10 Questions: Sink the Bismarck! Multiple Choice Quiz | History

Answer: July 1, 1936

The Bismarck was ordered by the German navy on November 16, 1935 and the keel was laid on July 1, 1936. The ship was built at the Blohm & Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, Germany. It would become the largest and most feared German battleship on the high seas.

Answer: February 14, 1939

The Bismarck was named after the 19th century chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. She was launched on February 14, 1939 and was commissioned on August 24, 1940.

Answer: 2,200

The Bismarck could hold about 2200+ men on board. These men would consist of prize crew, non-commissiond officers, enlisted men, and regular officers.

Answer: The Hood

In the Denmark Straits, the Bismarck encountered the Hood and the Prince of Wales. The Bismarck lobbed a shell into the Hood and it exploded in a magazine bunker. All but 3 men perished on the Hood when it exploded and sank.

Answer: Winston Churchill

After the destruction of the Hood, Britain knew the Bismarck had to be stopped. The only way she could be stopped was to sink her. Winston Churchill, prime minister of Great Britain, gave the famous order to sink the Bismarck. The race was on to find her and destroy her!

Answer: No

A lucky shot by a torpedo plane jammed the rudder and caused the Bismarck to be forced on a trip which would make her go in circles literally. Attempts to free the rudder were unsuccessful and the Bismarck steered in the direction of the Rodney and King George V. Torpedoes came from destroyers and lasted all through the night. One salvo hit the bridge and killed quite a few of Bismarck's senior officers.

Answer: Rodney and King George V

The Rodney and King George V stationed themselves for the best hits on Bismarck. The Rodney maneuvered to get a shot at her superstructure while the King George V positioned herself to fire from further behind. The Norfolk and Dorsetshire also helped out in the assault.

Answer: Yes

The Bismarck was able to fire back, but it was to no avail. Her serious list to port and her inability to maneuver properly left her a sitting duck. The list to port made it difficult to fire off her massive guns. The Germans decided to scuttle the ship as to not let it get captured.

Answer: 2,100

Despite the attempts of the Dorsetshire and the Maori, only 110 sailors from the Bismarck were picked up. They could have rescued more, but the threat of U-boats hampered British efforts. U-74 picked up five more a few days later. Over 2,100 German sailors went down with the ship. Some thought the captain had died in the initial blast to the bridge, but others thought they saw him going down alive with his command.

Answer: June 8, 1989

Dr. Robert Ballard, oceanographer for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, found the Bismarck on June 8, 1989. The Bismarck lies about three miles below the surface. There is extensive damage to the superstructure from the constant shelling and explosives. Part of the stern is also missing. The Bismarck lies upright on the bottom.