Sighting the Bismarck
The discovery of Battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic
Sighting the Bismarck © Robert Taylor
Sighting the Bismarck © Robert Taylor
Description
Robert Taylor’s unique limited edition print 'Sighting the Bismarck' features the Bismarck - pride of the German Kriegsmarine - being discovered in the North Atlantic.
Each print signed by four crew members who survived the sinking of the Bismarck.
In the early hours of May 24 1941, as the mighty German battleships Bismarck and Prinz Eugen slipped through the Denmark Strait, they were dramatically intercepted by the Royal Naval battleships Hood and Prince of Wales. Within six minutes of the first salvo being fired, the Hood, pride of the Royal Navy, was blown out of the water in one of the most gigantic explosions ever witnessed at sea.
Bismarck's fourth salvo landed a shell forward of the Hood's after turrets, piercing her deck, exploding the 4-inch magazine. Simultaneously this detonated the adjacent 15-inch magazine, and in one mighty eruption the battleship broke in two. Within seconds she was gone. Of the ships company of 1400 officers and sailors only three survived. Outraged at the grievous loss Winston Churchill signalled the Admiralty just three words: "Sink the Bismarck!" Thus began one of the epic sea chases in the history of naval warfare. Damaged by shells from Prince of Wales's 14-inch guns, and losing fuel oil, Admiral Lutjens broke off the engagement and steamed Bismarck towards the anonymity of the North Atlantic. Evading the British warships for 32 hours he had hopes of reaching the safety of Brest, but when spotted by a Catalina of RAF Coastal Command, Lutjens knew it was the beginning of the end for the mighty German warship.
When an attack by Ark Royal's Swordfish torpedo planes jammed her rudder Bismarck's fate was sealed. As she limped haphazardly through the waves trailing oil, the Home Fleet closed in for the final encounter. Overwhelmed by British guns and torpedoes, Bismarck's crew fought a gallant last battle, but the odds were too great. Watching Bismarck's final moments from King George V's bridge, Admiral Tovey said: "She put up a noble fight against impossible odds, worthy of the old days of the Imperial German Navy."
Robert Taylor, master-painter of sea and sky, portrays the Bismarck at the fateful moment she was located by RAF Coastal Command. Greeted by a defiant barrage of fire from Bismarck's anti-aircraft guns, tbe Catalina veers away, but already the radio operator has transmitted her position. Like the Hood just two days earlier, the pride of Hitler's Kriegsmarine was by now, destined for the deep.
EditionsBismarck's fourth salvo landed a shell forward of the Hood's after turrets, piercing her deck, exploding the 4-inch magazine. Simultaneously this detonated the adjacent 15-inch magazine, and in one mighty eruption the battleship broke in two. Within seconds she was gone. Of the ships company of 1400 officers and sailors only three survived. Outraged at the grievous loss Winston Churchill signalled the Admiralty just three words: "Sink the Bismarck!" Thus began one of the epic sea chases in the history of naval warfare. Damaged by shells from Prince of Wales's 14-inch guns, and losing fuel oil, Admiral Lutjens broke off the engagement and steamed Bismarck towards the anonymity of the North Atlantic. Evading the British warships for 32 hours he had hopes of reaching the safety of Brest, but when spotted by a Catalina of RAF Coastal Command, Lutjens knew it was the beginning of the end for the mighty German warship.
When an attack by Ark Royal's Swordfish torpedo planes jammed her rudder Bismarck's fate was sealed. As she limped haphazardly through the waves trailing oil, the Home Fleet closed in for the final encounter. Overwhelmed by British guns and torpedoes, Bismarck's crew fought a gallant last battle, but the odds were too great. Watching Bismarck's final moments from King George V's bridge, Admiral Tovey said: "She put up a noble fight against impossible odds, worthy of the old days of the Imperial German Navy."
Robert Taylor, master-painter of sea and sky, portrays the Bismarck at the fateful moment she was located by RAF Coastal Command. Greeted by a defiant barrage of fire from Bismarck's anti-aircraft guns, tbe Catalina veers away, but already the radio operator has transmitted her position. Like the Hood just two days earlier, the pride of Hitler's Kriegsmarine was by now, destined for the deep.
Each print signed by four crew members who survived the sinking of the Bismarck.
- 850 Limited Edition, signed by the Artist and Obergefreiter Hans Hellwig, Maschinen Obergefreiter Karl-August Schuldt, Matrose II Josef Statz and Maschinen Obergefreiter Johannes Zimmermann.
- 85 Artist's Proof Edition, signed as above.
Published 1997
Overall Height ca.
60
cm
Overall Width ca.
82
cm
