BISMARCK Bismarck was the first full-size battleship built for Germany after World War I. Designed using tried-and-true methods, the Bismarck class were the largest European battleships during their service. Bismarck featured eight 15-inch guns in four turrets with a heavy secondary gun armament—an echo from the World War I era battleships. Despite heavy turtleback armor, tremendous steam turbines propelled Bismarck over 30 knots! In May 1941, she sunk HMS Hood and damaged HMS Prince of Wales, t