How many ships contributed to the hunt for Bismarck?

How many ships in total did it take to sink Bismarck?

Well over one hundred if reconnaissance, screening, and supporting forces across the whole operation are counted, rather than only the ships in the final engagement.

The answer distinguishes the ships that directly fought Bismarck from the much larger network that enabled the hunt. It names Prince of Wales, Hood, Suffolk, Norfolk, Ark Royal, Victorious, King George V, and the Swedish cruiser Gotland among the contributors or precursors. Gotland's sighting in the Baltic helped alert the Royal Navy that Bismarck was coming out, while Catalina flying boats extended the reconnaissance chain even though they were not ships. Under that broad operational definition, the panel estimates that well over one hundred vessels took part.