Based on real life KMS Bismarck, The Bismarck was a German battleship during World War II, named after the 19th-century Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Launched in 1939, it was one of the largest and most powerful battleships of its time. In May 1941, the Bismarck sank the British battlecruiser HMS Hood in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. However, shortly after, it was relentlessly pursued by the British Royal Navy. On May 27, 1941, after a fierce battle, the Bismarck was crippled by British torpedoes and gunfire and subsequently scuttled by its own crew to prevent capture.