Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:44:24-1:46:11

Could Yamato hunt Bismarck?

Yamato misses the Bismarck campaign both chronologically and operationally: she commissioned too late and was not fast enough for the fast-battleship group.

Fast BattleshipsGerman Battleship BismarckNaval OperationsShip SpeedYamato Class Battleships
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Question

Could Yamato join the fast battleships hunting Bismarck?

Short answer

No. Yamato commissioned too late and her roughly 27-knot speed fell below the 28-knot cutoff used here for the fast-battleship group.

Notes

Bismarck's sortie occurred in May 1941, while Yamato did not commission until December and would not finish working up until 1942. Her 27-knot speed also falls below the 28-knot cutoff used here for the fast-battleship group. Bismarck could make about 30 knots, so Yamato would be poorly suited to the pursuit even if she were available. Both the deployment calendar and the proposed force's speed requirement therefore rule out this matchup.