The German battleship Bismarck was sunk by the British Navy on this date in 1941.
Design for the Bismarck began in 1934, her keel was laid down in 1936, she was launched in 1939 and commissioned in August 1940. The Bismarck embarked on her maiden combat voyage on May 18, 1941. Nine days later she went to the bottom. Of her crew of 2,300, only 110 survived.
The Hood found the Bismark and on that fatal day
The Bismark started firin’ fifteen miles away
We gotta sink the Bismark was the battle sound
But when the smoke had cleared away
The mighty Hood went down
For six long days and weary nights
They tried to find her trail
Churchill told the people put ev’ry ship a-sail
‘Cause somewhere on that ocean
I know she’s gotta be
We gotta sink the Bismark to the bottom of the sea
We’ll find that German battleship
That’s makin’ such a fuss
We gotta sink the Bismark
‘Cause the world depends on us
Hit the decks a-runnin’ boys
And spin those guns around
When we find the Bismark we gotta cut her down
From “Sink the Bismarck” written by Johnny Horton and Tilman Franks