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 />
A 203-mm shell caused this damage to the left 105-mm gun on antiaircraft Mount 41. (Slide 45D)<br />
<strong>The</strong> port aircraft catapult, an 18-meter truss-like structure, was located on the seafloor<br />
perfectly upright like a tower, 500 meters northeast <strong>of</strong> the main wreck. Approximately 13-14<br />
meters <strong>of</strong> the structure are visible above the sediment. It may have fallen <strong>of</strong>f when the ship listed<br />
or when it capsized, or been blown <strong>of</strong>f the ship by a torpedo hit amidships at deck level, after the<br />
port Batteriedeck had submerged due to the port list. Since it is partially buried, it is not possible<br />
to determine if it was damaged by shellfire.<br />
<strong>The</strong> port and starboard cranes are missing. <strong>The</strong> boom <strong>of</strong> the starboard crane is detached<br />
and lying on the port aft superstructure, projecting over the barbette <strong>of</strong> Turret Caesar. This<br />
anomaly leads to interesting speculation <strong>−</strong> as the ship righted itself in the water column, possibly<br />
the boom, having some buoyancy and probably entangled in the wrecked superstructure <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Bismarck</strong>, settled onto the after superstructure and barbette opening as the wreck continued its<br />
plunge to the seafloor, eventually sliding down a seamount. <strong>The</strong> forward end <strong>of</strong> the port crane<br />
boom was found alongside the slide scar. It was detached from its after portion by a direct shell<br />
hit, while rollers for the wire rope rigging were shot away by small caliber shell fire.<br />
Even a cursory examination reveals that the damage on the port side is more extensive<br />
than to starboard. <strong>The</strong> battleships concentrated their fire on the port side in the initial stages <strong>of</strong><br />
the battle. Rodney moved to the starboard side for a short time after 0950. King George V<br />
remained on the starboard side, closing to a range <strong>of</strong> 6-8,000 meters near the conclusion <strong>of</strong> her<br />
gunfire. <strong>The</strong> capsizing process caused much <strong>of</strong> the loose material to slide into the sea.<br />
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