Changes

The main tools used by the Kriegsmarine in this campaign were the three ''[[Pocket Battleship|Panzerschiffe]]'' (pocket, or small battleships) ''Lutzow'', ''[[Admiral Graf Spee (heavy cruiser)|Admiral Graf Spee]]'', ''Admiral Scheer'', two heavy cruisers (''Admiral Hipper'' and ''Prinz Eugen''), two [[battlecruiser]]s, (''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau''), and a fast battleship (''Bismarck''). All of these warships were relatively new, the oldest being ''Lutzow'', launched in 1931. They had good range, were faster than most Allied battleships, and were well-armed compared to most British and French anti-commerce raiding forces. The Germans also equipped armed merchant ship auxiliaries as raiders, which had the advantage of "camouflage" when sailing in far off waters such as the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

The main tools used by the Kriegsmarine in this campaign were the three ''[[Pocket Battleship|Panzerschiffe]]'' (pocket, or small battleships) ''Lutzow'', ''[[Admiral Graf Spee (heavy cruiser)|Admiral Graf Spee]]'', ''Admiral Scheer'', two heavy cruisers (''Admiral Hipper'' and ''Prinz Eugen''), two [[battlecruiser]]s, (''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau''), and a fast battleship (''Bismarck''). All of these warships were relatively new, the oldest being ''Lutzow'', launched in 1931. They had good range, were faster than most Allied battleships, and were well-armed compared to most British and French anti-commerce raiding forces. The Germans also equipped armed merchant ship auxiliaries as raiders, which had the advantage of "camouflage" when sailing in far off waters such as the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

Unfortunately for Germany, the surface raiders had little success early in the war. ''Lutzow'' made a long but unsuccessful cruise in October 1939, while ''Admiral Graf Spee'' was hunted down and forced to scuttle in the Rio de la Plata, [[Uruguay]] two months later. The pair only sank eleven merchant ships between them. These poor results were caused in part by the restricted geography of the North Sea, with German Navy bases being concentrated in the southeastern corner. In the summer of 1940, however, the collapse of [[Norway]], the [[Netherlands]], and [[France]] dramatically improved Germany's strategic position. No longer could the Royal Navy easily "bottle up" Axis forces in restricted waters. To make matters worse for Britain, attacks from newly-established bases in France outflanked British defenses and stretched British patrol aircraft and escorts to the breaking point.

Unfortunately for Germany, the surface raiders had little success early in the war. ''Lutzow'' made a long but unsuccessful cruise in October 1939, while ''Admiral Graf Spee'' was hunted down and forced to scuttle in the Rio de la Plata, [[Uruguay]] two months later. The pair only sank eleven merchant ships between them. These poor results were caused in part by the restricted geography of the North Sea, with German Navy bases being concentrated in the southeastern corner. In the summer of 1940, however, the collapse of [[Norway]], the [[Netherlands]], and [[France]] dramatically improved Germany's strategic position. No longer could the Royal Navy easily "bottle up" Axis forces in restricted waters. To make matters worse for Britain, attacks from newly established bases in France outflanked British defenses and stretched British patrol aircraft and escorts to the breaking point.

In response to this disaster, American policy began to shift away from neutrality. On 27 June 1940, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] declared a national emergency and began American efforts to control shipping in the western hemisphere. In August, as part of informal staff talks between American and British officers, the U.S. sent military officers to observe Commonwealth operating procedures. As part of this process, and to familiarize the British with American-built seaplanes (London had ordered 200 such aircraft), U.S. Navy officers soon began flights in Coastal Command Catalina patrol aircraft. In addition, on 2 September, the United States government provided the Royal Navy with 50 over-age destroyers in return for leasing agreements on British bases in the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Jamaica, and British Guiana. American forces began shifting into these bases over the next few months, strengthening the Atlantic Squadron's ability to patrol and watch over American waters.

In response to this disaster, American policy began to shift away from neutrality. On 27 June 1940, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] declared a national emergency and began American efforts to control shipping in the western hemisphere. In August, as part of informal staff talks between American and British officers, the U.S. sent military officers to observe Commonwealth operating procedures. As part of this process, and to familiarize the British with American-built seaplanes (London had ordered 200 such aircraft), U.S. Navy officers soon began flights in Coastal Command Catalina patrol aircraft. In addition, on 2 September, the United States government provided the Royal Navy with 50 over-age destroyers in return for leasing agreements on British bases in the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Jamaica, and British Guiana. American forces began shifting into these bases over the next few months, strengthening the Atlantic Squadron's ability to patrol and watch over American waters.

On the morning of 24 May, the German warships were engaged by battleship ''[[Prince of Wales]]'' and battlecruiser ''Hood''. As the British squadron closed the range, ''Bismarck'' and ''Prinz Eugen'' concentrated their fire on ''Hood''. After a German salvo straddled the battlecruiser at a range of about 18,000 yards, ''Hood'' blew up in a huge explosion that erupted between her after funnel and the mainmast. Only three survivors from her company of 95 officers and 1,324 men were rescued. Outgunned and damaged by German shell hits that followed almost immediately, ''Prince of Wales'' broke off the action and retired under a smoke screen.

On the morning of 24 May, the German warships were engaged by battleship ''[[Prince of Wales]]'' and battlecruiser ''Hood''. As the British squadron closed the range, ''Bismarck'' and ''Prinz Eugen'' concentrated their fire on ''Hood''. After a German salvo straddled the battlecruiser at a range of about 18,000 yards, ''Hood'' blew up in a huge explosion that erupted between her after funnel and the mainmast. Only three survivors from her company of 95 officers and 1,324 men were rescued. Outgunned and damaged by German shell hits that followed almost immediately, ''Prince of Wales'' broke off the action and retired under a smoke screen.

The German battleship, however, had not escaped unharmed. Two 14-inch shells from ''Prince of Wales'' had hit ''Bismarck'', one of which caused a fuel leak and contaminated several oil bunkers with salt water. Unable to contemplate continuing her mission, ''Bismarck'' turned southeast and headed for Brest, in German-occupied France. Just after dusk, in order that the German cruiser might attack Allied shipping in the mid-Atlantic, ''Prinz Eugen'' broke away to the southwest and escaped. British naval forces continued to converge on the area and, just after midnight on 25 May, a strike by nine Swordfish aircraft launched from aircraft carrier ''Victorious'' managed to hit ''Bismarck'' with one torpedo. The damage proved minor, however, and the British prepared to launch another attack in the morning. Unfortunately, about an hour later both ''Suffolk'' and ''Norfolk'' lost contact with the German battleship, and she too slipped away in the darkness, this time by performing a classic manuever of turning about to cross her own wake.

The German battleship, however, had not escaped unharmed. Two 14-inch shells from ''Prince of Wales'' had hit ''Bismarck'', one of which caused a fuel leak and contaminated several oil bunkers with salt water. Unable to contemplate continuing her mission, ''Bismarck'' turned southeast and headed for Brest, in German-occupied France. Just after dusk, in order that the German cruiser might attack Allied shipping in the mid-Atlantic, ''Prinz Eugen'' broke away to the southwest and escaped. British naval forces continued to converge on the area and, just after midnight on 25 May, a strike by nine Swordfish aircraft launched from aircraft carrier ''Victorious'' managed to hit ''Bismarck'' with one torpedo. The damage proved minor, however, and the British prepared to launch another attack in the morning. Unfortunately, about an hour later both ''Suffolk'' and ''Norfolk'' lost contact with the German battleship, and she too slipped away in the darkness, this time by performing a classic maneuver of turning about to cross her own wake.

==The chase==

==The chase==