User:WarshipFoxy/collection

Operation Rheinübung Operation Rheinübung was Germany's attempt in May 1941 to break into the North Atlantic and strike Allied shipping using battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. The operation led to the fateful Battle of the Denmark Strait, the sinking of the "Mighty Hood," and a relentless Royal Navy pursuit that ended with the destruction of Bismarck days later.

Last Voyage of Bismarck

German Raiders on the Way to the North Atlantic

In the early hours of May 21, 1941, German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen slipped out of Grimstadfjord near Bergen, Norway, to begin Operation Rheinübung. Their mission was to break into the North Atlantic and attack Allied merchant shipping.

Maintaining strict radio silence and screened by low clouds, rain, and mist, the ships moved through the fjords and then north along the Norwegian coast. As they steered toward the Denmark Strait, they encountered worsening weather, fog, and drifting ice, which reduced visibility while they pressed on toward their fateful encounter with HMS Hood.

Battle of the Denmark Strait

At dawn on May 24, 1941, in the Denmark Strait, Royal Navy capital ships HMS Hood and Prince of Wales engaged their German counterparts. Closing in at high speed, Hood opened fire first, but the British initially targeted the wrong ship, concentrating fire on Prinz Eugen. As the range closed, both German ships focused on Hood.

Minutes into the action, a salvo from Bismarck struck close to Hood's aft ammunition magazines. A vast explosion split the battlecruiser in two. She sank within minutes, leaving only three survivors from a crew of more than 1,400. Bismarck, damaged but still operational, turned south into the Atlantic.

Hunters and Prey

On the evening of May 26, 1941, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal launched Swordfish torpedo bombers against Bismarck, which was making her way toward Brest through stormy seas. Earlier attacks had failed or mistakenly targeted HMS Sheffield, but a final wave of Swordfish pressed home through cloud and heavy anti-aircraft fire.

Approaching at low level, they dropped torpedoes from different bearings, forcing Bismarck into violent turns. One torpedo struck near the stern, jamming her rudders hard to port. Crippled and unable to steer, Bismarck began circling in the open sea. This single hit sealed her fate, preventing Bismarck from getting into the area where the Luftwaffe could cover her retreat to France.

Bismarck's Final Battle

At dawn on May 27, 1941, a crippled Bismarck faced British naval forces, including battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney, on heavy seas. Unable to maneuver after the fateful torpedo hit, she was quickly surrounded and pounded with heavy shells at close range.

Bismarck's final engagement lasted less than an hour. Her main turrets were smashed, the superstructure wrecked, and fires raged along the decks as cruisers and destroyers joined the attack. With Bismarck burning, British ships closed in to finish her with gunfire and torpedoes. By mid-morning, Bismarck had finally sunk, with only 116 crew members surviving out of a crew of more than 2,200.

Reward

Completing this sub-collection provides the following reward:
Eiserner Kanzler Commemorative Flag

• On May 18, 1941, the German Navy launched Operation Rheinübung—a famous Atlantic raid carried out by battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. Ernst Lindemann, Bismarck's commander, addressed his crew the following day and cited a traditional German hunters' toast: "Good hunting and a rich bag!"

The German raiders sank British battlecruiser Hood soon after. In turn, Bismarck herself was destroyed by the Royal Navy on May 27, bringing Operation Rheinübung to an end with the loss of one of the German Navy’s most important capital ships.

Reward

Seasoned Commander

Nation	Name	Unique Traits
	Ernst Lindemann Hermelin with 10 skill points
			Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).
			Vigilance (enhanced skill) increases the detection range of enemy torpedoes +35% (normally +25%).