Next to the Tirpitz the Bismarck, the flag-ship of the Germany Navy was the largest German warship with a displacement of 50,900 tons and a crew of 2092 men. Put into service on 24.08.1940, she left port on 18.05.1941 for operation Rhine Exercise . Together with the Prinz Eugen she was discovered early by British reconnaissance planes. In the encounter with the Hood on 24.05.1941 the latter was sunk by the Bismarck. After a long chase the Bismarck was hit by an aircraftfired torpedo on 26.05.1941 and intercepted by the British battleships King George V and Rodney. On 27.05.1941 the Bismarck was sunk by her own crew 490 km off the french coast.