Mark from the States Reacts To Hunt the Bismarck! Amazing Story. Come Learn Something New

[@PeterDay81]

Hood sank stern first with 1,418 men aboard. Only three survived: Ordinary Signalman Ted Briggs (1923-2008), Able Seaman Robert Tilburn (1921-1995), and Midshipman William John Dundas (1923-1965).

[@Peterraymond67]

Hello Mark. My late father used to tell us about the Bismarck and the role of the Fairey Swordfish. During the war dad was a rear gunner/radio operator in the Fleet Air Arm. He flew in Swordfish regularly, ther nickname for the biplane was The Stringbag. He mainly flew in the Indian Ocean on Anti-Submarine patrols from both shore stations and carriers. But, he was proud of the work that the Fleet Air Arm and the Swordfish did. It was a very outdated plane, a biplane that had a top speed of 90 mph fully loaded. It could also fly at a height so low that the Bismark’s big guns couldn’t drop their elevation enough to hit the planes.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Amazing

[@johnp8131]

They make it initially sound that 'Mighty Hood' was more powerful than the 'Prince of Wales', it wasn't. Also, unlike some of the Royal Navy's other Battle Cruisers, Hood was due a refit that hadn't yet happened. Fun fact, the third Dr Who, Jon Pertwee, was a crew member on the Hood. He only missed this because he had been selected for Officer training. Later in Naval intelligence, he worked alongside Ian Fleming.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Did not know that

[@reluctantheist5224]

Well done Mark. " The Hood " or ' HMS Hood " never " the HMS Hood "

[@nigelleyland166]

I'm sure I read somewher the the Swordfish (Stringbag) was the most successful torpedo bomber of WW2 in all theatres. The latest technology is not always the best, the US Marines were happy to continue using the Harrier long after the UK retired them, and when the Warthogs are retired from service, I'm sure I can think of a European country that would love to have them. F16's are long in the tooth but highly desirable and I do recall some Aussie cast offs being repurposed elsewhere. It may be old, that don't mean it don't work! A bit like you and I Mark. lol

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Yes I like it

[@pauldurkee4764]

The swordfish also took part in the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto, in fact the Japanese navy studied that attack in preparation for the attack on Pearl Harbour, they were both shallow anchorages and the Japanese wanted to know how the British used torpedoes.

[@Dyrla67]

Sink the Bismarck! (based on a Churchill's order to the Admiralty 'You must sink the Bismarck') is a great film depicting it's last 9 days. Based on a book by CS Forester (author of the Hornblower books) and directed by Lewis Gilbert, who went onto direct 3 Bond films and Educating Rita amongst many others, it tells the story of various parties involved in these fateful events including, unusual for a war film, scenes from the Admiralty War Rooms to link all the naval action. Wonderful film starring Kenneth More and Dana Winters. It also stars Esmond Knight as Captain Leach of HMS Prince of Wales, who served as a gunnery officer on board Prince of Wales, and was seriously injured and blinded during the battle with Bismarck, and real life journalist Edward R. Murrow as himself: Ed Murrow, was CBS London radio correspondent who rose to fame for his live broadcast during WWII. There are also a ton of cameos from past and future stars, too many to mention.

[@chrisaskin6144]

Some details aren't mentioned, for instance, before the final confrontation HMS Sheffield a cruiser was tasked to follow and shadow the Bismarck, and in the course of it's duties came under friendly fire when a sortie of Fairey Swordfish attacked it believing it to be the Bismarck, the Sheffield having to perform a series of evasive movements. Fortunately, the Swordfish realised their error and broke off their attack without having caused any damage or casualties.

[@catherinewilkins2760]

Ah, fell prey to the lovely Fairey Swordfish. Tough luck. St.Nazaire didn't have much luck either.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Yes lol

[@mikeriley6073]

Nor did the Graf Spee...... the first to go down.

[@JJ-of1ir]

It was quite a battle wasn't it! Just three men survived from the Hood. So many died on both sides, but many more would have died if the Bismarck had been left to do it's work.

[@HankD13]

The Hood shockingly just blew up as a shell came in through the weaker deck armour and penetrated a magazine. 3 survivors with 1,415 killed. Not overly keen on the animation series - too simplified. The movie is brilliant. As for the Swordfish, the story is exactly as told - tough old birds. Battle of the River Plate has to be my favourite naval engagement - and the movie again. "Permission to send revised list of parts" from the battered Exeter 😁

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Wow

[@philrawlings1688]

Sadly it failed to mention several historic points of interest. Unforgivable not to mention the massive loss of life on Hood. Hood blew up within seconds of the fateful impact. One Swordfish was hit 175 times but not disabled such was the construction. There are much better versions of this historic event.

[@bernettewhitehead8653]

Yes here here watch the Kenneth Moore film . My dad swears by that movie (he was a navel gunner during the war ) and the cruel sea movie.🇬🇧👍

[@Someloke8895]

There is something of a legend or myth regarding German naval gunnery during WW2 - which may have stemmed from the Hood's demise. This being that the Germans were very vey good at naval gunney, which is rrue, however, it has since been noted that they were very accurate and good at the start of an engagement due to their fire control directors. (Basically radar controlled gun plotting) As a battle became prolonged they would become less accurate. This it was determined was caused by the fire director technology being shaken and disrupted by their own gun vibrations, thus knocking the calibration off making it more difficult to land hits. The British had a sort of reverse dynamic, where as an engagement cintinued they became more accurate and able to do more damage over time.

