OTHER EQUIPMENT
Anchors and chains.
The Bismarck was equipped with four anchors. Three were located at the bow, and one at the stern on the port side.
The anchors were made of cast steel and were embossed with the name of the manufacturer, the year of manufacture, and its weight.
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Anchor weight (including the shackle ring): 9,500 kg.
Weight of 25 meter chain length: 2,806 kg.
Chain thickness (diameter): 72 mm.
Permitted load strain on the chains: 99,751 kg.
Left: The starboard bow anchor and chain. |
Searchlights (Scheinwerfer).
A total of seven searchlights of 1.5 meters in diameter and made by Siemens-Schuckertwerke AG were carried aboard.
1 on the foremast searchlight platform.
4 on both sides of the funnel.
2 behind the mainmast (section IX).
The foremast searchlight.
Boats.
3 barges (Admirals und Kommandantenboote).
4 picket boats (Verkehrsboote).
2 motor launches (Motorbarkasse, Motorpinasse).
2 cutters (kutter).
2 dinghies (Dingi).
2 yawls (Jolle).
16 life rafts.
The cutters, yawls, and dinghies on both sides of the upper main deck were removed before the start of Operation Rheinübung.
Minesweeping Paravanes (Ottergerät).
There were six minesweeping paravanes ready to use on the upper deck.
Their intended use was to cut the anchor lines of mines which would then rise to the surface of the water and be redered harmless.
However, it is hard to imagine using a ship the size of the Bismarck as a mine sweeper.
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Minesweeping paravanes. |
Cranes.
2 (12-ton) amidships.
2 under the funnel searchlight platform.
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