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Battleship Bismarck: A Design and Operational History
Battleship Bismarck is a marine forensics analysis and engineering study of the design, operation, and loss of Germany's greatest battleship, drawing on survivors' accounts and the authors' combined decades of experience in naval architecture and command at sea. The investigation has covered fifty-six years of painstaking research, during which the authors conducted extensive interviews and correspondence with the ship's designers and survivors of the Battle of Denmark Strait and Bismarck's final battle. Albert Schnarke, former gunnery officer of DKM Tirpitz , sister ship of Bismarck , aided greatly by translating and circulating early manuscript materials to those who participated in the design and operation. Survivors of Bismarck's engagements actively contributed to this comprehensive study, including Vice Admiral (then Lieutenant) D.B.H Wildish (RN), damage control officer aboard HMS Prince of Wales , who located photographs of battle damage to his ship. After the wreck of the Bismarck was discovered in June 1989, the authors served as technical consultants to Dr. Robert Ballard, who led three trips to the site. Filmmaker and explorer James Cameron contributed a chapter of his comprehensive overview of his deep-sea explorations of Bismarck , illustrated with his team's remarkable photographs of the shipwreck. The result of these nearly six decades of research and collaboration is an engrossing and encyclopedic account of the events surrounding one of the most epic naval battles of World War II. Battleship Bismarck has finally resolved some of the major questions such as, "Who sank the Bismarck , the British or the Germans?"
- GenresHistoryWorld War II
624 pages, Hardcover
Published May 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 9, 2023
Very good research, the title is appropriate as this book is very detailed regarding the analysis of the design of Bismarck and its short but action packed operational life. The qualities and shortcomings of the design of Bismarck became apparent under combat conditions. Data collected during undersea visits to both the wreck of Hood and Bismarck enabled the authors to accomplish a forensic analysis of both vessels.
There is an interesting discussion about the tactics of both British and German fleets. Bismarck and Tirpitz were the most powerful battleships when they entered service, but they were not the most powerful warships being displaced by the aircraft carriers. The Royal Navy which had built numerous solid fleet carriers deployed two of them to provide research and attack assets to the Home Fleet tracking Bismarck. Obsolete Swordfish planes were successfull with three torpedo hits, the most important one disabling the rudders of Bismarck. So it is because of planes that the victory of the big guns became possible with the Bismarck being unable to manoeuver. Interesting detail provided by the authors: a German U boat was in position to torpedo the aircraft carrier Ark Royal but was at the end of its cruise without armament remaining, that could have changed the whole situation. But in the end the authors demonstrate that the German surface fleet was ill conceived for cruiser warfare with its short legged cruisers and its major units unprotected by aircraft carriers. The aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin was never completed when Goering was heading the armament ministry; eventually the Tirpitz, a sister ship spent its whole operational life in anchorage in Norway under the umbrella of the Luftwaffe and was never involved in combat operations. But it did mobilize important units of the British Home Fleet.
If Germany would have used its resources to massively build a submarine fleet from 1937 instead of building impressive but inefficient battleships it would have fared better in the battle of the Atlantic. Bismarck, Tirpitz and for that matter the japanese Yamato and Musashi were inefficient use of financial and material resources to accomplish the strategic goals pursued by their countries. I enjoyed the book, the only ctiticism I would have is the numerous repetitions which were annoying. A book by three authors is a challenge, better editing would have helped with the flow of the story.
There is an interesting discussion about the tactics of both British and German fleets. Bismarck and Tirpitz were the most powerful battleships when they entered service, but they were not the most powerful warships being displaced by the aircraft carriers. The Royal Navy which had built numerous solid fleet carriers deployed two of them to provide research and attack assets to the Home Fleet tracking Bismarck. Obsolete Swordfish planes were successfull with three torpedo hits, the most important one disabling the rudders of Bismarck. So it is because of planes that the victory of the big guns became possible with the Bismarck being unable to manoeuver. Interesting detail provided by the authors: a German U boat was in position to torpedo the aircraft carrier Ark Royal but was at the end of its cruise without armament remaining, that could have changed the whole situation. But in the end the authors demonstrate that the German surface fleet was ill conceived for cruiser warfare with its short legged cruisers and its major units unprotected by aircraft carriers. The aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin was never completed when Goering was heading the armament ministry; eventually the Tirpitz, a sister ship spent its whole operational life in anchorage in Norway under the umbrella of the Luftwaffe and was never involved in combat operations. But it did mobilize important units of the British Home Fleet.
If Germany would have used its resources to massively build a submarine fleet from 1937 instead of building impressive but inefficient battleships it would have fared better in the battle of the Atlantic. Bismarck, Tirpitz and for that matter the japanese Yamato and Musashi were inefficient use of financial and material resources to accomplish the strategic goals pursued by their countries. I enjoyed the book, the only ctiticism I would have is the numerous repetitions which were annoying. A book by three authors is a challenge, better editing would have helped with the flow of the story.
