The girls knew their presence was going to change things, but Assam didn't think it would change things this much with their first deployment. It had been three weeks since the rest of the girls had left for North Africa, but she had been extremely busy. Working with MI6 and the code breakers at Bletchley park was a dream come true. But when one report came through she panicked. Losing her composure she raced through the hallways of the manor, heading for the room she knew Darjeeling would be in. Skidding to a stop outside the main hall, Assam opened the doors and stepped in, just as she thought she would, she found Darjeeling have morning tea with Alan Turing.
"Darjeeling-san, we have a problem."
Darjeeling and Alan Turing looked up, "What's the problem Assam-san?"
"A report just come through from the code breakers decoding enigma transmissions, the battleship Bismarck has been ordered to set sail, she's been ordered to head straight for the Atlantic. But she's been ordered straight through the Channel. From the transmission intercepted, it seems that Hitler thinks with our fleet so far away, the Bismarck can break into the Atlantic via the English Channel. He seems to be expecting the Luftwaffe to provide cover for her, to prevent her being sunk by the RAF."
For only the second time, in all the years Assam had known Darjeeling, she spilt a cup of tea. The cup fell out of her hand and cracked on the floor, much like it did during the practise match against Ooari.
Darjeeling leapt to her feet, and raced towards office of Stewart Menzies, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service or SIS. Without knocking, Darjeeling burst into the room, startling the Chief, but before he could reprimand her she was across the room and picking up the telephone with a direct line to Buckingham Palace, while waiting to be answered she turned to Assam, "Get on the phone to Downing Street, let Anzu or someone know of this."
Instincts drilled into her led to her obeying her commander, and soon she was on the phone to Downing Street.
The phone was quickly answered by a calm voice she recognised as Yuzu Koyama of the Oorai student council, "Hello, Chief Menzies?"
"Not him Yuzu-san, it's Assam of St Gloriana."
"Oh, hello Assam-san. What seems to be the problem?"
"Contact the Admiralty, the German battleship Bismarck has set sail. She's due to sail through the English Channel within the next few days. And she has orders to fire on any British cities and towns while she does."
There was a gasp from the phone, "I can see why you've called. But we don't have many ships available to intercept her, most were sent with the fleet."
"There should be at least two battleships, and a selection of cruisers and destroyers. It doesn't really matter, she needs to be sunk."
"I agree, I'll get on to the Admiralty as soon as I can."
"Thank you Yuzu-san,"
Whilst Assam had been speaking to Yuzu, Darjeeling had got through to the palace and was speaking to someone there, whilst Alan Turing explained what was going on to Chief Menzies.
The first major ripple of their presence had been felt, Assam knew it wouldn't be the last.
#
'The Channel's extremely calm today' thought Vice-Admiral Lancelot Holland, standing on the bridge of the British battle cruiser HMS Hood. The Hood had recently been in for a refit and the deck armour had been reinforced. The refit that had been scheduled had been increased, and now the Admiral felt she was truly ready for combat. Just in time too it seemed, as the German battleship Bismarck had reportedly set sail. Vice Admiral had to commend Hitler for his timing, with most the Royal Navy making its way to North Africa it was a good time to attempt a break out. The navy had been scrambling for the past day to gather a force to stop her.
Now the force was ready, under his command was his flagship the HMS Hood, two battleships the Rodney and Prince of Wales, three cruisers, the Belfast, Norfolk and Suffolk, and six destroyers. It wasn't a large force, but hopefully it would be enough to end the Bismarck. The Bismarck had been sighted steaming towards Dover with the battle cruiser Prinz Eugen an hour ago. She was being shadowed by one of Britain's few submarines, whilst the observer corps, usually watching the skies, now watched the seas.
"Admiral," came a voice, causing him to turn from the windows, addressing him was the Captain of the Hood, Ralph Kerr.
"Yes Captain,"
"HMS Trident reports that the Bismarck will soon be in sight in around half an hour."
"Understood Captain, sound general quarters, get the men ready."
"Yes Admiral, sound general quarters,"
"General quarters aye sir,"
A whistle echoed through the ship, "Attention, general quarters all hand man your battle stations."
Similar announcements were made on every other ship and soon the fleet was a flurry of activity. Men raced to and fro across the deck of each ship, climbing into their guns and manning their posts. Soon the activity stopped, and the long wait began.
