Q&A ยท 26:24-28:09

How close did Tribal destroyers get to Bismarck?

Tribal destroyers may have closed to about 2,000 yards or less during their night torpedo attack on Bismarck.

Question

Did the Tribal destroyers torpedo Bismarck, and how close did they get?

Short answer

A hit is possible but uncertain; the destroyers appear to have closed to about 2,000 yards or less, an exceptionally close night-torpedo range.

Notes

An apparent hit may have struck Bismarck's armoured belt without producing a decisive result. Vian's account places the destroyers within 2,000 yards, perhaps nearer, during their night attack. At that range a torpedo shot was close to point-blank, although darkness still made a miss possible. If the destroyers had sunk Bismarck before daylight, the battleships arriving the following morning would have had no target.