[@StephenC050]

New subscriber. Love the stories and documentaries about Bismarck. This video is ok but not the best. Funny family facts. I was born 24 August, 28 years to the day after Bismarck was commissioned. My wife was born 19th May, 29 years after she set sail on her only opertion. Final “not funny” fact My grandmother had a cousin on HMS Hood when it went down. You can see why this ship so interests me.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Ah yes I can... Thanks for watching with me

[@shukvirgrewal6968]

Thanks for reacting!

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Thank you too

[@MaxwellMoore-d1u]

The Hood went against all safety protocols set out by the Navy, I can understand. Going up against the Most powerful ship on the Sea at the Time .They thought Gunnery speed was most important so they Left vital Doors open to bring Cordite up

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Oh wow

[@fossy4321]

The Hood wasn't a battle ship she was only a battle cruiser.

[@daniel-leejones8396]

Hood was very well armoured her belt was 12" thick, only an inch less then the queen Elizabeth class battleships and 0.1" less then the US Iowa class her deck amour was poor, where she took her fatal hit is most likely underneath her belt at the rear next to the magazine which exploded and blew her apart.

[@tonym480]

Drachinifel, a YT Naval Historian, has some very good videos about HMS Hood and Bismarck. Worth seeking out if you are interested.

[@trevorveail]

I remember watching the film "Sink the Bismark" at the cinema in the late 1850's and later many times n the television. A great film from British studios.

[@dorothysimpson2804]

1950s

[@daneelolivaw602]

The film was first released in February 1960.

[@bill-wd7zs]

I always thought how tragic it was that so many of Bismarcks crew were left in the water. Very many survived the bombardment but couldn't be saved as the RN had reports of u boats in the area..

[@pauldolby4197]

something not mentioned in the commentsor the video the prince of wales was brand new and had issues with one off her turrets there was still work men on board fixing the problem , she had not had her shake down cruise ,The hood charged head first at the bismark admiral tubby thought he was was inside the ranged of bismarks guns so he commenced a turn to bring the aft turrets into the fight as bismarks shells would hit the superstructer giving hood more of a chance of survival but a shell hit while she was in the turn.And one last thing alot of the german sailors were shocked by the destrution of the hood as every navy new her as she was like the ambassidor of the royal navy doing trips all over the world visiting ports

[@DanielFerguson-l2u]

Mark, Dan from Yorks. The HMS Hood sank fairly quickly, but it actually turned turtle, & men were seen running on it's upturned hull before it sank. Only 3 men from it's crew of hundreds survived the sinking.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Sad

[@pauldurkee4764]

Tony is correct by saying the Hood was destroyed by a massive internal explosion in the magazines, the three who survived were blown clear.

[@harryjohnson9215]

Hood was a battlecruiser She blow up She went down so fast there wasn't enough time to give the order to abandom ship Only 3 members of the her crew survived

[@planekrazy1795]

My Dad was on an Escort Carrier, HMS Empress in WW2 they had several aircraft types including Swordfish affectionately known as the String Bag. The Royal Navy Historic Flight still has one that is airworthy and has done for many years remember Dad wiping a tear away after a flyby at the 1980's airshow. The end of display flyby sees the crew standing in the rear open cockpit saluting and flying the Royal Navy White Ensign. I believe that one has recently been put back in the air in Canada as well.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

very nice

[@claregale9011]

Hi Mark , your son Cooper is in the uk in June ? I was just wondering as I'm pretty sure Trooping the colour is around the early part of June 15th I think ?? . 😊

[@britblue]

if he's here 1st week of June he could live life on the edge... the TT races in IOM final week is 1st week of June!

[@MarkfromtheStates]

June 19

[@dorothysimpson2804]

There is a great video from Sabaton called "Bismarck", it is extremely well done. Sabaton sing historical based songs.

[@stanjohnstone8874]

Royal Navy didnt "make a mistake" when tracking Bismark - Bismark jinked unexpectantly in the night darkness after zig zagging in apparent anti submarine manouvres - it was good seamanship on the Germans part really. Another thing wrong is the narrators pronunciation of Prince Eugen (OI GEN) - rant over i will hop off soapbox now - keep doing what your doing Mark !!!!

[@MarkfromtheStates]

LOL thank you Stan

[@Tony2438]

The hood completely blows up in a split second not just sink

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Wow

[@rogu3rooster]

Testamount to German engineering, Bismarck and the Turpitz were two of the biggest battleships in the Atlantic but triggered the downfall of the battleship in favour of aircraft carriers

[@petersone6172]

Reliable sources on YT say that possibly a shell from Bismarck landed close enough where the Hoods bow wave dipped that it penetrated under the armour belt then exploded setting of an adjacent secondary ammo store which in turn set off the main rear magazine, a one in a million chance. Also there are accounts of a navigation error caused the main body pursuing Bismarck to steam in the opposite direction for many hours before the mistake is corrected.

