Killing the Bismarck cover art

Killing the Bismarck

Destroying the Pride of Hitler's Fleet

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Killing the Bismarck

By: Iain Ballantyne
Narrated by: Traber Burns
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About this listen

In May 1941 the German battleship Bismarck, accompanied by heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, broke out into the Atlantic to attack Allied shipping. The Royal Navy's pursuit and subsequent destruction of the Bismarck was an epic of naval warfare. In this new account of those dramatic events at the height of the Second World War, Iain Ballantyne draws extensively on the graphic eyewitness testimony of veterans to construct a thrilling story, mainly from the point of view of the British battleships, cruisers, and destroyers involved.

He describes the tense atmosphere as cruisers play a lethal cat-and-mouse game, shadowing the Bismarck in the icy Denmark Strait. We witness the shocking destruction of the British battle cruiser HMS Hood, in which all but three of her ship's complement were killed, an event that fueled pursuing Royal Navy warships, including the battered battleship Prince of Wales, with a thirst for revenge. While Swordfish torpedo bombers try desperately to cripple the Bismarck, we sail in destroyers on their own daring torpedo attacks, battling mountainous seas. Finally the author takes us into the last showdown, as battleships Rodney and King George V, supported by cruisers Norfolk and Dorsetshire, destroy the pride of Hitler's fleet.

This vivid, superbly researched account portrays this epic saga through the eyes of so-called ordinary sailors caught up in extraordinary events. Killing the Bismarck is an outstanding book, conveying the horror and majesty of war at sea in all its cold brutality and awesome power.

©2010 Iain Ballantyne (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Germany Great Britain Military Naval Forces Transportation England War Royal Navy Royalty King Submarine

What listeners say about Killing the Bismarck

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stirring

seen from a different prospective than many tales of this battle starting with the hood.

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The best Bismarck account

Over the last 30 years I’ve read various accounts regarding the sinking of the Bismarck. This was the best yet!

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Sad but true.

War is a history we repeat without heed to the very lessons recorded, published and narrated. A excellent bppk. Well structured and researchef. Recommended

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Great story of a famous battle

Great story of an epic and tragic battle, with minimal flux, so looked forward to each listen. Can't understand why the narrator wasn't English like the victors of the battle though

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2 people found this helpful

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Enjoyable from start to finish.

I couldn't wait to get in my car to drive to work so I could listen, one of my favourite naval books iv listened to yet.

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A fantastic and comprehensive story

A great, yet visceral and horrific account from a number of key persons involved in the initial confrontation, subsequent chase and sinking of the bismark.

100% reccomend! was a great listen

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A deep drive into the Bismarcks only offensive operation

A detailed account of the British players who stopped the largest battleship ever made in its first 8 day offensive operation to terrorise the Atlantic sea lanes.

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the reader

Great story but why have an American read a British story, the pronunciation, Lootenant, Dun Dass for Dundas, Ro Sythe - Rosyth, etc etc etc. Its just wrong...why..

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