[DarthVader]

It took over 400 major caliber shells (16 and 14 in.) and 7 torpedoes to sink the Bismarck. Even after that massive bombardment the Germans may have very well scuttled her. There is no modern ship afloat that could take that kind of punishment even from WWII vintage weapons. She was a remarkable piece of naval construction based upon a WWI design.

[Strategerist]

She was a remarkable piece of naval construction based upon a WWI design.

And riddled with egregious design flaws.

[FreedomPoster]

The reason so many shells were involved, was because most of them went in the drink, not the Bismarck.

With guided sea-skimming missiles, fewer weapons and hits are needed.

I just don't understand why so many are so enamored of a platform with such a short stand-off to deploy its main weapons system. This is the core of the inherent superiority of carriers - keep the high-value platform far away, and send the lower-value platforms in harm's way to do the damage.

[Junior]

The Bismark was doomed by a single Fairie torpedo bomber (an old wood-n-canvas plane) that jammed her steering gear with a torpedo hit. The rest was simply icing on the cake.

[ww2eto]

What punishment? It only took a lucky hit from a British plane to disable the Bismarck by knocking out her steering. She went in circles until all those "400 shells etc." sank her.