[@goldenlabradorskye]

Good vid....Thanks Mark

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Thanks SP

[@tomcobbly8672]

My Grandfather was an officer on HMS KG V and he said he was terrified even though they engaged at some distance using radar guidance before closing in when it was safer to do so.

[@shukvirgrewal6968]

Lutjens was not really a idiot , the thing was that if he had surrendered the British would had got the ship intact and would had been really shameful for the Germans, and most navy officers were not nazis but just following orders

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Ya you're right

[@archiebald4717]

The Germans had easy access iron ore from Sweden.

[@MaxwellMoore-d1u]

You don't Learn if you think you you did everything Right, the mistakes just carry on. You only Learn by Mistakes,..Correct the Mistakes.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Yes

[@davesimpson5702]

Its never "The HMS" and its Oygen not Ugne! = spelt Eugen

[@albin2232]

Thanks, Mark. It would have made more sense for the Germans to have made more u boats instead of large battleships. I'm glad they didn't!

[@corringhamdepot4434]

Rather disappointed on how little background included. As I grew up watching the 1960 B&W movie "Sink The Bismarck". There is also the 1956 colour movie, "The Battle of The River Plate" about the sinking of the Admiral Graf Spee.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Ya I understand. These are like appetizers

[@rayfielding]

Mark, it’s ok as it goes but not quite accurate. I think that’s mentioned by abother contributor. Quite rightly the Hood was described as a battle cruiser, but not the difference between that and a Battle Ship. The reason why a lucky shot had such an effect is a different debate and worth a look. Each year we write almost 1000 wooden crosses for the fallen of our town. One always stands out. Jack Scott Age 18 HMS Hood. So sad. As said before worth a look at the 1960s Film Sink the Bismark.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Thanks for the pictures... Sad

[@jimharrison748]

If Germany's massive war machines were allowed to roam free there would've been even more massacre and potentially a very bad impact on the Atlantic war . God bless the Royal Navy and all who served. What they were up against was at that time the very best in naval construction years ahead of everyone else as well as the U boat carnage already taking huge tolls on merchant shipping threatening to starve the UK. RN was old and comfortable in 39 thanks to numbers, arrogant admirals, lazy politicians and past victories. The German navy however were new and immediately outdated everyone. Scared the shit out of Churchill and with good reason.

[@daneelolivaw602]

Bismarck had a WW1 era hull design, it also had an outdated armour layout. The fifteen year old HMS Rodney had a more modern armour layout and thicker armour, than Bismarck, and bigger main, and secondary armament, The King George V Battleships were much more advanced than Bismarck, and although smaller main guns, they had more of them. You only need to read about the damage the KGV Class Battleship, Prince of Wales, managed to do to Bismarck to understand. Although PoW had almost no sea trials, and was commissioned "Incomplete" according to the ships log, she went into battle with workers from the manufacturers of the guns still on board and without a full complement of crew. She caused enough damage for Bismarck to abandon it's mission and force it to return to port for repairs. King George V was much the same age as Bismarck, and Prince of Wales younger, but both more advanced than Bismarck in many respects. Bigger doesn't always mean better. Bismarck was in no way years ahead of anyone.

[@grahambamford9073]

If you liked this, you should check out Jeremy Clarkson, the greatest raid of all. The WW2 commando raid on St. Nazaire docks, its quite amazing.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

I have... It's on the channel... So good

[@philsooty61]

HMS Hood was dated from WW1 and should have had it's armour plating improved but they didn't bother as no one thought there would be a second World war, by then it was too late and the Hood's fate was sealed.

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Bummer

[@dazza9326]

For some reason I thought Hood limped back to port.

[@richard3004]

There is a better but longer documentary on KZbin, with real accounts, this one has a lot of important bits missed out, and the end regards the scuttling charges, that’s open debate as most accounts say the ship was finished off with a torpedo if I recall from HMS dorsetshire. Shame about all lives lost on both Hood & Bismark, what this doesn’t show is the RN ships didn’t want to kill everybody but were under orders to sink the bismark & that a lot did get picked up out of the sea until U boat warnings came in then the RN had to leave to protect themselves.

[@Tony2438]

I know you were saying how good this cretor was but there are better videos and what happend a lot was missed out about how the RN went about taken out the Biszmark and all the tension and what happend I am not saying there was anything wrong just not the full story

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Yes it's not a documentary but for what it is I find it very good and entertaining.

[@Tony2438]

@@MarkfromtheStates it might be worth looking for a documentary. It's really is a good story when you hear it

[@CarolWoosey-ck2rg]

That was good as usual Mark- look forward to tomorrow- try a heat pad as well for your shoulder works for my arthritis- meanwhile keep taking the tablets as they say! Snog the Mogs, if you can shift them from the new couch! X 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿ps think I told you about a neighbour ewyjo was a crew member of the Hood

[@MarkfromtheStates]

Sounds great!. Hopefully I can figure out how to do the stream

[@CarolWoosey-ck2rg]

​@@MarkfromtheStatesdon't ask me, haven't a scooby do how to do it!