Next to the Tirpitz the Bismarck the flag-ship of the Germany Navy was the largest German warship with a displacement of 50900 tons and a crew of 2092 men Put into service on 24081940 she left port on 18051941 for operation Rhine Exercise Together with the Prinz Eugen she was discovered early by British reconnaissance planes In the encounter with the Hood on 24051941 the latter was sunk by the Bismarck After a long chase the Bismarck was hit by an aircraftfired torpedo on 26051941 and intercepted by the British battleships King George V and Rodney On 27051941 the Bismarck was sunk by her own crew 490 km off the french coast.