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 />
<strong>The</strong> fore bridge tower was the natural center <strong>of</strong> aim for the British gunners. This view from the<br />
starboard side <strong>of</strong>fers stark evidence <strong>of</strong> the effects <strong>of</strong> this concentrated fire. <strong>The</strong>re were no survivors<br />
who had battle stations inside the conning tower structure.<br />
Chief Warrant Officer (Machinist) Wilhelm Schmidt, in charge <strong>of</strong> Damage Control Team<br />
No. 1, quickly flooded the turret’s magazines to prevent a catastrophic magazine<br />
explosion 30 .<br />
○ Around 1005-1010, a 356-mm shell penetrated the 145-mm upper splinter belt in<br />
Compartment VII on the port side. Its trajectory carried it forward through a main<br />
transverse bulkhead to Compartment VIII and exploded just above deck level outside the<br />
Aft Canteen, where 200 men had assembled to make their escape to the main deck. Over<br />
a hundred <strong>of</strong> these men were killed, including the executive <strong>of</strong>ficer, CDR Hans Oels.<br />
○ King George V resumed fire at 1018, hitting <strong>Bismarck</strong>'s turret Bruno, bridge, and<br />
conning tower. Fire ignited in a pyrotechnic locker. This British battleship ceased fire at<br />
1021.<br />
o It appears that one 203-mm shell from either Norfolk or Dorsetshire penetrated or<br />
became lodged in the 145-mm upper citadel belt abreast <strong>of</strong> Turret 63 (starboard). <strong>The</strong><br />
projectile exploded, however, causing a fire in this turrets’ magazine.<br />
o <strong>The</strong>re are a number <strong>of</strong> gouges and splashes in the upper and lower armor belts from<br />
203-, 152-, andr 134-mm shells.<br />
30 Evidence from Chief Warrant Officer Schmidt in correspondence with author Bill Garzke.<br />
25