Tirpitz

[Kraxis]

Actually from what I've read it wasn't even plunging fire from the Bismarck that sunk HMS Hood, but a 8.1 inch shell fired from Prinz Eugen that pierced the deck armour and hit the secondary magazine that caused a chain-reaction.

But what I find impressive about the Bismarck-class was their armour. Simply the amount of pounding that the Bismarck took before being scuttled is quite amazing really. But on the other hand what use is there off battleship that has no turrets or speed left, but just refuses to sink?

Pure tenacity! If you can't win, then at least you can get the satisfaction that you enemy can't sink you. Typical German.
"So you zink you can sink our ship? Try you weakling British pondsailors! I dare you!"

Anyway, it couldn't have been Hipper that did the damage. The simple fact is she hit Hood a handful of seconds prior to the destructive hit. Given that she was firing entire broadsides and not staggered volleys it can't have been her.
Her hit(s) caused a serious fire just ahead of the bridge where a large crate or stash of flares was held. This is clearly stated.
Besides, her fire didn't plunge enough to be able to punch through to the bottom of Hood. Her shells would at best explode at about sealevel.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Krax' your research is right on the money.

Part of the trouble is visualizing it. 24k yards is way long for most of us to get a grip on it. When you go through the geometry/gun firepower a bit, it is obvious that an 203 would be coming in at different angles than a 380 over the same distance -- and a review of Hood's deck armors suggest the near-impossibility of a 203 bopping though all of them at that range (though ironically a 1920 RN study of the Hood specified the exact danger which apparently killed her 20+ years later).

[yesdachi]

I saw the same show but I fell asleep on the floor about half way thru. Woke up 2 hours later with a leg cramp still curious as to what happened to the Tripitz. Thanks for the link spmetla

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I saw the same show but I fell asleep on the floor about half way thru. Woke up 2 hours later with a leg cramp still curious as to what happened to the Tripitz. Thanks for the link spmetla

I was laying on the floor too! That's my TV watching position of choice. Nice firm pillow underneath...yeah...

[edyzmedieval]

Tirpitz was one of my favourite war ships. It was extremely powerful.

Hitler had 3 big war ships, but they weren't properly used.

-Tirpitz
-Bismarck
-Gneisenau

[Kraxis]

Tirpitz was one of my favourite war ships. It was extremely powerful.

Hitler had 3 big war ships, but they weren't properly used.

-Tirpitz
-Bismarck
-Gneisenau

Then you must add Scharnhorst as well since it was the same ship as Gneisenau.

Those two ships were even more raiders than Bismarck and Tirpitz, and actually they worked pretty well until the British sent old battleships as part of the convoys.
They had comparable armour to the Bismarcks, superior speed but lesser main guns. Obviously they were meant to avoid deadly combat and be secure from lesser combat. The smaller guns would be just as good against escorts and merchants. Only they were not so great against battleships.

So if you want a good raider design then the Scharnhorst class would be a good candidate for the top spot.

[edyzmedieval]

Oh yeah, Scharnhorst also.

What other huge war ships did they have?

[AggonyDuck]

Pure tenacity! If you can't win, then at least you can get the satisfaction that you enemy can't sink you. Typical German.
"So you zink you can sink our ship? Try you weakling British pondsailors! I dare you!"

Hehehe, thanks for the laughs.

[soibean]

all ive ever heard about the Tirpitz was that it was used as a commerce raider in the norwegian fjords... it matched the bismarck but was never used to its fullest potential

[Alexanderofmacedon]

all ive ever heard about the Tirpitz was that it was used as a commerce raider in the norwegian fjords... it matched the bismarck but was never used to its fullest potential

Yeah, it never really did much damage. It just scared the allies into making rash descisions, which the German capitalized on.

[Watchman]

Did the big lug actually ever sink a single ship with its own guns...?

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Did the big lug actually ever sink a single ship with its own guns...?

I think, but I'm not sure. It's deffinetly sure that they didn't use it to full use. Of course, just the mere sight of the Tirpitz made battleships run away and leave supply ships open to bomber attack. So indirectly it did a lot of damage (but I know you didn't ask about indirectly)

[Watchman]

Wasn't convoy escort more a destroyer - light cruiser axis thing ? Or did the RN actually steam out some of the big capitals to ride herd on the hapless merchantmen and attract stray bombs ?

[Atilius]

Did the big lug actually ever sink a single ship with its own guns...?

Here's what looks like a very complete operational history.

Apparently the Tirpitz never even fired upon an enemy ship. The only time its main battery was discharged with hostile intent was on Sept 8, 1943 during an attack on an allied base on Spitzbergen when it brought the base's 2 3" guns under fire.

[Watchman]

Huh. I'll bet the crew got frustrated as Hell. Nevermind bored to death, that little anchorage somewhere in Norway likely wasn't the liveliest of locales.