The Untold Story of Fairey Swordfish in the Bismarck Encounter: No Ships Were Shot Down

In the tumultuous seas of May 1941, the Fairey Swordfish played a crucial but often misunderstood role in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. Despite the hype surrounding the encounter, the record is clear: no Fairey Swordfish were shot down during these fierce engagements.

The Poor AA Defenses and Crew Fatigue

It is often said that the Bismarck was equipped with poor anti-aircraft (AAA) defenses, with directors that struggled to engage the slow-moving Swordfish. However, the truth is more nuanced. The poor performance of Bismarck's AAA can largely be attributed to the sudden nature of the attacks and the fatigue of the crew who had been on high alert for several days. Despite the supposedly ineffectual defenses, the Bismarck's primary armament did inflict some damage, yet it was ultimately the combined factors of poor defense, fatigue, suddenness of attacks, and the skill of the Swordfish crews that made the encounter successful.

The Ark Royal Strikes

On 24 May 1941, Bismarck was targeted by nine Fairey Swordfish from HMS Victorious. Utilizing ASV radar, the Swordfish managed to spot and attack the ship under deteriorating weather conditions. Although only a single torpedo hit was achieved, causing minor damage, the encounter set a precedent for the use of Swordfish in night attacks.

On 26 May, a more intensive strike force was dispatched. Two Swordfish attacks were launched from HMS Ark Royal. The first strike failed to locate the target, but the second attack was much more successful. Two torpedoes struck Bismarck, one of which jammed the ship's rudders, rendering it unmaneuverable and unable to escape to port in France. Despite these successes, it is important to note that half of the attacking aircraft were hit and damaged but managed to return to Ark Royal without sustaining fatal damage.

The robust design of the Fairey Swordfish undoubtedly contributed to the survival of the planes during these engagements. It was their ability to endure damage that might have resulted in the loss of other aircraft that made the Swordfish a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Weather and Lighting Conditions

One of the key factors contributing to the successful attacks without any losses to the Swordfish was the weather and lighting conditions. On the night of the attack, the low cloud cover and darkness may have blinded the Bismarck gunners, allowing the Swordfish to approach and launch their torpedoes with minimal opposition.

The slow speed of the Swordfish meant that the German fire-control predictors had difficulty tracking them, further diminishing the threat of shrapnel damage. The low altitude flights of the Swordfish also meant that they often operated beyond the effective range of Bismarck's flak weapons, which struggled to depress their barrels enough to hit the low-flying aircraft.

The Swordfish's Altruic Legacy

Despite their apparent obsolescence in May 1941, the Fairey Swordfish demonstrated their resilience and effectiveness in the face of formidable adversaries like the Bismarck. Their success in these engagements can be attributed to a combination of factors: the suddenness of the attacks, the fatigue of Bismarck's crew, the skill and effectiveness of the Swordfish crews, and the design of the aircraft itself.

The legacy of the Fairey Swordfish is one of bravery, resilience, and strategic innovation, particularly in the unique challenges posed by the Bismarck. It is a testament to the historical significance of these aircraft that they continue to be remembered and studied in naval history.