How much damage...?

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by TopHatter

So how is that a bad thing?

Well, it is a WILD theory. We were going to write a fiction novel about it but as we studied the Bismarck and the events of those nine days the theory became more plausible. We started off with the Bismarck carrying some secret documents but as we started to think of what those documents could be and looked at the chronology of WW II, ---------.

Tell you what. Let me confirm the dates and I'll start a new thread on Bismarck theories. Hopefully I'm not the only highly imaginative one here.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

Well, it is a WILD theory. We were going to write a fiction novel about it but as we studied the Bismarck and the events of those nine days the theory became more plausible. We started off with the Bismarck carrying some secret documents but as we started to think of what those documents could be and looked at the chronology of WW II, ---------.

Tell you what. Let me confirm the dates and I'll start a new thread on Bismarck theories. Hopefully I'm not the only highly imaginative one here.

I can recall reading that the Natzi's intended to rush a sub to Bizmarks location to rescue said important documents and ships papers unfortunately when the sub surfaced it was far to late as Bizmark had already plunged to the bottom.

This is just a blurb about the action..not sure of its accuracy.

On 26 May 1941, just four months after Wohlfahrt had sworn to defend Bismarck, U-556 was returning from patrol, low on fuel and entirely out of torpedoes, when she was ordered to reconnoiter in the area of Bismarck's most recently reported position.

Around 19:50, Wohlfahrt saw the battleship HMS Renown and the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal coming out of the mist at high speed. He recorded in his log, "Enemy bows on, 10 degrees to starboard, without destroyers, without zigzagging," but without torpedoes, could only submerge and avoid them. Wohlfahrt saw activity on Ark Royal's flight deck, which transpired to be the launching of the second, fatal attack on Bismarck.

At 20:39, Wohlfahrt surfaced and transmitted, "Enemy in view, a battleship, an aircraft carrier, course 115, enemy is proceeding at high speed. Position 48° 20′ N, 16° 20′ W." The course of Renown and Ark Royal toward Bismarck coincided almost exactly with his own; he proceeded on the surface at full speed behind them.

Wohlfahrt's War Diary contains these entries for 27 May 1941:

00:00, (wind) northwest 5, seaway 5, rain squalls, moderate visibility, very dark night. Surfaced. What can I do for Bismarck? I can see star shells being fired and flashes from Bismarck's guns. It is a terrible feeling to be near and not to be able to do anything. All I can do is reconnoiter and lead in boats that have torpedoes. I am keeping contact at the limit of visibility, reporting the position, and sending directional signals to call up the other boats.
03:52: I am moving around on the east side to the south, in order to be in the direction of the activity. I soon reach the limit of what I can do in view of my fuel supply. Otherwise I won't get home.
04:00: The seas are rising ever higher. Bismarck still fighting. Reported weather for the Luftwaffe.
Around 06:30 Wohlfahrt sighted U-74 and transferred the mission of maintaining contact with Bismarck to Kapitänleutnant Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat. He gave Kentrat Bismarck's position based on his observations of the star shells fired during the night, adding: "I have not seen her directly. You assume contact. I have no more fuel."

Wohlfahrt then submerged and did not surface again until noon, a time at which radio signals were routinely repeated. That was when he heard for the first time the order radioed to him between 07:00 and 08:00 to pick up Bismarck's War Diary. He replied to the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (Commander-in-Chief for Submarines, Karl Dönitz) asking that this mission be transferred to Kentrat.

Kentrat received the radio order, "U-boat Kentrat pick up Bismarck War Diary," but was unable to locate Bismarck. The battleship had sunk before Wohlfahrt had received the first message at noon.

U-556 did not suffer any casualties to her crew during her career until 27 June 1941, when depth charges from the British corvettes Nasturtium, Celandine, and Gladiolus sank her in the North Atlantic south-west of Iceland. Five died, 41 survived.

[richardkarlgood]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

I can recall reading that the Natzi's intended to rush a sub to Bizmarks location to rescue said important documents and ships papers unfortunately when the sub surfaced it was far to late as Bizmark had already plunged to the bottom.

This is just a blurb about the action..not sure of its accuracy.

