For a brief but intense period, the Bismarck was one of the largest and most powerful warships ever made. It had one of the shortest careers of any warship – its history from completion through construction lasted only nine months, eight of which were spent training. With a displacement of well over 41,000 tons (about 50,000 tons fully loaded) she was much bigger than either British or American ships. Fast at 30 knots, the Bismarck was powered by steam turbines and produced 150,000 hp. During a mission to disrupt the British convoy system in the North Atlantic, the Bismarck took part in what was one of the most dramatic episodes of WW II. It dueled the British battlecruiser Hood and the British battleship Prince of Wales. It sank the Hood. Subsequently it was sighted by the RAF and sunk by the British battleships King George V and the Rodney. Rescue of the Bismarck’s crew was began immediately after her sinking, but was broken off due to fear of attack by German U-boats. Out of a crew of nearly 2,300 only 110 survived. | 
