Background: Having hurriedly sortied from Scapa Flow with HMSKing George V and escorts upon hearing of the sinking of HMS Hood, HMS Victorious prepared for her first combat. Victorious was a new vessel, and her air units were still working up. Victorious was carrying a reduced air complement to free up room for cargo - she was loaded with crated Hurricanes for delivery to Malta. But she was the only aircraft carrier available, so off she went.
On 24-May-41, Victorious launched its last chance for an attack. 8 torpedo-armed Swordfish of the No. 825 squadron took off. At 23:30 hrs, twilight in the high northern lattitudes a month form summer solstice, they attacked Bismarck and Prinz Eugen.
Map: Blue Sky (over ocean)
| Aircraft: | FAA | = | 8x Swordfish Mk I |
| Kriegsmarine | = | KMS Bismarck KMS Prinz Eugen |
Set Up: Place Bismarck and Prinz Eugen on the board 15-25 hexes apart, headed in the same direction. Both vessels are at flank speed. All AAA batteries are active. Flip the counters; do not show which vessel is which until the aircraft attack (or at least until they are committed). At twilight, two 3-hex warships will look close enough alike...
The Swordfish are organized into three elements (3, 3, and 2). Each element enters 1 D10 after the other. The first element attacked from the Left front; the second form the Left rear; the last element from the starboard bow. As elements enter, fly in formation at 1.0 altitude in level flight at maximum speed.
Game Length: 20 turns
Special Rules
Additional Rules:
Historical Outcome:
The Swordfish scored one hit near the bow of , causing minor damage (causing Bismarck to slow to a maximum speed of 24 knots) and leaking an oil trail, which made her easier to track. All Swordfish returned to Victorious
Notes:
Source:
Return to the Bismarck Campaign.
Background: HMS Ark Royal sortied from Gibraltar with the rest of the heavy units of Force H upon hearing of the sinking of HMS Hood. Shortly after her brush with HMS Victorious, Bismarck broke contact with the British and then separated from Prinz Eugen. Contact was re-established some 30 hours later, early on 26-May-41. Later that day, Ark Royal came within range and immediately launched an with some 15 Swordfish.
The dozen aircraft that made attacks learned that there new fangled magnetic detenators did not work. Which was fortunate, as their target turned out to be HMS Sheffield, who had been shadowing Bismarck at the edge of radar range.
The Swordfish re-armed with torpedos armed with conventional detenators and flew another mission at about 2100 hrs. Guided to Bismarck by Sheffield, they attacked.
Map: Blue Sky (over ocean)
| Aircraft: | FAA | = | 13x Swordfish Mk I |
| Kriegsmarine | = | KMS Bismarck |
Set Up: Place Bismarck in the center of the board, moving at flank speed. All AAA batteries are active.
The Swordfish are organized into four vics. Each element enters 1 D10 after the other. Let each element select their original entry direction before the start of the game. As elements enter, fly in formation at 1.0 altitude in level flight at maximum speed.
Game Length: 20 turns
Special Rules
Additional Rules:
Historical Outcome:
The Swordfish scored one hit near the stern, causing minor damage to Bismarck's hull, but more importantly damaging her steering, leaving Bismarck unable to maneuver (and turn a wide circle), setting her up for Royal navy units to cclose later that morning. All Swordfish returned to Ark Royal
Notes:
Source: