Sink the Bismarck! Page #4

---

Check radar.

Check your radar plot.

Enemy report from Suffolk, sir.

They've found her.

Picked her up in the Denmark Strait.

Bismarck and a heavy cruiser.

There, gentlemen.

Course southwest.

Now things are looking up.

Tell the first sea lord

immediately.

Good job we've got

some heavy stuff in the area.

Richards, let me have

an intercepting course...

for Hood and Prince of Wales.

Sir, this one's from the Norfolk.

Norfolk's there, too, sir.

She's with Suffolk.

They're shadowing

in thick fog, using radar.

I hope that radar

works better than usual.

She could blow them both

out of the water.

No. Lutjens is too clever for that.

He'd rather shake off a pair of cruisers...

than stop to sink them.

Course to intercept Bismarck

is 3-1-0.

That would bring Hood in contact...

just about...there.

Just about here, sir.

The intercepting course

is 3-1-0 degrees.

At full speed, we should make contact

at 0300.

I don't want to engage him

until daylight.

Give me a course and speed

to intercept at dawn.

Aye aye, sir.

At 27 knots... course 2-9-5...

we should meet them at first light.

We'll proceed on that course

at that speed.

Pass the word to Prince of Wales.

Signal from flag, sir.

Speed...27 knots.

Admiral's intentions follow, sir.

Very good.

Wilson, tell the captain...

we've gone onto 27 knots.

Also, the admiral's

sending his intentions.

Oh, Wilson, how are the civilian workers

enjoying themselves?

They're loving every moment of it, sir.

I'll tell you one thing...

I'm not sleeping in one of these

bloody hammocks.

Make a note, Walter...

to speak to the captain.

We'll have double beds put in.

Very funny. I never even had a chance...

to tell me wife what was happening.

They thought

she might not let you go.

Imagine what she thinks I'm up to.

Pity she's wrong, isn't it?

She'll never believe this.

Where are we going?

We picked up speed.

What's that for in the night?

Captain speaking.

Bismarck has been sighted

in Denmark Strait.

She's on her way out into the Atlantic.

We plan to tackle her

about dawn tomorrow morning.

You'll be going to action stations...

shortly after midnight.

I'm confident tomorrow is

going to be a big day for us.

Good luck and good shooting.

They can't do this. I'm

in a reserved occupation.

I never thought

a thing like this would happen.

Fancy me fighting Germans

on the high seas.

Here, lad. You ever been in

a battle before?

Yeah, hundreds of times.

Don't hardly give it a thought anymore.

Latest plot report, sir.

Suffolk and Norfolk still in contact.

Hood and Prince of Wales...

are estimated 120 miles from Bismarck.

Should be quite a show tomorrow morning.

I know where I'd rather be.

Excuse me, sir.

What a time for Shepard to take over.

I hope he's getting

all the help he needs.

Help, sir? I didn't think

he needed any help.

Captain Shepard is

a very old friend of mine.

You would be quite wrong

if you judged him too harshly.

He had his ship

blown from under him

last year in Norway.

This job here means promotion for him...

but he can't wait to get another ship.

Only two things matter to him...

His family and the sea.

I didn't know he had any family.

His son is an air gunner

serving in the Ark Royal.

He and the boy are terribly close.

And his wife?

He hasn't spoken about her,

and I haven't asked.

Signal from Commander-in-Chief,

Home Fleet.

"Suffolk and Norfolk

will continue shadowing tonight.

They won't engage the enemy."

Right. Make to Hood

and Prince of Wales.

If enemy maintains present

course and speed...

you should make contact

approximately 0510.

Right, sir.

And, Dexter.

Yes, sir.

Add to that... good luck.

Very good, sir.

[Bugle Playing]

I'm not strong enough

for this sort of thing.

Besides, I've got flat feet.

Ah, shut up, Henry.

If we're going to fight the Bismarck...

I'll check "Y" turret.

We better check that turbine.

I always get seasick.

Hood and Prince of Wales...

are somewhere in here.

Suffolk and Norfolk...

report Bismarck and Prinz Eugen here.

If so, we shouldn't have long to wait.

Should be getting light up there now.

Signal from Suffolk, sir.

"Have sighted Hood and

Prince of Wales bearing southeast.

Distance...15 miles."

That means they've made it.

Good old Hood, she'll get them.

[Bell Ringing]

Come on, hurry up!

Come on, everyone!

[Yelling]

Right gun shell!

Right gun shell!

Right gun, first half charge!

Right gun, second half charge!

Bridge...

smoke bearing green 4-0.

Bismarck and cruiser...

bearing green 4-0...

about 12 miles.

Closing fast.

[Gunther Lutjens]

Those are not cruisers.

They are battleships.

Captain, open fire on the leading ship.

Target leading ship!

Stand by to open fire!

Target leading ship!

Stand by to open fire!

Hard aport.

Open fire when you have the range.

Concentrate on Bismarck.

Aye aye, sir.

Let me know when

you're ready to engage guns.

Tell Prince of Wales to open

fire when she's in range.

Hard astarboard!

Shoot!

Range...25,000. Bearing...300.

All turrets ready to open fire, sir.

Open fire.

Fire!

Fire!

That was too close for comfort.

Turn 20 degrees to starboard, Captain.

Shoot!

Fire!

Unbelievable.

Blimey.

What happened?

The Hood's gone.

Good God.

Yeoman.

Yes, sir?

Make to admiralty from Prince of Wales.

Tell them...tell them

the Hood has blown up.

Aye aye, sir.

[Incoming Fire]

Starboard 15.

Starboard 15, sir.

Starboard 15.

Signal from Prince of Wales, sir.

Well, what is it?

It says... HMS Hood has blown up.

Bring it here.

Signal from Suffolk, sir.

Johnson.

"Hood sunk.

Prince of Wales

and Bismarck exchanging fire."

Fire!

Shoot.

Port 20.

Tell the engine room to give me

everything they've got.

Course 2-4-0.

Very good. Course 2-4-0.

Fire!

Give me a hand.

Hard aport. Steer 1-5-0.

Make smoke.

She's badly damaged, sir.

She's turning away and making smoke.

Do you want to pursue?

No. We have more important work to do.

Hold your course.

Steady on present course.

Very good, sir.

Captain, congratulations.

It's a great moment for the German navy.

Yes, Lindemann...

and for the two of us.

[Speaking Foreign Language]

This morning, HMS Hood...

largest British warship,

was sunk by the...

[Speaking Foreign Language]

[Speaking Mandarin]

[Speaking German]

This is London. Ed Murrow reporting.

This island, which is

no stranger to bad tidings...

received news today that HMS Hood...

largest warship in the British fleet...

and pride of the British navy...

has been sunk by the German

battleship Bismarck.

From the Hood's

complement of 1,500 men...

there were three survivors.

In the same engagement...

the battleship Prince of Wales

was badly damaged.

Two British capital ships

have been put out of commission...

and the most powerful

battleship in the world...

is now loose on the high seas.

It remains to be seen

whether the British navy...

has the capability

at this crucial moment...

of concentrating enough sea power...

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes