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

The Wreck of DKM Bismarck − A Marine Forensics Analysis
Although bottom sediments prevented a survey of the forward 25% of the hull below
Batteriedeck level, it has been estimated from the damage survey done in May 2002 that
approximately 30% of the lower hull is completely missing as a result of this hydraulic outburst.
The lower decks of the ship, beneath the armor deck, have been compressed vertically by 3-4
meters. Most of the missing hull components remain at or near the impact point, 1000 meters upslope
from the main wreck. In a few areas, the lower hull has remained attached to the ship's
bottom, and can be seen lying on top of the sediment next to the wreck. These lower hull
fragments are bent and twisted, probably from the slide down the slope. This slide has also
shoveled tons of bottom sediment into the wreck, like a large scoop. This sediment slopes
downhill inside the wreck, indicating a raised edge just below the sediment, and a cavity inside.
This would be consistent with the shell plating blowing outward down to about the curvature of
the double-bottom, which would be stronger. The combination of hydraulic outburst and the
tearing away of the shell plating make it difficult to determine where there was torpedo damage.
Forward, the hull has been blown outward and is lying on the bottom sediment. This
seems to be true on both sides from forward of the capstans to abeam turret Anton, though on
the starboard side the effect is largely buried by sediments.The blown-out hull emerges from
these sediments just abeam of turret Anton. There is also evidence of buckling in the hull plating
outside of turret Bruno. This is further evidence that the bow struck the seamount first.
Where the “blow-out” effect can be seen clearly is on the port side. It is evident that the
upper decks of the ship (Batteriedeck and Zwischendeck) have been crushed down with the
spaces under them by at least one deck level, possibly two. This would indicate that powerful
forces have crushed the ship in the foc'sle region. The increased intensity of the outburst effect
forward is consistent with a bow-first impact.
An ROV inspection of the interior of the long hole in the hull on the aft starboard side
indicates that the longitudinal bulkhead, which divided the outer trim tank space from the inner
oil tank, has been crushed down in a long, uniform accordion fold, almost like a piece of thick
fabric. This would indicate that the Middle and Lower Platforms have been severely crushed.
This tank inner wall was otherwise undamaged, indicating that its condition was not the result of
the explosion of torpedoes or shells. For this wall to be warped, but not affected by explosion
damage over such a long area, and lying just inboard of such a long open hole in the outer hull,
clearly shows that the outer hole is the result of hydraulic forces and not explosion damage.
An inspection of the overhead inside this long "outburst" hole revealed that the underside
of the massive plating of the armor deck, including its outboard slope, was not damaged and
virtually intact, despite being adjacent to such wholesale destruction of the outer portion of the
ship. Only 0.5 meters from where the hull had been ripped away for more than 30 meters, the
armor deck appears intact. This again supports the idea of uniform fluid pressure creating the
outburst, rather than torpedo or shell explosions. This conclusion seems inescapable.
The 2001 ITN expedition that explored the Bismarck wreck identified these holes as the
evidence of torpedo damage. This supposed "torpedo damage" was as great on the port side as
the starboard, even though most of the torpedo hits were claimed to have occurred on the
starboard side. Previous forensic analysts concluded that a number of unlikely but possible
claimed hits by the cruiser Norfolk and the battleship Rodney could now be confirmed. These
analysts also concluded, as a consequence, that the scuttling claimed by the German survivors
was unlikely and irrelevant, that the torpedo damage inflicted by the British torpedo hits was
more than enough to have caused the ship to sink when it did 37 .
37 Mearns, David, and White, Rob. Hood and Bismarck. London: Channel 4 Books, 2001.
42