Original Artwork Print: “Sighting the Bismarck” Painting of British Catalina from RAF 209 Squardon over the Battleship; Signed by Artist & 4 Bismarck Survivors – 37″ x 28″, in Museum Grade Frame Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely framed print of Robert Taylor’s painting SIGHTING THE BISMARCK, matted and put into a museum grade frame measuring 37″ x 28″. This is number 757/850 of a run of these prints made for collectors, and will make a fantastic display piece on any wall.

The painting shows the German WWII battleship Bismarck at 10:30am on May 26, 1941, while she was being pursued by the Royal Navy following the Battle of the Denmark Strait. During this engagement the British battlecruiser HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy, took a hit to her magazine, which exploded, breaking the ship in half. This resulted in the loss of all but three of her crew of 1,419, a massive loss to the Royal Navy.

Outraged at the grievous loss Winston Churchill signaled the Admiralty just three words: “Sink the Bismarck!” Thus began one of the epic sea chases in the history of naval warfare. What followed was a mobilization of virtually every Royal Navy asset in the vicinity to the end of that singular goal. The Bismarck had sustained damage during the battle, but not enough to seriously slow her down. With U-boats and other German vessels being deployed to help the Bismarck escape, it was a race to find the ship before she could meet up with escorts or find a safe harbor. Many of the British ships were also running low on fuel, and refueling would mean breaking off pursuit. As she was faster than most of the ships pursuing her, the best way to find the ship was to spot her by air.

The painting shows the moment of discovery, when a Consolidated Catalina flying boat from No. 209 Squadron RAF was able to locate the Bismarck an signal her location to the British Admiralty. The only way to prevent the Bismarck escaping was to slow her down, which was accomplished by a Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. One was able to land a hit on the Bismarck’s port rudder shaft, which made the Bismarck unable to steer. With the battleship now stuck going in circles, it was relatively easy prey for the Royal Navy, who proceeded to shower it with a massive amount of shells and torpedoes, achieving revenge for the loss of the Hood.

The discovery of the ship by the Catalina is described in the paragraph below the framed print, which reads:

SIGHTING THE BISMARCK
by
Robert Taylor

The following day, confronted by the Royal Navy battleships King George V and Rodney,
supported by 2 cruisers, the Bismarck was sunk during one of the epic actions of modern naval warfare.

Additionally, the print is signed by artist Robert Taylor on the far left, along with four of the small band of only 110 crew members who survived the sinking of the Bismarck.

– Obergefreiter Johannes Zimmermann
– Kapitanleutnant Karl-August Landfermann
– Obergefreiter Hans Hellwig
– Matrose II Josef Statz

A great display item ready for further research and display!