Sink the Bismarck! Page #5

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to deal with the situation.

There is undoubtedly great

rejoicing in Berlin tonight...

and also on the Bismarck.

Here's to the ship, Lindemann...

and here's to us.

We have beaten the best they have.

Do you realize that?

Yes, sir.

They will never stop us, not now.

You wanted the damage control report.

What is it?

We received one hit

forward on the port side...

over number two fuel tank.

We're losing a little oil.

Anything serious?

No, sir. I would say

the damage is very slight.

However, I recommend we put about

and have it repaired.

Put about? You mean go home?

Yes, sir. We could refuel

at the same time.

Are you mad?

We have fought our way out

into the Atlantic.

This is no time to turn

and run for home.

We wouldn't be running.

We've won a tremendous victory.

It's not the victory that was ordered.

You haven't been close

to the high command, Lindemann.

Do you know what will happen...

when Admiral Raeder

reports the sinking of the Hood?

The fuehrer will smile...

and everyone else will smile...

and then, a few moments later...

he'll turn to Raeder with a scowl.

"What about the convoys, Raeder?

Have they sunk any convoys?"

There will still be

plenty of convoys, sir...

after we make repairs.

Is your ship unmaneuverable, Captain?

Are the guns damaged?

Anything out of action?

No, sir.

Then we will push forward...

as instructed by the high command.

But surely the fuehrer must realize...

Are you going to tell the fuehrer

what he must realize?

No, sir.

Then do not tell me.

For the time being...

we will hold our present

course and speed.

Yes, sir.

There will be no further

statement to the press...

not for the present.

Make a signal to admiral

commanding First Cruiser Squadron.

Suffolk and Norfolk

must maintain contact...

with the Bismarck...

so that Home Fleet can intercept.

Continue shadowing as long

as you have fuel to do so.

Excuse me, sir.

This is Bismarck's latest

position, course, and speed.

Send it to the C-in-C,

Home Fleet right away.

Now, Shepard.

At its present speed, sir...

the Home Fleet cannot make

contact with Bismarck...

until tomorrow...

and then only if she maintains

her present course.

What if she doesn't?

That's it exactly, sir.

They won't make contact at all.

Prime minister for you, sir.

First sea lord here.

Now, first sea lord...

I want to make it unmistakably clear...

that there is absolutely nothing

as vital...

to the nation at this moment...

as the destruction of the Bismarck.

You are authorized to employ...

any means at your disposal...

regardless of risk...

and regardless of the price

that must be paid.

This is a battle

we cannot afford to lose.

I understand, sir.

I don't care how you do it.

You must sink the Bismarck.

Good luck to you.

Thank you, sir.

Well, gentlemen, any suggestions?

In my opinion, sir...

we cannot leave this entirely

to the Home Fleet.

We must reach out and pull in...

everything we can lay our hands on.

I've ordered Rodney to leave her convoy.

She was the last available ship.

I don't suggest this lightly, sir.

Down here at Gibraltar, we've Force H...

Renown, Sheffield, Ark Royal.

We can't strip the Western Mediterranean...

with this Crete business going on.

Perhaps if we left Ark Royal down there...

and sent the other two out.

No, sir.

We may need Ark Royal's aircraft.

What do you think, A.C.N.S.?

It's taking a serious risk.

I know Shepard has weighed

that very carefully.

In view of what the prime minister said...

we don't seem to have much choice.

Well, I may be able

to argue with you two...

but I can't quarrel

with the prime minister.

Order Force H to sail.

Aye aye, sir.

Johnson.

Smith.

It's not for you, boy.

Stratton.

Singer.

Shepard.

Oh, thanks.

Thompson.

Thompson, where are you?

My dearest Tom...

I'm really much too tired to write...

but I think of you so very often...

that I'm always afraid...

there may be things

I will forget to mention.

Marvelous. No letter again.

Where are we off to this time?

Tom, is it true...

your father is director of operations?

I'm afraid it is.

He's got a nerve, moving

us out of Gibraltar.

Tell him we don't want to go to sea.

It's my fault, really.

I thought you blokes would like

a couple months in England.

You're kidding.

Not at all. My girl's in London.

You mean to say

you asked your father if...

They wouldn't dare, not in wartime.

Your father would do the same for you.

This is the captain.

I thought you'd be interested to know...

we shall be operating in the Atlantic.

We've got orders to go

after the Bismarck.

No, no, boys!

If Bismarck holds her

present course and speed...

when's the earliest we can engage her?

at best possible speed.

If Norfolk and Suffolk

can keep track of her...

they can guide us in.

Suppose Bismarck gives them the slip?

If she shakes off those cruisers

during the night...

we may never get hold of her again.

She's got the weather on her side, sir.

Looks very bad for tonight.

Slow her down before nightfall.

Sommers, do you think Victorious

could launch an air strike?

She's supposed to get

her deck landing training.

Most of her pilots

have never flown off a carrier.

I'm afraid they'll have to

start their training now.

Detach Victorious from the fleet.

Tell her to close Bismarck at 30 knots.

She's to launch an air strike...

when she's within 100 miles.

That's all, gentlemen.

Signal Prinz Eugen that

she is to proceed on her course...

and make for Brest.

We will keep the enemy cruisers occupied...

until Prinz Eugen is out of sight.

All right, Captain,

you can make your turn.

Hard aport.

Stand by to open fire.

Radar plot, range decreasing...

decreasing very rapidly.

Range down to 22,000 yards.

She's doubled back on us, sir!

There she is, sir!

Hard aport. Full ahead both.

Hard aport.

Make smoke.

Make smoke. Full ahead both.

Signal to Prinz Eugen...

Good-bye and good hunting.

That's all, Becker.

Very good, sir.

Cease fire, Captain.

Cease fire.

Cease fire, sir.

Signal to Group West...

Prinz Eugen successfully detached...

and proceeding independently.

Have been unable

to shake off enemy cruisers...

because of radar.

Will attempt to break away

during the night.

Thank you, Mueller.

Very good, sir.

All right, Captain...

you may resume your original course.

Starboard 20.

Starboard 20.

Starboard 20.

Contact.

There she is... starboard beam.

[Klaxon Sounding]

[Shouting Orders In German]

Hard astarboard!

[Rumbling]

What is it?

All right.

One hit on

the port bow, sir.

What is the damage?

Very slight, sir, and no one wounded.

We will have the damage

repaired in a few hours.

That is good. That is good.

Lindemann, if there were...

submarines in this area...

we would zigzag, wouldn't we?

Of course, sir.

And the cruisers following us...

would be obliged to do the same.

Yes, sir, but...

Captain, I want you to set

a zigzag pattern.

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