In the very year since WWII began, two important warships were launched, neither of which was completely outfitted and ready for action until 1941.  One, HMS Prince of Wales, represented the state of the art in British battleship design. The other, DKM Bismarck, became the most powerful warship afloat and represented Hitler's most potent threat to British merchant shipping in the Atlantic.

The year 1936 saw the laying of the keel of what was to be the most well-known naval vessel ever built. The mighty battleship Bismarck in many aspects the most important and definitely the most famous German ship of all time.

Named after the first chancellor of the German Empire, Count Otto von Bismark who was also known as the "Iron Chancellor."  Born 1815 in Prussia, Bismarck ruled Germany for 30 years, longer than anyone else.  He managed to unify the country while maintaining the peace in Europe for a generation.

DKM Bismarck was launched in 1939.  Her length of 792' and in particular her beam of 118' gave her a high degree of stability at sea with a superb capability to absorb damage.

Bismark's hull was uniquely subdivided into 22 watertight compartments, 17 of which were within the citadel.  This meant that 70% of the waterline was protected by heavy armor.  More than 90% of her hull was electrically welded and she was comprised of 17 decks, carrying a crew of 2,065.

Bismarck could reach a top speed of 30.1 knots!  With her two rudders, the extraordinarily heavy battleship could maneuver without tug assistance in narrow waters.

Less than a year after her official commissioning in August of 1940, Bismarck departed to participate in the battle of the Atlantic.  On the 23rd of May, she disabled the HMS Norfolk.

The following day, Bismarck demonstrated its super power with her accurate main guns.  In a mere eight minute time, she blew up the finest and biggest battlecruiser of Royal Navy, HMS Hood.  The HMS Prince of Wales took four hits and retreated. 

"Sink the Bismarck", roared Churchill.  The day after, Bismarck was intercepted by a crushingly superior British Home Fleet force, including five battleships, nine cruisers and two aircraft carriers.

Yet even this concentration of naval force might was not able to sink her.  After over 400 shells and 12 torpedoes had hit her and all her ammunition exhausted, the battered Bismarck was blown up and scuttled by her own crew.  All commanders died aboard.  Only 115 sailors survived. 

On May 27th, 1940, at 10:39 AM, the mighty Bismarck capsized and sank.

British Admiral John Tovey wrote in his memoirs, "The Bismarck had put up a most gallant fight against impossible odds worthy of the old days of the Imperial German Navy, and she went down with her colours flying."

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We are  the only modelers who build hollow hull wooden modern naval warship.   Here are some quality highlights of this model:

- Beautiful teak deck: Comprised of hundreds of thin individuals planks put together by hands, not a large piece of wood with laser cut marks as you might recognized its one uniform light yellow color.

- Black and white pattern are on the upper parts of the ship.  This paint job is extremely difficult and can only done by master modelers.  

- Plank-on-frame, hollow hull construction.  
 
 - All parts are wood and metal. 

- Masterfully painted light rust appearance.

 56" L x 8 W x 15 H  (Scale 1/175)     $3,900    S & H is $130 

Add a case: www.modelshipmaster.com/products/accessory/displaycase.htm

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