The Battle of Hood and Bismarck

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1 General Information
2 Cover
3 Information
- 3.1 The Mighty Hood
- 3.2 Sink the Bismarck
4 Screenshots
5 Technical Specs
- 5.1 DVDRip Version
- 5.2 HD Version
6 Links

[edit] General Information

War Documentary hosted by Robert Lindsay and published by Channel 4 in 2002 - English narration

[edit] Cover

[edit] Information

Part 1 - The Mighty Hood & Part 2 - Sink The Bismarck

ITN Factual for Channel 4, 2002, Colour

Two of the world's mightiest warships are explored in the historical documentary The Battle of Hood and Bismarck. In 2001, American explorer David Mearns guided an international expedition that led to the discovery of these great ships. Narrated by Robert Lindsay, this feature-length Channel 4 documentary examines the rich history of the opposing ships during the some of the greatest sea battles of WWII.

In May of 1941, the Hood and the Bismarck engaged in a fierce battle resulting in the destruction of both ships and over 3,500 casualties. Using archival footage, computer effects, and interviews with survivors, director Gary Johnstone explores the demise of the HMS Hood, once considered theb est ship in Britain's fleet, as well as the mysterious sinking of Germany's battleship, the Bismarck.

HMS Hood

Hood was a battlecruiser - one of a new breed of warships developed before the First World War. With more horsepower and less armour, they were faster than battleships and were designed to outrun and outgun enemy ships. Their vulnerability became clear in the Battle of Jutland in 1916, when three battlecruisers were lost. All three were struck by gunfire which penetrated their thin deck- and turret-armour.

Despite this tragic loss, the Admiralty went on to build Hood. She was improved in a number of ways but still lacked armour protection. Launched on 22 August 1918, HMS Hood was the 13th and final British battlecruiser. Big, fast and powerful, for the population at home, she was a symbol of Britain's supremacy in the world. However, she was an old ship, due for modernization. The Navy knew that, like her predecessors, she would be vulnerable to plunging shell fire. But she was too urgently needed to be spared for a full refit.

Bismarck

Bismarck, in contrast, was a much more modern ship. The 1919 Versailles Treaty severely restricted Germany's ability to re-arm after the First World War. These restrictions were not lifted until Britain and Germany signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935. That allowed Germany to build a surface fleet of up to 35% of the size of Britain's, and up to 45% in the case of submarines.

Five months later, Bismarck's design was complete. She was launched on 14 February 1939. One of the most significant characteristics of this new ship was her ability to withstand damage. The design of her armour meant she was very well defended against any potential adversary. Armed, too, with powerful 38cm guns, she looked invincible.

[edit] The Mighty Hood

Sixty years after the loss of two of the greatest battleships ever launched, Channel 4 mounted an ambitious expedition to locate and film HMS Hood and Bismarck. Both were sunk several miles under the sea - too deep even for nuclear submarines to reach. In the first of two feature-length documentaries, extraordinary evidence is provided by the expedition into the mystery of Hood's sinking.

[edit] Sink the Bismarck

After the loss of HMS Hood Britain is in a state of shock, its capital ship sunk by just one shell. Churchill has ordered every British warship or plane within striking distance to 'Sink the Bismarck!'. This second feature-length documentary reveals the expedition's findings about Hitler's dreaded battleship - the most powerful weapon of its day - and her historic first, and last, voyage.