The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis 1 The ...

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The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis ○ At 0913, a 356-mm shell hit the aft rangefinder over the secondary conning position and carried away the cupola, optics, and rotating arms. The 2001 Expedition found this cupola with a shell hole (356-mm) clean through. ○ At 0921, a 356-mm shell struck and exploded against the face plate of Turret Caesar. There was no damage within the turret, but its left gun would not elevate. Shell fragments from the shell’s detonation penetrated the Aufbaudeck and other decks below, starting small fires that were easily extinguished. These penetrations are still visible in the deck outside the barbette. The Turret Officer, LT Günter Brückner, was forced to halt firing his guns. He turned to his gun crew and said, “Comrades, we have loved life. Now, if nothing changes, we will die as good seamen. You may abandon this turret.” ○ Shells struck the forward port side 150-mm secondary turret (P62) and its magazine, causing internal explosions that tore off the after portion of the roof armor plate (80 mm) and riddled the adjacent superstructure with shell fragments and debris from the turret. ○ At 0927, gun spotters aboard Norfolk observed a 356-mm shell hit near Turret Anton. Firing range of the shell was estimated to be between 7,300 and 10,000 meters. ○ Sometime during 0930-0935 there was a probable shell hit on the upper main battery director, which subsequently toppled over to port. ○ Around 0931, the right barrel 26 of Turret Dora burst. This probably occurred when the turret crew fired the gun after it had been damaged by British shellfire. Petty Officer Friedrich Helms, the gun captain, was able to fire two more rounds from the undamaged left barrel. The hit on the barrel was likely from a 406-mm shell, because soon after the bursting of the right gun, another shell hit the forward port quadrant of Turret Dora’s 220-mm barbette and exploded, making a hole in the surrounding deck and sending splinters through the floor of the turret. ○ Between 0935-0940, LT Emil Jahreis and his party of four men from Damage Control Central were killed by the explosion of a 203-mm shell when they tried to exit the damaged conning tower on the starboard side − the heavy armor door was damaged but left open 27 . Capsizing to port later caused the door to close. ○ At 0940, several 406-mm shells fired from a range of 6,900 to 7,400 meters caused a large explosion just abaft Turret Bruno. A large hole was made in the main deck around the aft port segment of the barbette. A small fire also was reported in the turret. ○ Several shells struck the housing and boom for the port aircraft crane. All that is left of this crane is a stud on the deck, around which the crane rotated. The boom of this crane was torn into two pieces by a shell hit, and the sheave at the tip of the boom was destroyed by a small caliber shell. The impact of these shells carried the part of the boom forward against the port side of the fore command tower 28 . The wrecked boom now lies on the seabed just outside the slide scar. 26 Turret and gun mount barrels are identified as “left” or “right” based on their positioning, as viewed from inside the turret or mount looking towards the gun muzzles. This avoids confusion which can result from identifying a gun based on its location to the port or starboard side of the ship, depending on the direction to which the turret is pointing. 27 Seaman Statz reported the door being open when he was on the Bridge between 0945 and 1020. Statz saw the five bodies there. 28 Observed by Seaman Statz as he swam astern of Bismarck prior to her capsizing. 22
The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis ○ Between 0950 and 1000, Rodney began her trek down the starboard side of Bismarck at very close range, from 3,500 to 4,000 meters. There is evidence of several 406-mm shell hits on the battleship’s starboard side. One shell tore out the 145-mm upper side belt abreast of Turret Anton. Another 406-mm projectile found its way into the windlass room, tearing its way aft before detonating in a berthing space. Another shell penetrated the upper side belt between Turrets Anton and Bruno, burrowing its way below the 50-mm upper armor deck before exploding within. This explosion caused part of the upper belt to be blown out − part of the damaged 145-mm belt armor is overhanging the 320-mm main side belt. The main side belt is angled slightly outward. ○ Around 1005, one of Rodney’s 406-mm shells struck and penetrated the main side belt between 150-mm turrets S61 and S63. It is probable that this projectile exploded within the ship, but this cannot be verified. One survivor recalled that a shell penetrated into one of the starboard boiler rooms; his recollection was contradicted by other survivors. ○ At 1003 a 406-mm shell struck the foredeck on the starboard side and proceeded aft, exploding a crew compartment. It is not clear whether this shell or others caused the ripping away of several starboard 145-mm upper armor belt plates near one the breakwaters. ○ Around 1005, a 356- or 406-mm shell penetrated the bulwark and either ricocheted off the 350-mm armor or passed overboard. Seaman Josef Statz and LTJG Cardinal took shelter in the corner of the bridge wing under fallen comrades before thishell struck. Fragments from that bulwark wounded Statz, despite the fact that he had sought cover under dead comrades and was wearing a leather jacket. ○ A 406-mm shell, possibly in the same salvo, penetrated the Upper Bridge Deck and ripped a path absolutely level across the deck for a distance of 7 meters, before exploding. The point of explosion is indicated by a sudden widening of the previously parallel sides of the shell path. The port side of the bridge was blown out by the violent explosion. The ballistic effects of this 1,077-kilogram shell ripping across the deck are quite graphic. Steel that is 10-12 mm thick has been cut open as if by a can opener and rolled back into two absolutely parallel curls, After 7 meters of travel, the angle diverges rapidly , and one can visualize the shell beginning its detonation. The epicenter of that detonation traveled at almost 700 meters per second along the shell’s trajectory. This damage indicates a shell fired from close range and maximum depression by Rodney after she had circled to starboard and began firing from 3-4,000 meters away. ○ Seaman Statz witnessed the latter shell’s trajectory from a point on the starboard side. He noted that there was a badly wounded officer, whom we have tentatively identified as CAPT Netzbandt, Admiral Lütjens’ chief staff officer, who might have been taking in the scene from a position on the port side of the bridge. This shell probably struck and killed him in its trajectory across the deck. ○ Another heavy hit occurred on the port side of the Upper Bridge Deck. The shell penetrated the bulwark and exploded against the port 350-mm armor door of the forward conning tower. The resulting explosion damaged this door and its hinges. The nature of this damage is sufficient to conclude that this was a 406-mm shell hit. The impact on the port side suggests that it may have occurred as early as 0902 just after the hit on Turret Bruno. It is impossible to judge the trajectory angle (plunging or flat). This could have been the shell that killed the Gunnery Officer, LCDR Adalbert Schneider, and resulted in 23
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