The British Trick That Helped Sink the Bismarck at the Perfect Moment

The Biplane That Killed the Bismarck In May 1941, the Royal Navy did something that made no sense on paper. They sent canvas-covered biplanes — flying at 90 knots, slower than some cars today — against the most powerful battleship afloat. The Fairey Swordfish looked like it belonged to the First World War. The Bismarck had 84 anti-aircraft guns, 50,000 tonnes of armour, and was running for the safety of Brest at full speed. The Germans laughed. Their gunners couldn't hit it. Their fire-control computers literally couldn't calculate solutions for something that slow. One torpedo found the rudder. The Bismarck steamed in circles. The Royal Navy closed in. 2,221 men. One biplane. One perfect hit. Sometimes the oldest weapon in the room is the one nobody planned for. #WW2History #RoyalNavy #Bismarck #FleetAirArm #BattleOfTheAtlantic