Great illustrations! And I really liked how Ballard described the action in the single voyage of the Bismarck, where she sunk the Hood and subsequently got sunk herself. I was less interested in the narrative that described how Ballard found the ship. ( )

Il 14 giugno 1989 i giornali di tutto il mondo pubblicarono una notizia straordinaria: Robert Ballard , lo scopritore del Titanic, era riuscito a localizzare la più grande corazzata di Hitler.
Storia e immagini della grande corazzata tedesca e del suo relitto. ( )

This book is a combination of two books; the brief history of the German Battleship Bismarck and the underwater expedition too find this historic war vessel on the ocean floor. The book moves from chapters that cover the naval history of the Bismarck too the search by Robert Ballard of Titanic fame. It was his discovery of the Titanic that aided in the funding for the Bismarck expedition in 1988 and 1989.

The history of the sea chase and engagement of the Bismarck is well written and includes prints of sketches and paintings as well as original photographs taken by both the German and British sailors. Though there is no question at the end that the Bismarck would not make a friendly port this history shares with us how after constant shelling by numerous British naval ships the Bismarck was still afloat. And eyewitness reports state the two torpedoes that were finally launched too sink that struck her did not penetrate her armor. This expedition would answer the debate of whether the Bismarck was sunk by the British or scuttled by her crew. This telling supports the later.

The chapters of this book do an excellent job in sharing the experience that is entailed in searching the ocean floor for any man made object. Even one as large as the Bismarck. In 1988 using British Admiralty logs Ballard and his team search the floor of the North Atlantic. The tedious work of watching sonar read outs and staring at mud flats is brought too life. As well as the long hours involved in such work. Though they did not find the Bismarck in 1988 another expedition was embarked upon in 1989. This detailed write up on the search and discovery of the Bismarck is amazing along with photographs and sketches of this work and the current state of the Bismarck.

This book is a thorough work on the Bismark's war career as well as the search for her resting place. The Bismarck is three miles below the ocean surface where there are no ocean currents. Well worth reading if interested in naval history or underwater exploration. ( )