[color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Ship Name:[/u][/b][/color] Bismarck [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Affiliated Navy:[/u][/b][/color] German Kriegsmarine. http://www.warstore.co.uk/ekmps/shops/marlina/images/german-imperial-with-crest-wwi-5-x-3-flag-2108-p.jpg [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Allegiance:[/u][/b][/color] Currently on its own. (Axis doesn't exist in its timeline) [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Captain:[/u][/b][/color] Captain / Kapitän zur See, Kunz Hoehner. [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Current Location:[/u][/b][/color] East of Argentina, close to the north of the little island. [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Description:[/u][/b][/color] http://3dhistory.de/wordpress/wp-content/gallery/Bis001/Bismarck_Walkaround01_040_000.jpg The battleship Bismarck is named after the great leader of old, Otto Von Bismarck. Whom united germany and forged a new future for its people. This is the same in this ships timeline. But world war 1 ended prematurely in this timeline, which gave germany more time to prepare for the second war. The national socialists party was also never elected to power, since the countries economics were never pushed so far down. Instead a more commonly styled Conservative rule. Whom rebuilt the former glory of germany and the country was cast into world war two. The people however were more jingoistic than common nations. And wanted to create an even larger reich. Therefore the german war machine have still gone on a massive advance, and been rather succesful. The battleship Bismarck itself was unlike its true timeline counterpart (i'll refer to it as real from now on) not prematurely launched with inferior chances on a crazy undermanned mission. Instead it was finished together with its sister-ship Tirpitz whom both received several modifications and upgrades including reinforced armour in several places, more anti-aircraft weaponry and the ability to carry torpedo-boats along its rear hull. Sacrificing 2 scout planes. The two ships often operated together and had an escort of a select few smaller vessels. [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Armament armour and vessels:[/u][/b][/color] Armament: As built: 8 × 38 cm (15 in) SK C/34 (4 × 2) 12 × 15 cm (5.9 in) (6 × 2) 16 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/33 (8 × 2) 16 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 (8 × 2) 12 × 2 cm (0.79 in) FlaK 30 (12 × 1) Modifications: 58 × 2 cm FlaK 30 8 × 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes Armour: Belt: 335 mm (rough 13 in) Turrets: 370 mm (rough 14 in) Main deck: 105 to 122 mm (rough 3.9 to 4.7 in) Upper deck: 53 mm (rough 2.0 in) Aircraft carried: 2 × Arado Ar 196 floatplanes http://idmodels.ie/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/e/rev03994_6.jpg Aviation facilities: 1 double-ended catapult http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr6/SgtRex_Photo/bismarck/Part%2022/_DSC0014-2.jpg Torpedo craft: 2 x Schnellboot E-boat type http://orig06.deviantart.net/0591/f/2015/171/c/8/typ__e_100_schnellboot___8_by_warrenzoell-d8y331f.jpg [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Crew:[/u][/b][/color] Complement: 98 out of 103 officers 1'948 out of 1'962 enlisted men These are the official required numbers. With an additional 50 for manning the schnellboots. [color=mediumorchid][b][u]+Current situation:[/u][/b][/color] Unlike its real counterpart, this vessel was never sunk in the atlantic ocean, and never sunk Hood. It however got sent on a similar mission as its real counterpart to hunt down supply fleets in the atlantic south. This mission was however featuring both Bismarck and Tirpitz with assorting craft. 3 destroyers and two heavy cruisers. Initially the mission seemed to be a huge success, massive tonnage was sunk until the commonwealth alliance were forced to cease supply operations in the area. The kriegsmarine saw this as a great victory. What they didn't know however was that the initial response to the german battlegroup entering the sea was immediate and rather embarrassing retreat, the commonwealth alliance had worked a long time to create a trap. Spies made sure the german government was given information about two simultaneous supply runs. One smaller to the north, and a massive one to the south. The information was crucial and the "german navy could never learn of" the southern group. Which would have no defense. The upper force was supposed to be well protected, so the kriegsmarine decided to send its wolfpacks to deal with it. Battlegroup GroSSenstahl would take the southern supply run. Bismarcks battlegroup. The kriegsmarine had taken the bait completely. The trap was set, when the target date was reached the wolf packs found no trace of the supposed upper supply run. Initial confusion turned to panic when several sub-hunter bombers supported with destroyers began to hunt them down. One of the most devastating blows to the wolf packs to date. In the south the situation was even more grim. The commonwealth alliance had gathered a massive fleet to surround the battlegroup, to sink the scourge of the seas once and for all. GroSSenstahl found out way to late that they were pinned in the mousetrap. A massive battle ensued. Tirpitz and Bismarck fought valiantly, Tirpitz managed to sink two major vessels before succumbing to repeated barrages. What finally sunk the warship was a three torpedo hit barrage to the starboard bow, which annihilated the prow and resulted in the ship gulping in massive amounts of water as it kept going forward. After seeing the battlegroup had been halved, Bismarcks captain decided to retreat to the south. The vessel performed admirably against the odds and sunk a major vessel. It also managed to get a torpedo hit against a commonwealth carrier forcing it to flee. But massive damage had been sustained. The supporting kriegsmarine fleet was annihilated without sinking any major vessels, but a single destroyer was sunk by it. Both sides had taken horrendous damage in the battle however, and when the Bismarck took a hit to its bridge. It went silent. The commonwealth fleet decided that it needed to retreat, and that the enemy vessel would be sunk by a follow-up attack by destroyer groups. Bimarck however was not beaten. True it had taken a massive blow to its officer core, several officers dead including the captain. Kunz Hoehner was the highest ranking officer that survived the blast. He was catapulted into a toilet of all places and received injury to his legs and arms. Leaving him limp and slightly hampered in manual dexterity. And slightly ridiculed for "taking a trip to the loo without permission." While this is a hidden joke among the crew, they actually respect him fully. Bismarck had to limp southward and managed to hide next to an island, there it performed repairs. But just as repairs were underway the commonwealth destroyer groups found it. The vessel was doomed, only a miracle.... or lets say a rift in reality could save it now. And that is what happened before eyes of the shocked destroyer groups personnel. Currently Bismarck have finished its repairs, none have any idea what happened but its generally decided that they should try to return home. Sadly most of the radio equipment was destroyed, so was a lot of the navigation equipment. So they are down to a few compasses found in crew quarters, a sextant that was a decor in a mess-hall and a few random maps. Most useful of them is the world map, even though it's singed. With this they begin their trip towards the fatherland. _________________________________ Note, while this is a similar ship as Bismarck, the real Bismarck exists alongside this one. Confusing things further.