The rebuilt design carries twelve rather than fifteen 16.5-inch guns and uses the released space and weight for a stronger fire-control arrangement. In the next duel it begins landing effective fire while remaining comparatively intact, turning the earlier theoretical trade-off into an observable result. The outcome is not automatic because the British ship closes before Bismarck's remaining ammunition has been sufficiently reduced and exposes itself to avoidable return fire. Reconstruction choices and tactical judgment both shape the gunnery result.
Notable Point · 1:19:49-1:25:12
What the twelve-gun reconstruction gains from better fire control
Removing the central turret and adding a secondary fire-control position produces a far more effective ship, although closing the range too early still creates danger.