Read Battleship Bismarck Online
Authors: Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg
a. If the steamer is radioing before the ship gets within firing range, the message must be interrupted by the sending of a prepared radio message (in the English language) or a radio weather report. As soon as the steamer is in effective range, open fire. Whenever possible take the
bridge superstructure
under fire. (On most steamers the radio room is behind or below the bridge.)
b. If the steamer is radioing within the effective range of the heavy flak, open fire immediately and destroy her radio installation as in paragraph a.
So that tankers and valuable ships come into our hands as intact as possible, do not fire any longer than is necessary to prevent the transmission of signals. Establish good connections between the radio room and the bridge.
Approach a steamer so that one side is to leeward, quickly bring the ship to a stop, and lower a boat immediately.
The boarding party will take over all important points (bridge, charthouse, radio room, engine room) and have the crew of the steamer assemble immediately on the upper deck.
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Note: The right-hand column shows where the ships were before the pursuit of the
Bismarck
began.
| | |
Battleship |
| Scapa Flow |
Battleship |
| Scapa Flow |
Battleship |
| En route from Clyde to Boston with the troop transport |
Battle Cruiser |
| Clyde, assigned to troop convoy WS-8B |
Battle Cruiser |
| Scapa Flow |
Aircraft Carrier |
| Scapa Flow, assigned to troop convoy WS-8B |
Cruiser |
| Denmark Strait, on patrol |
Cruiser |
| Refueling at Reykjavik, Iceland |
Cruiser |
| Scapa Flow |
Cruiser |
| Scapa Flow |
Cruiser |
| Scapa Flow |
Cruiser |
| Scapa Flow |
Cruiser |
| En route to Reykjavik, Iceland |
Cruiser |
| Off the Azores, on patrol |
Cruiser |
| Faeroe Islands passage, on patrol |
Cruiser |
| Faeroe Islands passage, on patrol |
Destroyer |
| En route to Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| En route to Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| At sea with |
Destroyer |
| At sea with |
Destroyer |
| At sea with |
Destroyer |
| At sea with |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Londonderry |
| | |
Cruiser |
| En route to Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, with battle cruiser |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, with battle cruiser |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, with battle cruiser |
Destroyer |
| Londonderry |
| ||
Destroyer |
| Clyde, assigned to troop convoy |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, assigned to troop convoy |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, assigned to troop convoy |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, assigned to troop convoy |
Destroyer |
| Clyde, assigned to troop convoy |
| | |
Destroyer |
| Scapa Flow |
F | | |
Battle Cruiser |
| Gibraltar |
Aircraft Carrier |
| Gibraltar |
Cruiser |
| Gibraltar |
Destroyer |
| Gibraltar |
Destroyer |
| Gibraltar |
Destroyer |
| Gibraltar |
Destroyer |
| Gibraltar |
Destroyer |
| Gibraltar |
Destroyer |
| Gibraltar |
| ||
Battleship | Ramillies | At sea, escorting convoy HX-127 |
Battleship | Revenge | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| ||
Cruiser | Dorsetshire | At sea, escorting convoy SL-74 |
The following submarines were also deployed: | ||
| Minerva | On patrol off southwestern Norway |
| P-31 | Scapa Flow |
| Sealion | English Channel |
| Seawolf | English Channel |
| Sturgeon | English Channel |
| Pandora | En route from Gibraltar to Great Britain |
| Tigris | Clyde |
| H-44 | Rothesay |