February 17, 2022
When this weighty tome arrived I was tremendously excited. Just shy of A4 portrait size (as wide but not as tall), this fat hardback looks terrific. I'm gradually growing more fascinated with war at sea, with special focus on WWII and the Napoleonic era, i.e. in conjunction with my mini-military modelmaking and figure collecting.
My very small WWII naval collection is slowly growing: I have models of Bismarck and. u-Boat, several films, such as Sink the Bismarck, and a number of books, ranging from general histories such as Jonathan Dimbleby’s War in the Atlantic, through to more specific titles, such as this handsome new one from Seaforth.
It's interesting to note the involvement of film-maker James Cameron, of Titanic and Avatar fame. Anyway, on to the meat of the issue: the book itself. Well, first off I'm starting this review whilst only part way through the book - I'm at the point where Bismarck, Prinz Eugen and several other vessels are embarking on Operation Rheinübung, heading for the northern Atlantic to engage in commerce raiding.
So far the book has been heavily weighted towards a textual rendering of the history of the Bismarck. And much more besides. The plus side of this is a great deal of detail, not just about the Bismarck, but about naval warfare in WWI, post-/inter-War developments, the Kriegsmarine at large, and even the Royal Navy and beyond. The down side of this is that it can be heavy going, especially when information is repeated.
I estimate that the text could fairly easily have been judiciously trimmed by somewhere around 10-25%, without losing any detail. This would in turn free up more space for more/better pictures. There are lots of photos, many of them of the Blohm and Voss shipbuilders' model of Bismarck. But there could - indeed, I think should - have been more from, for example, the Bundesarchiv.
For example, whilst the text goes into great detail about the building and modifications made (both to Bismarck and many other vessels, both British and German), there are very few corresponding images of the building or maintenance of Bismarck. It would also have been nice to have had more use made of builder's plans, of the type that appear in the ...
Having made these critical observations, this book remains a fantastic resource, and a beautiful object, clearly the work of men who are both passionate about and deeply knowledgeable on this very interesting subject.
My very small WWII naval collection is slowly growing: I have models of Bismarck and. u-Boat, several films, such as Sink the Bismarck, and a number of books, ranging from general histories such as Jonathan Dimbleby’s War in the Atlantic, through to more specific titles, such as this handsome new one from Seaforth.
It's interesting to note the involvement of film-maker James Cameron, of Titanic and Avatar fame. Anyway, on to the meat of the issue: the book itself. Well, first off I'm starting this review whilst only part way through the book - I'm at the point where Bismarck, Prinz Eugen and several other vessels are embarking on Operation Rheinübung, heading for the northern Atlantic to engage in commerce raiding.
So far the book has been heavily weighted towards a textual rendering of the history of the Bismarck. And much more besides. The plus side of this is a great deal of detail, not just about the Bismarck, but about naval warfare in WWI, post-/inter-War developments, the Kriegsmarine at large, and even the Royal Navy and beyond. The down side of this is that it can be heavy going, especially when information is repeated.
I estimate that the text could fairly easily have been judiciously trimmed by somewhere around 10-25%, without losing any detail. This would in turn free up more space for more/better pictures. There are lots of photos, many of them of the Blohm and Voss shipbuilders' model of Bismarck. But there could - indeed, I think should - have been more from, for example, the Bundesarchiv.
For example, whilst the text goes into great detail about the building and modifications made (both to Bismarck and many other vessels, both British and German), there are very few corresponding images of the building or maintenance of Bismarck. It would also have been nice to have had more use made of builder's plans, of the type that appear in the ...
Having made these critical observations, this book remains a fantastic resource, and a beautiful object, clearly the work of men who are both passionate about and deeply knowledgeable on this very interesting subject.
June 15, 2021
Interesting Detail but too repetitive
WW II buffs will find this book interesting but frustrating. The detail, pictures, charts, personal stories all help define this period of warfare history. The book would be twice as good if it was half as long. Too many details are repeated over and over from all perspectives. A more integrated, shorter book would have better kept the interest of the reader
.
WW II buffs will find this book interesting but frustrating. The detail, pictures, charts, personal stories all help define this period of warfare history. The book would be twice as good if it was half as long. Too many details are repeated over and over from all perspectives. A more integrated, shorter book would have better kept the interest of the reader
.
March 30, 2021
So detailed
Most comprehensive book l have read on the short history of the Bismarck. Lots of technical information included together with diagrams, maps and photos. Would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the Bismarck.
Most comprehensive book l have read on the short history of the Bismarck. Lots of technical information included together with diagrams, maps and photos. Would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the Bismarck.
December 31, 2021
Very detailed account of the first and last voyage of the Bismarck, but there is a lot of repetition in the narrative, which sometimes makes things confusing as the authors keep moving backwards.
April 9, 2023
A weighty tome in every way! Not for the casual reader, but probably the definitive work on the subject.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews