Fire discipline and the decision not to pursue Prince of Wales

Prinz Eugen's hydrophones detected Hood and Prince of Wales approaching, and Lutjens initially tried to outrun them. Hood's appearance contradicted the intelligence he had received and further weakened his trust in reports from shore. His delay in opening Bismarck's fire is explained through limited firing arcs, the wish to close the range, and the need to conserve 15-inch ammunition that could not readily be replaced at sea. Few officers survived to describe the bridge discussions, so details of Lindemann's anger and the exchange of orders remain uncertain. Lutjens then turned across Holland's line and kept Prinz Eugen engaged despite regulations favouring her withdrawal, maximising firepower until the odds improved. Both German ships concentrated on Prince of Wales after Hood exploded. Lutjens rejected Lindemann's proposed pursuit of the damaged battleship under orders to avoid unnecessary fighting. He may also have feared that a prolonged chase would bring in other British capital ships whose positions German intelligence had failed to establish.