The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis 1 The ...
The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis 1 The ...
The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis 1 The ...
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wreck</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>DKM</strong> <strong>Bismarck</strong> <strong>−</strong> A <strong>Marine</strong> <strong>Forensics</strong> <strong>Analysis</strong><br />
DAMAGE HIGHLIGHTS<br />
○ About 0859, one <strong>of</strong> Rodney’s 406-mm shells damaged Turret Bruno and blew <strong>of</strong>f<br />
pieces <strong>of</strong> armor from the turret back plate, killing almost all men in exposed portions on<br />
the bridge. Another 406-mm projectile holed the fore bulkhead <strong>of</strong> the lower bridge.<br />
○ At 0859, a 203-mm shell fired by Norfolk hit and disabled the forward fire-control<br />
director. This certainly resulted in a disruption <strong>of</strong> the fire-control function and the deaths<br />
<strong>of</strong> personnel there, including LCDR Adalbert Schneider, the gunnery <strong>of</strong>ficer.<br />
○ Around 0900, several 406-mm shells struck in the vicinity <strong>of</strong> Turret Bruno. One<br />
<strong>of</strong> these shells hit the upper course <strong>of</strong> 220-mm armor on the port side <strong>of</strong> this turret’s<br />
barbette, creating a significant hole that can be seen on the wreck. <strong>The</strong> turret was trained<br />
to port at the time, engaging Rodney. A chunk <strong>of</strong> 220-mm armor was thrust into the<br />
barbette structure as the shell tore its way through the armor. <strong>The</strong>re was a splinter screen<br />
inside the barbette, which appears designed to absorb the fragments from just such<br />
impacts. However, heavy shells which penetrated the barbette armor more-or-less intact<br />
probably would easily pass through the fragment screen, exploding within the barbette<br />
structure. <strong>The</strong>re is every indication that this is what occurred in this instance. Pieces <strong>of</strong><br />
the shell or debris created a chip about 0.5 meters in length in the upper course <strong>of</strong> 220mm<br />
armor on the far (starboard) side <strong>of</strong> the barbette. Other fragments probably found<br />
their way to the powder magazine, where they caused powder canisters to ignite, along<br />
with some charges within the hoists to the turret above. Since both turrets Anton and<br />
Bruno were in action with Rodney at the time <strong>of</strong> this shell hit, the crew in the gun house<br />
was busy loading shells and powder and canisters into the breeches <strong>of</strong> both guns. Pieces<br />
from that shell’s detonation could have found their way into the turret’s inner spaces and<br />
caused a fire or an explosion to occur there.<br />
○ <strong>The</strong>re is also the possibility that another 406-mm shell penetrated the turret<br />
structure itself at the same time. That situation cannot be confirmed until a thorough<br />
examination <strong>of</strong> Turret Bruno is made from its location on the side <strong>of</strong> the seamount, a<br />
challenging task which may never be possible. It is known that the turret’s back plate was<br />
blown <strong>of</strong>f with pieces <strong>of</strong> that wreckage projected aft, killing all personnel in exposed<br />
positions on the bridge. <strong>The</strong> pressure <strong>of</strong> burning powder and cartridges devastated Turret<br />
Bruno, as the rear <strong>of</strong> the turret was uplifted and thrust forward. That massive pivoting<br />
motion created a divot some one-meter in circumference in the inner forward portion <strong>of</strong><br />
the 220-mm armor plate. <strong>The</strong> turret magazines were flooded shortly thereafter to prevent<br />
a catastrophic explosion. Turret Anton was also silenced around this time. <strong>The</strong> turret’s<br />
guns ran down to maximum depression, probably due to the loss <strong>of</strong> hydraulic power.<br />
○ Sometime during 0900-0915, a 203-mm shell from Norfolk struck the S61 turret<br />
(forward starboard secondary turret) jamming its access hatch. <strong>The</strong> turret crew was<br />
trapped and doomed.<br />
○ About the same time, another 406-mm shell from Rodney hit the forward conning<br />
tower. A series <strong>of</strong> 356-mm and 406-mm hits occurred in rapid sequence, killing many <strong>of</strong><br />
the men inside and chipping or holing the 350-mm armor 25 . <strong>The</strong> port door to the conning<br />
tower is open on the seabed, with some apparent damage to its hinges.<br />
25 Frequently, even non-penetrating hits can cause damage and casualties on the interior due to spalling,<br />
with fragments <strong>of</strong> armor ricocheting around the interior. Another devastating phenomenon is the noise<br />
caused as supersonic projectiles impact on the armor, much like being inside a huge bell as it is rung.<br />
21