Bismarck fuel stores at Operation Rheinübung

SK · Post by SK » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:14 pm

Hi all,

How much fuel have Bismarck when he leave from Gotenhafen at 18 may 1941?

Thanks

SK

Ulrich Rudofsky · Post by **Ulrich Rudofsky** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:53 pm

Take a close look at the Bismarck's war diary at http://www.kbismarck.com/archives/index.html

It is not clear what the exact fuel stores were at the time she left Gotenhafen, but on 16.5. the ship had 5436 cubic meters and this dropped on 19.5. to 3112, to 2924 on 20.5. and by 21.5. there were only 2547.......

Tiornu · Post by **Tiornu** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:56 pm

How much of Bismarck's fuel load could be used? I'm guessing that some was in compartments that could not be pumped.

SK · Post by SK » Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:17 am

Ulrich Rudofsky wrote:Take a close look at the Bismarck's war diary at http://www.kbismarck.com/archives/index.html

It is not clear what the exact fuel stores were at the time she left Gotenhafen, but on 16.5. the ship had 5436 cubic meters and this dropped on 19.5. to 3112, to 2924 on 20.5. and by 21.5. there were only 2547.......

It ´s wrong.

In BS war diary isn´t presentation fuel stores on 19.5 - 21.5. There are presentation for Prinz Eugen fuel store:

19 may 1941, 0800 hours: Message from Cruiser Prinz Eugen to fleet: Fuel oil stores 3.112 cubic meter.

...etc for 20.5 - 21.5.1941.

And what was BS fuel oil stores? It is the answer.

SK · Post by SK » Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:24 am

Tiornu wrote:How much of Bismarck's fuel load could be used? I'm guessing that some was in compartments that could not be pumped.

Hi Tiornu,

I'm guessing that Bismarck have about several hundred ton (about 200 ton ?) oil fuel lesser of his full capacity because that was accident in pumping procedure in Gotenhafen. But how was possible, that the accident wasn´t reported in war diary?

Ulrich Rudofsky · Post by **Ulrich Rudofsky** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:17 pm

Sorry I goofed

. The real KTB ends on 16.5. with Lehmann's entry of 5426 cbm. Nothing is known thereafter because the next KTB due on 1.6.41 was lost at sea. The reconstruction of that latter KTB by the Seekriegsleitung obviously has no data on fuel and water consumption; however, I think the SKL or Group West at one point near the end overestimated the fuel of BS.

RF · Post by RF » Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:39 am

It is noted by Ludovic Kennedy in his book that Bismarck sailed 200 tons short of full capacity after several Polish labourers involved in the fuelling were killed from inhaling the fuel vapours.

Ulrich Rudofsky · Post by **Ulrich Rudofsky** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:47 am

200 tons does not seem like anything to worry about unless your tanks start to leak.

RF · Post by RF » Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:04 pm

Ulrich Rudofsky wrote:200 tons does not seem like anything to worry about unless your tanks start to leak.

And they did!!! - thanks to POW and its dodgy guns!!!

Admiral-scheer · Post by **Admiral-scheer** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:15 pm

Your right a hose rupuured so they canelled refueling the bismarck to clean the mess up.
Also during rheinbung that did not refuel even though they were anchored for 1 day,because original they were not supposed to refuel

Ulrich Rudofsky · Post by **Ulrich Rudofsky** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:29 pm

Don't you think the estimated fuel consumption also has something to do with the quality of the fuel, burning efficiency, water and sludge contaminants etc. ? Distance and speed made good depends on many external and internal factors than just the volume in the tanks.

Admiral-scheer · Post by **Admiral-scheer** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:33 pm

I am sure it did.I also think that Rheinbung being the Bismarck's maiden voyage into the Atlantic they would have increased or at least the same quality of the fuel they used in the Baltic.

Laurenz · Post by **Laurenz** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:47 pm

fueled.
For Master Scheer:
You hear to much Rammstein :-)
Und wird nie vom Himmel fallen......
Nice american book is......holt Hartmann vom Himmel.....

And for RF:
The hits of PoW finished the british empire. Do you are thankful for that?
Kind regards,
L.

shuttlefan101 · Post by **shuttlefan101** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:13 am

on her way out she was 2,000ton of fuel shout from what i read!
NIKKI

Antonio Bonomi · Post by **Antonio Bonomi** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:20 pm

Ciao all,

since there are historical researchers currently making a very good study about this whole argument, ... I preffer to respect them and wait their very competent final results.

One thing you must keep in mind when you talk about this argument,.... it was very sensitive especially for one person..... Admiral G. Lutjens.

For him this was a very delicate aspect of the whole mission, ... and what he did on the preparation for Op. Rheinunbung .. based on Op. Berlin learning path ... is a very evident confirmation.

The whole activity on the Baltic sea between Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in May 1941 ... was mainly dedicated to this aspect

.

That's all for the moment, ....

Ciao Antonio

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