Bismarck firing at HMS Prince of Wales.

On May 24, 1941, Germany’s largest and most modern of Germany’s 
battleships battleship, the Bismarck, sank the pride of the British
fleet, HMS Hood.

Less than 10 minutes after the British opened fire, a shell from 
Bismarck struck Hood near her aft ammunition magazines.

Soon afterwards, Hood exploded and sank within three minutes,
with the loss of all but three of her crew. Prince of Wales
continued to exchange fire with Bismarck but suffered serious malfunctions in her main armament.