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The title says it all: KMS Bismarck escapes the Royal Navy. Here, the final strike by Ark Royal's Swordfish hits her, but there is no rudder damage. Bismarck is able to get away in the night, and on the morning of 27 May 41, finds three Gruppen of Luftwaffe bombers overhead, along with long-range heavy fighters from ZG 1 (Ju-88Cs). The British turn and head for home due to fuel shortage and the Luftwaffe presence. Bismarck arrives in Brest on 28 May 41 to a heroe's welcome for having sunk the Hood. Prinz Eugen arrives on 1 June 41, having cut her raiding voyage short due to boiler issues. Now, how long does Bismarck have to spend in the yard down at St. Nazaire, where the Normandie dock is, to have her leaking fuel tanks repaired and the damage below the waterline from at least one 14" shell from Prince of Wales, along with torpedo damage from Victorious and Ark Royal strikes?

Then what? Does Raeder decide to send her out again as soon as Prinz Eugen's boilers are reparied, or does he wait until S&G are also combat-ready? If not, then she joins the Channel Dash in 1942 and then goes to Norway with her sister, Tirpitz.
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