This point mencioned by Cohaagen that was really so; a great number of capital ships and others german ships have loss the stern in combat.Prinz Eugen by submarine torpedo, Deutschland by submarine torpedo, Bismarck(also his hull in the bottom of sea is complet minus stern)Graf Spee(the same complet hull without stern in the bottom of the River Plate).
About the Battle of Denmark Strait and the defeat of the force of Adm Holland must consider also: Prince of Wales was no really 100 % combat ready, there was multiple problems in the artillery and there was also civil specialized personnel working still in the ship this day. The combat dispositive utilised by Holland was far of be ideal and his priority was to put Hood the more near possible of the Lutjens force to evite high incoming artillery rounds. That mean heading direct to the Germans with only half of his main artillery in conditions of use.Sun was also in advantage for Lutjens.
That was a victory for Lutjens , but also must consider, this three hits of 356mm in Bismarck had aborted the complet Rheinübung operation.The worst was in the fuel bunkers and had decided Lutjens to take heading to Brest and the separation of Prinz Eugen.
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