Lütjens exploited the cruisers' anti-submarine zigzag, accelerated, and turned sharply to starboard to cross their wake and escape. The maneuver broke their radar contact and placed Bismarck well ahead of much of the pursuit. Naval Group West advised short tactical signals and warned against long transmissions, but Lütjens distrusted the same intelligence system that had misplaced Hood. Believing the British still possessed superior tracking radar, he reported course changes because he saw no remaining advantage in concealment. Prinz Eugen's war diary called that insistence unnecessary and risky. The transmissions gave the British information for renewing the pursuit after Bismarck had broken contact.
Notable Point · 3:46:36-3:52:00
Radio traffic exposed Bismarck after it escaped the cruisers
A successful turn broke cruiser contact, but Lütjens kept sending radio reports because he believed the British could still track Bismarck.