Naval History Forums

Hi All...I am new to this website and grateful to see I am not the only one so interested in the Bismarck.

Here's my statement/question: I recently read on another website of a feline mascot named Oscar surviving the sinking of the Bismarck, and then the sinking of two other vessels. Is this for real, or is it BS? Thx

I like this nice story, too. But the legend that Oscar was picked up by HMS Cossack, survived her sinking and then came aboard the HMS Ark Royal is unfortunately not true. There are even portraits of Oscar, photographic and oil on canvas but............he was not retired to the sailors home in Belfast etc.

Look here: http://www.battleshipbismarck.info/cat_oscar.htm

As far as I know, none of the survivors ever mentioned the presence of any cat aboard the Bismarck. A couple of months before Bruno Rzonca passed away in 2004, he was asked if there were any mascots aboard the ship, his answer was, "Nothing".

Black cats bring bad luck!

Good luck!

According to the HMS Cossack Association it is true.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hmscossack/

Is this correct or is there concrete proof to disprove this story?

How far was it the practice to keep pets on board warships in wartime?

I wouldn't have thought a fighting ship is really the right place for pets, you wouldn't take your pets with you to fight on the Western Front in WW1....

I notice that on the Prinz Eugen website that a number of Schnelleboot did keep dogs as mascots, and according to Theodor Detmers Kormoran acquired enough small animals from the ships it sank to almost form a zoo, with monkeys being kept in the engine room.... T

At least as far as the RN was concerned pets were quite acceptable (depending on Captain) - especially cats - and were quite often photographed.

However, as an animal lover, why anyone would put a cat on a flower class corvette in the North Atlantic is beyond me.

phil gollin wrote:At least as far as the RN was concerned pets were quite acceptable (depending on Captain) - especially cats - and were quite often photographed.

However, as an animal lover, why anyone would put a cat on a flower class corvette in the North Atlantic is beyond me.

I know this is a silly question but do cats and dogs etc. get seasick?

I know of a friend of mine that used to take his dog out to sea to fish in a 7 mts powerboat, and yes, the dog got seasick.

As far as I know when the Hood blew it take with her, apart from her crew, two cats, one of them called Fishcake.

Hood also had as pets a goat, a dog, some cats and a kangaroo.

the story is true. that cat was found that morning when bismarck was sunk. it is hard to believe but its true. some survivors dont even recall that the main turret tops was painted yellow. but, look how long its been and how old they are now. ya forget alittle detail each time.

Do we know what happened to Oscar? Did he or she survive the war?