Bismarck by Warlord Games

Victory at Sea: Bismarck

Two Bismarck-class battleships were built for the Kriegsmarine. Bismarck was the first, named after the Chancellor of Germany (Otto von Bismarck). The battleship was laid down in July 1936 and launched in February 1939. She and her sister ship, the Tirpitz, were two of the largest battleships built by a European power, and certainly the largest built by Germany. While their physical power was immense, they also wreaked psychological havoc among the Allies. Churchill was determined not to unleash the two battleships on the Atlantic.

Bismarck's career, however, was very short, lasting only eight months under a single captain, Ernst Lindeman. During this time, she participated in only one offensive operation, which lasted just eight days in May 1941. This operation, codenamed Rheinübung, was intended to attempt what the Allies feared: a breakthrough in the Atlantic and an attack on Allied shipping efforts between Great Britain and North America (together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen).

The two ships were repeatedly sighted off Scandinavia, prompting Great Britain to initiate naval blockade operations. In the ensuing battle, the Battle of the Denmark Strait, the British ships HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales attacked the two vessels. Hood was destroyed for her efforts, and Prince of Wales sustained damage, forcing them to withdraw. However, Bismarck had suffered damage sufficient to end her raiding mission.

The Bismarck was pursued by a Royal Navy seeking revenge for the sinking of HMS Hood. She was attacked by 16 Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers launched from HMS Ark Royal. A direct hit disabled the Bismarck's steering system. The following morning, she suffered crippling damage in an engagement with two British battleships and two cruisers. On May 27, 1941, she was scuttled by her crew and sank with many casualties.

Includes a ship in Warlord Resin.
The model is delivered unassembled and unpainted.