The Bismarck was a formidable German battleship of World War II, best known for its brief yet impactful operational history and dramatic sinking. Launched in 1939, it was one of the largest and most powerful warships of its time, designed to act as a long-range commerce raider, disrupting Allied shipping in the Atlantic. Its only operational sortie, Operation Rheinübung in May 1941, saw the Bismarck, alongside the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, attempt to break out into the Atlantic. During this mission, it engaged British naval forces in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, famously sinking the venerable British battlecruiser HMS Hood and damaging HMS Prince of Wales. This swift and decisive victory sent shockwaves through the Royal Navy and initiated one of the most intense naval hunts in history. A relentless pursuit by numerous British warships and aircraft ensued. Despite initial evasion, the Bismarck was ultimately crippled by a torpedo hit from a Swordfish biplane from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, which jammed its rudders. This rendered the mighty battleship unmaneuverable, leaving it vulnerable to the converging British fleet. On May 27, 1941, after a sustained bombardment from British battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney, and torpedoes from HMS Dorsetshire, the Bismarck succumbed to the damage and sank, with the loss of over 2,000 of its crew. Its demise marked a significant turning point, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of large battleships to air power and underscoring the dominance of aircraft carriers and submarines in future naval warfare.