On 26 May 1941, just four months after Wohlfahrt had sworn to defend Bismarck, U-556 was returning from patrol, low on fuel and entirely out of torpedoes, when she was ordered to reconnoiter in the area of Bismarck's most recently reported position.

Around 19:50, Wohlfahrt saw the battleship HMS Renown and the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal coming out of the mist at high speed. He recorded in his log, "Enemy bows on, 10 degrees to starboard, without destroyers, without zigzagging," but without torpedoes, could only submerge and avoid them. Wohlfahrt saw activity on Ark Royal's flight deck, which transpired to be the launching of the second, fatal attack on Bismarck.

At 20:39, Wohlfahrt surfaced and transmitted, "Enemy in view, a battleship, an aircraft carrier, course 115, enemy is proceeding at high speed. Position 48° 20′ N, 16° 20′ W." The course of Renown and Ark Royal toward Bismarck coincided almost exactly with his own; he proceeded on the surface at full speed behind them.

Wohlfahrt's War Diary contains these entries for 27 May 1941:

00:00, (wind) northwest 5, seaway 5, rain squalls, moderate visibility, very dark night. Surfaced. What can I do for Bismarck? I can see star shells being fired and flashes from Bismarck's guns. It is a terrible feeling to be near and not to be able to do anything. All I can do is reconnoiter and lead in boats that have torpedoes. I am keeping contact at the limit of visibility, reporting the position, and sending directional signals to call up the other boats.
03:52: I am moving around on the east side to the south, in order to be in the direction of the activity. I soon reach the limit of what I can do in view of my fuel supply. Otherwise I won't get home.
04:00: The seas are rising ever higher. Bismarck still fighting. Reported weather for the Luftwaffe.
Around 06:30 Wohlfahrt sighted U-74 and transferred the mission of maintaining contact with Bismarck to Kapitänleutnant Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat. He gave Kentrat Bismarck's position based on his observations of the star shells fired during the night, adding: "I have not seen her directly. You assume contact. I have no more fuel."

Wohlfahrt then submerged and did not surface again until noon, a time at which radio signals were routinely repeated. That was when he heard for the first time the order radioed to him between 07:00 and 08:00 to pick up Bismarck's War Diary. He replied to the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (Commander-in-Chief for Submarines, Karl Dönitz) asking that this mission be transferred to Kentrat.

Kentrat received the radio order, "U-boat Kentrat pick up Bismarck War Diary," but was unable to locate Bismarck. The battleship had sunk before Wohlfahrt had received the first message at noon.

U-556 did not suffer any casualties to her crew during her career until 27 June 1941, when depth charges from the British corvettes Nasturtium, Celandine, and Gladiolus sank her in the North Atlantic south-west of Iceland. Five died, 41 survived.

Never knew any of that, guess this means a quick visit too uboat.net

[The Chap]

Doesn't sound all that wild to me. Merely to make you feel better (I hope this puts smiles on a few faces)

Theory #1

With E-boats and destroyers running interference for her, she was to steam up the Thames at flank speed blowing up Tower Bridge, the Bank of England, Trafalgar Square, Buck House and ultimately Her Majes. Parliament and Churchill himself. The audacity of the plan was only - fatally - crippled by the Kreigsmarine thinking that it was "ein bischen dorf".

Theory #2

Under the guise of a surface raider she would stealthily steam toward the south atlantic current. Emplaced off the coast of Africa she would turn "ghost". All dark. All silent.

Thus she would be carriered to the Carib. Then, like a flashing blade she would, fully fuelled head all out to New York City blowing up lots of stuff. Probably the Empire State Building or The Sopranos and Seinfeld.

This plan was rejected by the Kreigsmarine in even stronger terms, the Fuhrer affronted by aristocratic taunts of "shiessekopf hat nur eine nuss" fleeing to either his "Wolfs Lair" or "Eagles Nest". Whichever sounded most re-assuringly buch at the time.

Theory #3

Paint it pink. Steaming round cape horn arrive in San Fran. bay knowing big blonde blue eyed boys in sailor outfits and/or leather would foolishly welcome them as just another gay party boat. The flaw was Hitler listening to his psychics. He was at least thirty years too early