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Originally Posted by Wulfmann
The Bismarck was sinking when the Germans scuttled the ship. They did so not to have bragging rights. He was shot up to the point of being defenseless and they feared the indignation of being boarded.
The ship would have sunk without the scuttling but they hurried it up.
I saw Cameron’s nice show and he did some fine photography and a great shot of the oh so jammed rudder, what doomed the ship anyway one looks at it.
But, he is ignorant of what torpedo damage is and his assessments are simply wrong. Those hits hurt and the fact they did not cause a complete collapse should not be construed to mean they did not cause serious flooding. The ship was dragged along the side of a mountain and additional damage left assessment speculative.
The Germans sped up the sinking of a sinking ship and they succeeded in preventing a feared boarding although I have not heard any Brit account say they were intending to board I understand the logic behind the scuttling for pride and that great ship deserved to go down proud.
That episode ranks the Bismarck as the greatest warship of the 20th century! Some will argue that but they are fools. Count the books, the many TV series and even the star of a movie 
Wulfmann |
Yes agree with this and the others that it doesn't matter. Bismarck was irreparably damaged. Even if peace was declared and she was towed back to Germany. Greatest of the 20th century? Perhaps, why must there be one "greatest" anyway? Poor ol' Tirpitz forgotten and lonely up in Norway.