A trio of Spitfires broke through the clouds above them, quickly followed by another, the radio crackled, "Vice-Admiral Holland, this is Squadron Leader Kent of 303 squadron, we're here to provide air cover for the engagement. Other squadrons are on the way, including a squadron of hurricanes equipped with 500lb bombs."
The Admiral smiled, "Roger that Squadron Leader, any support you can provide will be appreciated."
"I'm glad we got here now though, cause here she comes."
Over the horizon came a great shadow, the imposing superstructure of the Bismarck making itself known to the British fleet.
#
"It seems the British are waiting for us Captain. Good, we can show them the true power of the German Navy. I will now address the crew."
The German Admiral that had been speaking picked up a microphone, switched it on, and began to speak, "Men and Officers of the Bismarck, our glorious fuhrer has given us orders to go out into the Atlantic and sink the British ships until they no longer dare to let them sail. It seems the British have caught onto our plans and have sent a force to stop us, but these are two of the most powerful ships in the German navy, stronger than anything the British have. And soon aircraft of the Luftwaffe will be here to assist, not that we will need it. Load the guns, target the ships, and you may fire when ready. For the Reich, for the Fuhrer."
#
"Admiral Holland, this is Kent, the ship to the rear is the Bismarck,"
"Understood Squadron Leader. All ships, open fire. Rodney, Prince of Wales, target the furthest ship, Captain Kerr, do the same."
#
Soon, the peaceful morning of the 30th of April 1941 was filled with the roar of cannon fire. The main guns of every vessel shooting its explosive compliment across the waves. The first volleys of each ship missed as the gunners used them to find the range to target. With that the battle began in earnest.
#
On the bridge of the Hood, the noise was deafening, the ship shook violently as the main turrets roared, her 15 inch guns spewing shells as fast as they could be loaded. In the distance the flashes of German guns could be seen as the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen responded.
An explosion was seen off to the left, "Admiral, Belfast reports main turret hit, forward turret out of action,"
Before he could respond there was another explosion, followed by an even bigger one, "Admiral, HMS Beagle was hit, the shot hit the magazine, she's gone. The Basilisk's moving in to pick up survivors."
"Shit, turn the ships to starboard, close with her."
The ship lurched to starboard, spinning to steam towards the Bismarck. The main turrets flared as they continued their bombardment. Rodney and Prince of Wales followed suit, followed by the cruisers and destroyers.
Water splashed over the ship as shells landed all around it, suddenly the Hood shook violently, fire bursting from in front of the forward turret, Holland was blown back by the shock wave, crashing into the helm.
Ears ringing he looked around, Captain Kerr was mouthing something at him, but he couldn't hear a word. Slowly the world came back to him, "Admiral, are you OK? Admiral?"
He blinked, raised his arm and used the helm to stand up, "I'm fine Captain, damage report."
"Forward turret's out Admiral, the shot hit the deck right above the forward magazine. Luckily it didn't pierce the deck otherwise we would have blown up."
"Thank god for the refit, that was the one thing they seemed to be focused on," said the Captain.
"Indeed Captain," Holland walked back to the windows which had been shattered by the explosion, glass cracked under his feet. The noise of the battle was even louder without the glass. At the front of the ship 'A' turret was a mangled mess, 'B' turret was still operational though, "Turn to port, bring the rear turrets within firing range. And get damage control to put those fires out."
Again the Hood lurched, this time to port, when they could the rear turrets opened fire on the German vessels, increasing the bombardment.
#
On the bridge of the Bismarck, Captain Lindemann watched through his binoculars as the British vessel identified as the Hood increased its fire, "Damn," he said quietly.
Admiral Lutjens, flag officer of the Bismarck heard him, "What was that Captain?"
"I said damn Admiral, we hit one of the British battleships near one of their main guns. I had hoped that it would have destroyed the ship."
"Don't bother with the should have beens. Focus on what is, now sink those ships. This is the Bismarck, the most powerful battleship afloat, show the British that."
"Understood Admiral, helm, turn the ship to starboard."
#
"She's turning to starboard Captain," said Admiral Holland, "Target amidships, and prepare for return fire."
A radio crackled, "Admiral, this is Kent, the hurricanes are here, do you have an preference for targets."
"Target the Prinz Eugen, leave the Bismarck for us."
"Understood Admiral,"
"Captain, contact the Belfast, Norfolk and Suffolk, tell them to target the Prinz Eugen after the hurricanes complete their bombing run."
"Yes Admiral,"
The main battery of the Hood flared once more, in the distance there was grand explosion from the rear of the Bismarck.
"Admiral, observers report rear turret out of action on the Bismarck."
