h planes were lost. Only one torpedo plane made a hit which was almost in the same spot except on the opposite side as the shell that had cause there fuel situation. Shortly afterward as night approached the British warships lost contact and the Bismarck escaped into the Atlantic. By May 25, 46 British warships were committed to the hunt. Between the Suffolk’s loss of radar contact and the re-detection of the Bismarck more than 31 hours had passed. At 1030 on may 26, a Catalina aircraft sighted the Bismarck and with her only twenty four hours away from the protection of the Luftwaffe’s heavy bombers an air attack was ordered. The Renown, Sheffield, and Ark Royal were the only British warships close to her position. The Ark Royal Between 1450 and 1500 launched 15 torpedo planes with orders to attack the Bismarck. They were not informed of the presence of the Sheffield in the area and they launched 11 torpedoes at the cruiser before the mistake was realized. A second attack was launched at 1910 and they sighted the Bismarck at 2030 and the first attack was made at 2047. During the half hour attack the ship was first hit by one possibly two torpedoes amidships. Near the end of the battle two swordfish came in low and released their torpedoes at a range of 450-500 meters so close that the Bismarck couldn’t evade them. One of the torpedoes hit the stern area of the ship. ...
