February 14th, is Bismarck's launch day! Bismarck was a Bismarck-class battleship of the German Kriegsmarine. Laid down in 1936 and commissioned in 1940, she was one of the most powerful and famous battleships of World War II. During her eight-month service, the German battleship Bismarck carried out only one offensive operation: Operation Rheinübung in May 1941. Accompanied by the heavy cruiser German cruiser Prinz Eugen, she attempted to break into the Atlantic and raid Allied shipping routes. At the Battle of the Denmark Strait, Bismarck sank the British battlecruiser HMS Hood, a loss that deeply shocked the Royal Navy. The battleship HMS Prince of Wales was also damaged and forced to withdraw. However, Bismarck herself sustained damage and abandoned the raiding mission. Following Hood’s sinking, the Royal Navy launched a large-scale pursuit. On 26 May, torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal disabled Bismarck’s steering gear. The next day, she was overwhelmed by British battleships and cruisers. After suffering severe damage and heavy casualties, Bismarck was scuttled by her crew. Most historians agree that she would have eventually sunk due to battle damage. specifications: Displacement: ~41,700 t (standard); ~50,900 t (full load) Length: 250.99 m Beam: 36 m Draft: 10.8 m Speed: 29 knots Armament: 8 x 38 cm (15 in) SK C/34(4 x 2), 12 x 15 cm (5.9 in) SK C/28(6 x 2), 16 x 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/33(8 x 2), 16 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30(8 x 2), 12 × 2 cm (0.79 in) FlaK 30 (12 × 1) Armor: Belt 320 mm, Turrets 360 mm, Main deck 100-120 mm Aircraft carried: 4 × Arado Ar 196 floatplanes Complement: 2,340 officers & men - @ironblood_shikikan