King George V, Rodney, Norfolk, and Dorsetshire all engaged Bismarck, even though no second German ship remained to divide their attention. This concentration contrasts with the Denmark Strait decision to keep British heavy cruisers out of the main gun action. Interwar exercises had taught the Royal Navy to bring the maximum available force against an opponent. The comparison supports the interpretation that abandoning the concentration practised during interwar exercises exposed British ships to unnecessary risk.
Notable Point · 2:18:13-2:21:24
Concentrating every available gun on Bismarck
Two battleships and two heavy cruisers fire together, illustrating the interwar Royal Navy preference for overwhelming concentration rather than holding supporting ships back.