There was another large explosion from the Prinz Eugen.
"Admiral, three of the Prinz Eugens turrets knocked out. Cruiser now beginning their bombardment."
#
On board the Bismarck Admiral Lutjens was getting agitated, "Where's the Luftwaffe, Hitler promised the Luftwaffe would be here."
The Bismarck shook violently as another turret was knocked out, the shock wave shattering the windows on the bridge, shards of glass hit the Admiral in the face. His body crumpled to the floor, blood dripping from where his eyes had been.
The bridge stopped in shock at seeing the admiral dead.
"Captain, message from Berlin,"
Lindemann sighed, taking his eyes of the Admiral, "Read it out,"
"From Adolf Hitler to Admiral Lutjens, due to an increase in British air presence in South East England support from the Luftwaffe has been withdrawn. We cannot risk any more losses to our air force in France. But your mission remains the same, I have every confidence that you will make it to the Atlantic and attack the British convoys. Message ends."
"Very well, turn the ship about, this battle is a loss."
"Cannot comply Captain, the rudder's been hit, we're stuck on this course."
Lindemann bowed his head, "Then this is the end of the Bismarck." The ship shook again, flames bursting high as the only remaining main turret was knocked out of action.
#
"Admiral, all main guns on the Bismarck are out of action. Belfast reports that Prinz Eugen is on fire and listing, but the last turret is still firing."
"All ships close in on your targets, sink them both."
Deep within the bowels of the ship, the engines groaned as they increased speed, the Hood speeding forwards. Water cascaded over the bow of the ship as she cut through the waves.
She was quickly followed by the rest of the force, the cruisers and destroyers outpacing her. As they closed, the secondary guns on both German vessels opened fire. Several of the destroyers took hits, bursting into flames, causing them to turn away. The main turret of the Prinz Eugen fired on last salvo, all the shells hit their target, the entire front end of the Prince of Wales bursting into flames. Smoke covered the ship, making it's fate impossible to determine. The British sailors held their breath, had the Prinz Eugen claimed a victim in it's final show of defiance?
No, from the smoke a shape slid forth, listing heavily and with fires burning everywhere, the Prince of Wales sailed valiantly onward. The forward turrets were a mangaled mess, but the ship remained afloat. Cheers went up across the British fleet and the rate of fire pouring onto the German vessels increased.
The shot on the Prince of Wales proved to truly be the Prinz Eugen's last act, under heavy fire from the three cruisers and two remaining destroyers, the Prinz Eugen was silenced, and slowly began to sink beneath the waves.
The Bismarck remained steady however, burning and unable to return fire, but still afloat.
"Order the Rodney to fire on her with all her guns," said Vice-Admiral Holland
Off to the port side of the Hood, the Nelson class battleship HMS Rodney turned slowly to port, revealing her full compliment of 3 triple 16in guns. The guns flared, shell roaring from the barrels.
The results of Rodney's broadside were devastating, the relatively close range from which the shots were fired enable every shell to hit.
The Bismarck disappeared in a cloud of smoke, flames covering the ship. One of the shells had evidently hit a magazine, the Bismarck was now covered in flames and listing heavily, but she was still afloat.
"Order the fleet to cease fire, we'll finish her off," said the Admiral
The Hood slowly closed with the Bismarck, turned to port, and revealed her starboard torpedo mount. 3 21in torpedoes shot from the Hood, screaming through the water, before crashing into the bow of the Bismarck. Plumes of water shot into the air, when they had cleared the bow of the Bismarck could be seen sinking beneath the waves.
#
Back in London, the members of the Ooari student council, Darjeeling and Assam had joined King George and his wife in the war room at the Admirality, all were desperate to hear news of the battle.
"Sir, report coming in," called a technician, "Message from Vice-Admiral Holland, at 2:47pm today, we engaged with the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen 10 miles outside Dover, at 5:54pm the Bismarck sank beneath the waves. Both German vessels have been destroyed."
A great cheer went up, everyone celebrating.
"Losses are reported to be relatively light, the HMS Beagle was sunk, with the loss of 120 crew, major damage to the destroyers Boudicea, Bulldog, Acasta and Anthony, major damage to the HMS Belfast, and the battleship Prince of Wales, minor damage to every other ship, with the forward turret of the Hood out of action. In all losses are estimated to be around 500 men."
King George looked at the girls, "Well, how was it?" he asked, referring to the losses compared to the original timeline.
"Better your majesty, much better," answered Darjeeling