so fascinating and the descriptions of the chase had me on the edge of my seat. It's a brilliantly put together book and gives you enough facts that you feel like you're learning a lot, without overwhelming you with too much detail. The eyewitness accounts were superb and you could really imagine what it was like for them.
I had one slight annoyance with the structure- Chapter 2 discusses the building of the Bismarck then chapter 3 fast forwards to the modern age. Chapter 4-7 then all focus back on the Bismarck during WW2 so chapter 3 just felt a bit disjointed and would have been better placed either as chapter 2 or 7. There were also many personal references to Ballard's son and their relationship which I thought was odd but it does become clear in the Epilogue.
I just loved this book.
I had one slight annoyance with the structure- Chapter 2 discusses the building of the Bismarck then chapter 3 fast forwards to the modern age. Chapter 4-7 then all focus back on the Bismarck during WW2 so chapter 3 just felt a bit disjointed and would have been better placed either as chapter 2 or 7. There were also many personal references to Ballard's son and their relationship which I thought was odd but it does become clear in the Epilogue.
I just loved this book.
April 28, 2024
A fascinating account of the discovery of the Bismarck, along with the events of her fateful maiden voyage. However, the actual exploration of the ship feels almost a footnote.
I'll have to add accounts of subsequent expeditions to learn more
I'll have to add accounts of subsequent expeditions to learn more
June 28, 2026
Great book, story is excitingly told. I personally don't share all of Ballard's opinions. But he simply did it and I have huge respect to that. Lots of reports from survivors and colored pictures inside. Excellent for divers, wreck- and/or historical enthusiasts
September 22, 2022
Interesting account of the battle that sank the Bismarck. Way too much on the search for the sunken ship.
January 11, 2013
Nice technical descriptions (as usual with Ballard). Very nice photographs and graphics illustrating the quest. A bit like his descriptions of the initial Titanic discovery, but then, I guess you've been in one submersible, you've been in them all...
October 13, 2015
Great illustrations! And I really liked how Ballard described the action in the single voyage of the Bismarck, where she sunk the Hood and subsequently got sunk herself. I was less interested in the narrative that described how Ballard found the ship.
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February 10, 2009Anyone who wants to know about what happened to Germany's mightiest battleship, her crew, and the fateful first voyage needs to read this book.
March 2, 2011
This book has allmost all the facts and details of the Bismarck.If you want to know what happend to the Bismarck then read this Book.
October 24, 2013
Easy to read with great illustrations, photographs and maps!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews