and Prinz Eugen as they were attempting to break out of the Denmark Strait into the North Atlantic. http://www.avalanchepress.com/Americans-Bismarck.php

Probably a good thing it did not encounter either of them. It would probably be at the bottom of the sea right now if it did.

Interesting read. As sentimental as we all are about the Texas, this would not have ended well IF the Germans chose to fight which they could have easily avoided. I don't think they would have sunk the Texas outside of a detonation of a magazine but they would have surely wrecked her pretty good.

About 4 1/2 years ago we flew into NH on our return from Afghanistan. There was the typical reception of older vets, well wishers, greeters etc... as I grabbed a slice of pizza and a coke I saw an old man with a cap that said USCG Modoc. I remember reading and hearing about that ship but it took a bit for it to kick in. I found him later and asked him if he was on board when they crossed paths with Bismarck. He said he was, but was below decks and really didn't know anything about it until the situation had passed.


Also USS Texas v Bismarck would not have ended well for Texas. Wonder though, if that would have brought the US into the war 6 1/2 months before Pearl Harbor.

JABQ04 said:

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Also USS Texas v Bismarck would not have ended well for Texas. Wonder though, if that would have brought the US into the war 6 1/2 months before Pearl Harbor.

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A battleship sunk by surface combatant??? Maybe.

But DD-245 Reuban James being sunk in October 1941 by a German U-boat didn't do the trick.

JABQ04 said:

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About 4 1/2 years ago we flew into NH on our return from Afghanistan. There was the typical reception of older vets, well wishers, greeters etc... as I grabbed a slice of pizza and a coke I saw an old man with a cap that said USCG Modoc. I remember reading and hearing about that ship but it took a bit for it to kick in. I found him later and asked him if he was on board when they crossed paths with Bismarck. He said he was, but was below decks and really didn't know anything about it until the situation had passed.


Also USS Texas v Bismarck would not have ended well for Texas. Wonder though, if that would have brought the US into the war 6 1/2 months before Pearl Harbor.

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That's the crazy thing to me about naval warfare. More than half your crew wouldn't be able to tell you a damn thing about what happened in combat aside from, "I was belowdecks at my post."