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1 von 1 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich:
2.0 von 5 Sternen
No "new light" for me & questionable photo interpretations., 18. November 1999
I ordered this book because it reportedly shed 'new light' on the tactics of the combatant vessels in the Denmark Strait action. Readers with a knowledge of WWII naval history will find some errors in the text, such as HMS Sheffield being described as a "heavy" cruiser and Yamato's overall length being reported as 840' instead of 863'. I found the author's interpretation of the photos of the Bismarck/Hood action to be unconvincing. It was claimed that these were being presented in the correct sequence "for the first time". Photos 10-2 to 10-6 appear to me to be in the wrong sequence, and were printed with a mirror image left-right transposition when compared to the same or very similar photos in other sources. The sequence indicated by examination of the distinct cloud patterns appears to be 10-6, 10-4, 10-5, with 10-2&3 taken almost simultaneously. Most of these action photos have appeared elsewhere in smaller and less grainy format and indicated the Bismarck's guns were trained to port (i.e. on the SAME side as the Prinz Eugen, from where the photos were taken) and on an AFT bearing. According to the text and charts in 'The Bismarck Case' the photos should show the guns trained abeam (if not slightly ahead of the beam) toward the Prince of Wales and AWAY from the photographer aboard the Prinz Eugen (which was supposedly on the opposite side of Bismarck from the Prince of Wales when these photos were taken). I have never read that Bismarck and Prinz Eugen pursued a straight course throughout the battle and all books in my collection show a turn to starboard, followed by one to port as 'revealed' in this book. However these turns were charted as occurring later in the action in my other source books. There is evidence for a later turn to starboard than postulated by the author when the photos are reviewed in the different right-left orientation given in other published sources. Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg's 'Battleship Bismarck: A Survivor's Story' and Paul Schmalenbach's 'Kriegsmarine Bismarck' in 'Warships in Profile Vol.2' contain 'The Bismarck Chase' photos 9-1, 9-3, and 10-2 to 10-6 or very similar shots and both authors (who were there!) indicated Bismarck had turned to starboard (westward) of the Prinz Eugen and away from the British ships during the period which encompasses 10-2 to 10-6. The bow of Bismarck is shown to the left of the photos in those sources instead of to the right as in 'The Bismarck Chase'. The photos in Mr. Winklareth's book are purported to have been taken after a second major course alteration, toward the British ships on a course of about 200 degrees. Although the book gives a fairly good account of the battle and the Bismarck's brief career, I did not feel any 'new light' had been shed, and did not agree with the author's conclusions.
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3.0 von 5 Sternen
An easy to read description of the battle(s) of the Bismarck, 17. November 1999
Being a lover of mysteries, I was hoping that this book addressed the almost daily bad orders of Admiral Lutjens. But it only addresses a few of them and even then finds excuses for them. However, for a nutshell account of the Bismarck's last days, it is an excellent book and should be in any naval historian's library. But I am a purist and take more credence Baron Burkard von Mullenheim-Rechberg's account of the battles since he was there and was one of the fortunate few survivors to be plucked out of the water. I was also disappointed that another crucial encounter of the Bismarck was never mentioned that actually aided in "his" screening from British RADAR. Overall, the book is a good summary of fact for fact without going into a lot of conjecture and second guessing. I was able to read it in one afternoon and found it enjoyable regardless of any misgivings I had.
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5.0 von 5 Sternen
Essential new analysis of the loss of HMS Hood, 22. September 1999
There are so many books about the short and dramatic life of the battleship Bismarck, but none has really tried to answer the question of the tactics of Admiral Holland and Captain Kerr when they apparently chose to attack on a disadvantageous course. Why did they put the lightly-armoured HMS Hood in the van and at an angle of approach which increased her vulnerability to plunging fire whilst halving the effectiveness of her main armnament?Robert Winklareth has analysed photographs of the engagement and naval records to posit a new hypothesis, suggesting that the German ships took a different course from that which has previously been assumed. This may well be the explanation for the British tactics, as they strove to gain advantage over their opponents Of course there are many other unanswered questions about Bismarck, both in the days before Hood was sunk and in the three days following until she met her demise. Hopefully succeeding authors will now be encouraged to apply the same attitude of enquiry as Winklareth has here This is a refreshing new book and deserves a place on the bookshelf of all open-minded naval historians. The excellent illustrations and charts allow the reader to re-check the author's thesis, as all works of this kind should. I unreservedly recommend it
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