Airfix releases a new set of model boats: "Sink the Bismark"
Waterline Battleships
Bismarck took part in only one operation during her brief career. She, and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, left Gotenhafen on the morning of 19th May 1941 for Operation Rheinübung, during which she was to have attempted to intercept and destroy convoys in transit between North America and Great Britain.
When Bismarck and Prinz Eugen attempted to break out into the Atlantic,
the two ships were discovered by the Royal Navy and brought to battle in
the Denmark Strait. During the short engagement, the British
battlecruiser HMS Hood, flagship of the Home Fleet and pride of the
Royal Navy, was sunk after several minutes of firing. In response,
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued the order to "Sink the
Bismarck", spurring a relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy.
Two days later, with Bismarck almost in reach of safer waters, Fleet Air
Arm Swordfish biplanes launched from the carrier HMS Ark Royal
torpedoed the ship and jammed her rudder, allowing heavy British units
to catch up with her. In the ensuing battle on the morning of 27th May
1941, Bismarck was heavily attacked for almost two hours before sinking.
The six waterline 1:1200 scale models, HMS Cossack, HMS Suffolk, HMS
Hood, Bismarck, HMS Ark Royal and Prinz Eugen, in this set represent the
main ships in this action, and are a must for any warship modeller,
collector or historian of any age.